FINE LINE - T. BRADFORD

14

Mirana looks up at Tim after the man she had been talking to drives off.

"Hey, do you work the convention every year?" Mirana asks.

"No. L.A. hasn't hosted one in a long time. But I did go with Isabel once," Tim replies and Mirana nods, feeling her curiosity peak.

"What kind of classes do they teach?" Mirana asks

"No idea," Tim replies. "Patrol isn't allowed to know UC trade secrets. So I just ordered room service, worked on my tan"

Mirana takes a step back as a car speeds in front of them. The man in the car shouts in excitement when he spots Tim.

"Bradford!"

"Mack!" Tim chuckles.

"Ugh! You bastard!" Mack says. "You get prettier with age"

"Yeah, and you're still the same part Neanderthal," Tim retorts. "Mirana Cabrera, Mack Daniels"

"Hey, how are you?" Mack smiles at her.

"I'm good," Mirana forces a smile, casting a glance at Tim who nods imperceptibly to signal he had also noticed Mack's inebriation.

"Beth, how are the kids?" Tim asks the woman in the car before frowning in confusion.

"Oh, uh, this is actually, uh, my friend Candace," Mack gestures to the woman.

"Hi. Mack's right. You are pretty," Candace says to Tim before glancing at Mirana. "So is she"

"Uh, Mirana, why don't you go and get Candace's info?" Tim suggests.

"Yeah," Mirana nods, leaning down to talk to Candace. "License and registration please"

"Mack and I have been talking about bringing a third in," Candace whispers to Mirana. "You interested?"

"No," Mirana says, taking the papers from Candace which is when the woman spots the ring on her hand.

"You could bring your fiance," Candace suggests.

"Not interested," Mirana replies, entering the information into the tablet in her hand. "Neither is he"

"How would you know?"

"Ask him yourself," Mirana says, pointing at Tim. "He'll give you an answer that isn't as nice as mine"

"Shame," Candace sighs before raising her voice. "Mack! I got a spa appointment"

"Hey, it's good seeing you, bro," Mack says to Tim who nods.

"Yeah. You, too," Tim replies before Candace drives the car away.

"Well, he seems friendly," Mirana says.

"Yeah," Tim sighs. "Believe it or not, he used to be the most clean-cut guy I ever met"

"His lady friend is a character," Mirana says, rolling her eyes.