Wednesday 29th August.

Z A C

The fog of sleep lifted enough that I could hear the muffled screams coming from the other end of the hall.

Addie.

I was still half asleep but I bolted upright, flung the comforter back and ripped the door open before I took off towards her bedroom. It was pitch black and near impossible to see but I knew this house like the back of my hand. So I didn't fumble much at all when I barreled through her door and went straight for the light switch.

She was in the middle of her bed, eyes closed, the look of total terror on her face. She whimpered in between blood curdling screams. I didn't waste time and kneeled on the edge of her mattress so that I could grip her shoulders, my hands almost slipped off her slick skin, my heart ached at the distress in her cries.

"Addie!" I shouted, leaning over her. "Addie!"

Sharp gasps of breath echoed through the room as she inhaled and started to blink. It must have been confusing to have been in such a realistic nightmare one moment and back on earth the next. She blinked, slow, her whimpers softened but her breathing remained harsh and laboured.

"You're alright," I murmured, pushing damp strands of hair from her forehead. "It was just a bad dream."

She rolled on to her side and buried her face in her hands. She muffled some sort of incoherent apology but I wasn't having it. She hadn't had a dream like this since she moved in and even if she had them every night, it wouldn't matter. It wasn't her fault.

"Move over," I said and shifted until I could lie down beside her and pull her close. She didn't hesitate, her frame molded to mine and I rested my chin on top of her head.

It'd been a while since I'd shared a bed with someone but it hit me that I'd missed it. Or perhaps it was just Addie that made it feel as though I'd been missing out. It wasn't a secret to me that I was feeling a lot for this girl. It happened fast but I couldn't have stopped it if I wanted to. However, it was obvious that she needed things to move slow and I would respect that. After all that she'd been through, she deserved that much.

"You must be worried about something," I kissed her head and could smell watermelon with a hint of perspire. She nodded.

"We haven't heard a word from Milo and Raine."

She was right. We hadn't. Raine hadn't even contacted me since the truth about Willa came out. I imagined it was a shock for Milo to hear. Hell, it was a shock for me, but it changed nothing. Addie went through something traumatic, something that no teenage girl, no woman, no person should go through. And on top of that, having to give up her child because she wasn't in the right frame of mind to care for her, I couldn't imagine what kind of strength that would require.

But now she was here and I had to wonder how Willa would handle the truth if Milo allowed Addie to tell her. Would she be upset? Resistant? Excited? I know that Willa had asked about her birth parents in the past. But this was different. This was real. Her birth mother, right here, friends even. I could tell that Willa admired and enjoyed spending time with Addie. How much would their friendship change when Willa found out that the woman she'd befriended was the same woman that had given her up ten years ago?

Willa was mature and intelligent for her age. But she was still a child.

"We have to give them time," I told her, running a hand across her back.

"I know that. It's just— it's hard to wait. As much as I understand waiting, it's still turning my stomach into knots."

Of course it was. I couldn't imagine being in her position.

"Did Raine tell you that she thinks me ending up here is fate?"

She had told me that. Several times. It must have been weighing on her. "What do you think it is?"

"I don't know," her lips brushed against my chest as she spoke, her breath was warm against my bare skin. It was too hot to be so close to another person, even with the air conditioning on, we were becoming damp tangled together. "It could be fate. But that would have meant that it was— for it to be fate, Margo's death would have had to have played a part. And I'd hate to think that she died just so that I could find Willa."

"Or," I rested a hand on her waist. "Margo's death has nothing to do with it and the events that happened next were just something that the universe took advantage of."

"I like that theory better."

"I'm glad."

"Because life would have been fine the way that it was. I mean no, I didn't know Willa but I didn't know anything different. As far as I was concerned, she was with her birth parents living a good life. I could have continued living that life, with Margo, happily, even if it meant that I didn't know her," she exhaled a deep breath. "Is that awful to admit? That's awful isn't it."

"No I don't think so," I told her, rubbing circles on her back. "It makes sense."

"I just wouldn't have wanted the universe to take Margo in order for me to meet Willa."

I wanted to suggest that perhaps I was part of the plan. Which was bold because I wasn't all fate and stars like Raine was. But I didn't mind the idea of our paths being destined to cross.

"I get it," I said instead. This wasn't about me.

Eventually her breathing evened out, her limbs went limp and her lips parted in slumber. She was absolutely breathtaking and definitely becoming more and more interesting as I got to know her.

I wouldn't call it complicated because everyone has shit going on in their life and as far as I was concerned, she was handling her shit well. Even if she'd hopped the first train out of Beverly Hills and refused to go home, she could have been a lot messier in the grand scheme of things.

I thought about some of the shit that I got up to after mom died.

Yep, she could definitely have been handling it a lot worse.

I carefully untangled myself from her sweet little frame and went to get dressed. I needed to get some answers.

The station was quiet. It was three in the morning but I always expected there to be cops rushing around and criminals being led to and from. Of course, this was just the reception and most of the activity went on upstairs. I wandered up to the window and tapped on it, wincing when I saw Delia straighten up in her chair. Last I'd seen the eighteen year old was on day shift but she must have switched after and I suppressed an audible groan.

"Hi Zac," she gave me a flirtatious smile and smoothed down her pin straight auburn hair.

"Delia. Can you buzz me through. I need to see Raine."

"Of course," she leaned over her desk on the other side of the bullet proof window and made a dramatic show of her cleavage. I had absolutely nothing against a woman going after what she wanted but she was too damn young for me and I'd made that clear once or twice.

As soon as the big metal door clicked unlocked, I slipped straight inside and wandered down to the elevator, boots scuffing on the linoleum floor. I'd thrown on a pair of jeans and a hoodie as fast as I could before I left the house and I knew I would have looked as tired as I felt.

The elevator doors opened on level four where there were about six desks spread out around the room, a few cells to the left and a short corridor that led to the staff room, bathrooms and evidence rooms.

Raine and two other officers were seated, tapping their keyboards while a third officer was detaining someone in a cell who was drunker than drunk. I'd guess he was in there for his own protection more than anything. Raine regularly put people in the cell when she couldn't get a coherent answer out of them to find out their address.

"Officer," I said, slipping my hands into my pockets as I walked toward her desk. She looked up with a startle. "How's it going?"

"Fine," she leaned back in her swivel chair. "What's going on? Bit early for a drop in."

I pulled out a plastic chair on the other side of her desk and sat down. "How about you tell me what's going on?"

"Specifics?"

I tilted my head with a long winded sigh.

"Oh. The whole Willa and Addie thing?"

I nodded.

"Milo needs time, Zac. Come on. This is a big deal for him. He needs to process it."

"Understandable," I rested my elbows on the desk in front of me. "But how about a simple message to let Addie know that. Just tell her, hey look, we're processing this information, don't stress, we'll be in touch soon. Then at least she knows where Milo stands. The radio silence is killing her."

Raine gave me a knowing smile.

"What?"

"You really care about her, huh?"

I leaned back in the chair and folded my arms. "Yeah."

"Well, that's sweet. You need to be careful though."

"Be careful? You're the one that's setting me up whenever you get the chance."

She scoffed. "Trying to set you up. And that's not it. I like Addie. I think she'd be perfect for you. I just think she might be a bit of a flight risk. I'm worried that she'll book it and break your heart. She has an entire life in another state, Zac. Just be sensible."

"Yeah. I hear that. Give her some credit though. She didn't arrive and keep all of these secrets from us. She's been honest and vulnerable from the get go. That counts for something. Plus, I think she'll stay."

"Here in Texas?"

I nodded.

"I don't see how she could. She has a business and a home back in California. She's healing right now but I don't think she'll hang around."

I shrugged. "I think she suits Texas."

Raine tipped her head back and laughed with disbelief. "You are so whipped for this girl."

"Oh shut up."

She opened her mouth to snap back but her intercom crackled to life and the dispatcher came through. "Anonymous complaint about a suspicious vehicle parked up at the scrap metal yard on Blackwell road."

That wasn't too far from our place. Raine snatched up her HT and responded. "Describe the vehicle, dispatch?"

There was a crackle. "It's Tyler Adler and May Winterfell."

Raine rolled her eyes. Poor kid couldn't find a moments peace around here. I didn't know why he didn't just head over to Austin or something if he wanted to be left alone.

"Copy that, dispatch. Officer Raine Ryan from 76 responding."

She hung up the HT and sighed. "Wanna come for a ride?"

"Sure."

Tyler's expression widened with concern when Raine's headlights illuminated his car. May sat in the passenger seat beside him, scowling with frustration. Fair enough too. They were never bothering anyone but because of his car and age, and although no one ever said it outright, the fact that he was black, people suspected he was up to no good and called him in.

Raine messed around with the computer on her dash board, filing her location and letting dispatch know that she'd arrived on scene. As soon as we hopped out of the car, Tyler and May relaxed, realising that it wasn't another cop, and stepped out of their vehicle too.

"Officer Ryan," Tyler came around and leaned on the front of his Nissan, hands in his pockets. "How's it going Zac?"

"Not bad," I shook his hand and nodded at May. "Behaving?"

"Always."

Raine had a certain stance that she held while she was on duty. She didn't want to appear weak or vulnerable so she held herself tall and strong. But around the teenagers she knew well, she relaxed, so they knew she wasn't there to give them trouble or intimidate them. She wanted them to trust her.

Raine knew what it was like growing up, judged and persecuted for the colour of her skin, especially by the police. I witnessed it, I saw her defeated and broken whenever she was accused or suspected for something she couldn't change about herself.

She was determined to be better, do better and call out the blatant racism of her co workers when it happened. She wanted to do good with her badge, genuine good.

"You alright, Tyler?" Raine gave him a soft smile. "May? You good honey?"

May nodded and her sad blue gaze moved to Tyler when he wrapped his arm around her shoulder. Tall kid. He was almost towering over me and he was built too.

"Your old man giving you trouble again?" I asked May. Tyler's jaw twitched. We'd suggested a while ago that May move in with Tyler and his parents. But she didn't want to bring them into her father's bullshit. Especially because he knew where Tyler lived. She would have felt just as unsafe.

May shrugged. "He's been drinking again. I just wanted to get out of the house and we didn't want to wake Tyler's parents."

"You're fine," Raine assured her. "You're not in trouble. Hang out as long as you want. But I'm worried darlin. You need to get out of that house. Did he hurt you tonight?"

"No," May shook her head. "I wanna get out. I just have to finish school. One damn year left and then I'm off to college. I hope."

Tyler leaned in and kissed her head. "My girl is going to get a medical scholarship. She's smart. She'll do it."

Raine smiled. "You call me if things get rough at home. I'll arrest that bastard so fast his head spins. Hopefully clean off his shoulders."

Tyler chuckled. "You're the man officer Ryan."

"No I'm the woman."

Tyler shook her hand and Raine tightened her grip around it, refusing to let go. She wore a cunning smile. "Give me the weed kid."

"Aw come on," Tyler threw his head back with defeat.

"Hand it over."

I laughed and watched as Tyler begrudgingly slipped his hand into his pocket and handed over a little plastic bag of weed. It wasn't a lot but as relaxed as Raine was, she was still a professional and she didn't want to lose her job if someone found out that she'd been dishonorable.

"Alright, I'm sure that's all of it, right?"

"Yes," Tyler said and I watched May scratch her nose and lower her head as if she was hiding a grin.

"Good. Try and get some sleep before school. Call me if there's anything you need. Both of you, alright."

It was almost five when I arrived at home. The sun was rising and I stifled a yawn as I scuffed my feet on the driveway and headed for the back garden. I figured that I would get straight out to the barns and get work done. It was going to be a long day that's for damn sure. I rounded the corner of the house and stopped when I saw Addie crouched beside the garden beds.

She was wearing a blue t-shirt and jeans and her long brown curls were underneath a baseball cap. She suited a baseball cap. Who was I kidding, she suited everything. There were a pile of weeds on the grass beside her and she was leaned over the wooden surround, pulling them out with meticulous precision and care, being careful not to damage the flowers.

Midge wondered over, slow, she was an old dog but she stood beside Addie who paused her work and gave her a scratch under the chin. Toto joined them after a moment.

Both of the black and white border collies watched Addie switch the hose on and set it to a mild mist. She stood there, watering the flowers with one hand in her pocket. The dogs sat on either side of her.

It was gorgeous. I loved the fact that Addie preferred to hand water the plants, rather than setting the sprinkler system on. She said that doing it herself made her feel like she was working a bit harder. Earning her keep.

Finally, I walked forward and revealed myself. She startled but relaxed when she noticed that it was me.

"Morning."

"Hey," she gave me a small smile and turned her attention back to the garden.

"Something wrong?"

"No."

I pursed my lips and wondered if it was the fact that I wasn't there when she woke up this morning. I hadn't planned on being gone as long as I had. "I went and saw Raine at work."

She looked up at me. "Oh. How come?"

"Wanted to find out what was going on with Milo."

She swallowed and lowered her head a little, the brim of her cap hid her curious gaze but I could hear it in her tone. "How did that go?"

"He's processing. It shook him I guess. But he's thinking things over. He might just need some time."

I watched her shoulders drop with relief. "Of course. That's better than him demanding I leave or whatever."

"I'm sorry I wasn't there when you woke up."

"Doesn't matter. Look," she said. It was hard to tear my gaze from her but I did and saw a fresh plot of flowers that had been removed from a plastic pot and planted in the soil. They were green roses. I had never seen them before. Unique.

"Those are nice."

She rolled her eyes and chuckled. "Such a male response."

"Well," I threw my hands up. "They're stunning. Spectacular. Outstanding. I give them a gold medal. Better?"

She looked up at me with a proud smile and gave a sharp nod. "Yes. Much. But besides that, they're for Willa."

"Really?"

"Yep. I told her that I would plant some emerald flowers for her. Since her birthstone is Emerald. It was hard to find the right color. But I thought this would do."

"You were wearing emerald the first time we met," I said and she looked up at me, lips parted. "That little silk dress."

"You remember what I was wearing the first time that we met?"

"I don't think I could ever forget."

I heard the hitch in her breath as she stared at me, her gaze moving between my mouth and eyes. She swallowed and shook her head as if to clear her thoughts.

"I remember a lot about that morning," I continued. "I remember how your face lit up when you ate. Like you appreciated the hell out of a hot meal but you kept the appreciation quiet. I remember how pissed off you looked when I insinuated that you wouldn't want to meet Noah. That fierce scowl. I thought you might have slapped me right then and there. I remember the way that you softened when I promised to take you and Willa to see Noah and I couldn't decide what I liked more, the harsh scowl or the soft smile. Turns out, I love both."

Her breathing was harsh by the end of my speech. "I— you noticed all of that?"

"I was transfixed from the get go, Ads. Couldn't help but notice," I lifted my pinky finger and swiped the side of my nose.

Her breathing was labored and if she wanted to kiss me as much as I wanted to kiss her, well, I wasn't sure what was holding us back. 

Stepping forward, I took the hose out of her hand and dropped it. She peered up as I wrapped a hand around her waist and drew her forward. I carefully took her cap off, turned it around so that it was backwards, leaned in and kissed her.

It was soft for a moment, getting a feel for one another and then I wrapped a hand around her neck and parted her lips, getting a taste of what I had been craving from the moment she smiled at me.

When we parted, her mouth was red and wet and the sight made me throb. She tugged me closer and I did the same to her. She leapt up, threw her arms around my neck and kissed me again, hard, her tongue pushed straight into my mouth and the warmth of her lips ignited a flame between us that was fueled by the whimpers and strong inhales that left me.

I never thought I would put so much faith into one person's mouth on mine. But the things that I felt when she pushed her fingers into my hair, when I held her frame against mine, when her tongue lapped out and took what it wanted, it was impossible not to believe in a soul being matched to mine.

She molded to me, her frame fitting to perfection in my hands. I couldn't get her close enough. Soon, she was tugging at my hair, pulling it, pressing herself against me and I wanted nothing more than to sweep her up and take her upstairs.

But before I could, she pulled her mouth from mine and exhaled a deep breath, her palms resting on my chest while my fingertips gripped her waist.

"So," she swiped her lip with her thumb and I groaned. "The flowers?"

"They're great," I answered, still watching her. "Perfect. I— I love them. I do."

She averted her gaze and grinned.

"They're unique and I think she'll love them. They also represent hope and optimism."

That sobered me for a moment. My brain overruled my hard on for a moment and I remembered how much she was going through right now. "You're wantin' as much of that as possible, right?"

She nodded and I kissed her forehead and then tucked her under my chin. "Hang in there. I'm sure it won't be long."