The Cop Next Door

twenty

"You're wearing that?" She raised an eyebrow. I looked down at my outfit in confusion. A pair of shorts and a nice shirt didn't seem awful to me. So when I shrugged, she rolled her eyes and rushed to her closet. "You've never been to a party down here, let me help you out." She grinned at something she had found and turned to me. "Put this on." I looked at the short hem and thin straps in utter horror. 

"No way, I'm sorry but no." I shook my head multiple times to convey my absolute answer. She pouted at me, putting her hands together in mock praying. "No, Darcy, no!"

Darcy was bursting with giddy joy was we walked up to the lit up barn just a few miles from the Rivera household. White fairy lights had been strung across the top of the building and led to the entrance. By the amount of cars parked in the field, there must have been hundreds of people coming to this party. Butterflies began to swarm in my belly, a light sheen of sweat spreading to my back. I stopped short of the entrance and debated whether I should go in or not.

"Are you okay, Jane?" She asked, watching me in worry. 

"Yeah, yeah," I laughed shakily. "It's just... there's a lot of people and I don't know if this dress is really complimenting my body type-"

"I'm going to stop you right there. You look super hot, okay? There's no way that Dax or any other guy will be able to take their eyes off of you." She smiled and took my hand, gently tugging me forward, "Trust me." So I followed her inside, finding the barn was completely renovated into a dance space, with hardwood floors, a bar, and a DJ. I spotted Dax from across the room wearing a white button up dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, his lower half sporting a pair of black straight-legged Chinos. I looked down at my outfit one last time, attempting to gain confidence before I forced myself to walk in his direction. Darcy shot me a smile before leading the way. I felt my straightened hair fall down my back, the heels Darcy had borrowed me clicked against the floor, announcing my presence. 

Dax

I took a small drink from the bottle in my hand while my friends brought me up to speed on what had happened in the last two years I had been gone. I missed them, I missed this. When I had lived here in my youth, nights were always like this. Simple. 

"Obviamente no invitamos a Camila-" Angel stopped short, his eyes and what seemed to be everyone else's, were on something else. Someone else. I turned to their line of sight, my eyes catching with hers. Straight dark brown hair shining under the light of the barn we had rebuilt as teenagers, her lips glossed and glowing like a delectable piece of dessert. My eyes defied my honorable judgement and slipped down her body. The white dress clung to her mesmerizing curves like it depended on them. 

"Mierda." I whispered, trying to snap out of my trance. 

"La pequeña mamá tiene un culo" Benny chuckled, to which I had to resist the urge to punch him in the mouth. I strode forward, my jaw clench as drew nearer. Taking a deep breath, my insides melted in reaction to her scent and I wanted to get lost in it. She smiled shyly up at me, her hands folded together innocently in front of her, causing her cleavage to practically spill out of the low cut ensemble. 

"Por el amor de Dios." I grumbled, pulling her hands apart and placing them at her sides. Her eyes searched my face in confusion, but I quickly pulled her away from the main crowd. She struggled to keep up with me in heels that I didn't remember packing for her, what happened to all the shorts and t-shirts I had packed for her? Where did this come from? We came to an ill lit corner of the barn and I struggled to keep my thoughts together. 

"What are you wearing?" I manage to choke out, biting my lip. 

"I was wearing something else, but Darcy didn't think I would fit in wearing what I had picked out so she borrowed this to me for tonight," She looked down at her feet, "It looks bad, doesn't it." I let out a shaky breath, laughing to myself in disbelief. 

"Are you kidding? You look fucking- You... I-" I shook my head, "Indescribable." A smile replaced the sad pout that had been on her lips.

"Is Officer Rivera lost for words?" She teased, poking my chest. I caught her finger with my hand and grabbed her waist with my free one, pulling her into me. 

"Ms. Kingsley, I wouldn't play with me right now, I'm not opposed to a strip search." I mumbled huskily into her ear. I felt her shiver under my touch and I smirked, grazing my lips across her collarbone. 

"Oh, isn't this charming?" A voice claimed from behind me. My mouth instantly contorted into a scowl and Jane had noticed, craning her neck around me to see who had spoken. But I didn't have to turn around to see her. I knew her voice well enough to place it to a face. 

"Camilia." I sighed, turning on my heel so that Jane was behind me. 

"Hello, Daxon." She sent me a sugary smile and I snorted. 

"Who is that?" Jane asked from behind me, my muscles tightening at her question. I never thought I'd have to bring up Camilia to Jane, and I found myself searching for the right term. 

"Sweetie, I'm his ex-fiance." Camilia waved to Jane in a mock-friendly manner. And suddenly I was between them; on one side, a woman I had a long complicated history with and on the other, the woman I wanted more than anything in the world.

"Dax, tell me that's not true." Jane pleaded, her eyes desperate.

"It's true." I sighed, reaching for her, "Let me explain-" 

"I need a drink." Jane brushed past me to the bar, several male eyes following her as she walked.

"I think it's time we caught up, Daxon." Camilia purred from behind me, "It's been too long."