David Perkins was Rob's cousin and best friend.

It made sense, thinking about it. He was from Denver, so no one here really knew him besides Rob. Since he was a reporter, he would be able to call the police, but what if he convinced some of the officers to give him the actual police report during the investigation? And what if he did his story and then passed everything on to Rob? That made the most sense to me.

David cleared his throat and stepped to the side. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have work to do."

I had to physically bite my tongue to keep myself from saying something I'd regret later. David smirked as he gave me a shoulder check when he walked by. I bit down harder and knew I was probably making teeth marks on my tongue, but I didn't care right then. All I could focus on was trying to resist the urge to shove him and tell him what I knew about him and Rob, but all either of those things would result in wasn't anything good.

Taking a deep breath, I picked up my board and headed to work. I had to clear my head, but I didn't have enough time to go to my old neighborhood let alone my spot. I had to make do with a slow ride, which brought me to the building a little too early.

While I waited for Mr. Buckley to show up, my thoughts drifted to Jimmy. He'd been amazing about everything so far, and I wanted to thank him with something nice. I started to open a shopping app, but then I closed it. What would make him happiest?

Back in high school, he once drug me and a couple of other friends to a live performance in some theater in Boulder, so I searched for what shows were playing. By the time Mr. Buckley showed up half an hour later, I was debating whether or not I should buy the tickets I wanted. As he was opening the door, I texted Jimmy to see what he was doing in a couple of nights. I walked inside and up to the counter, and got a reply as I was putting my bag and board down. He was free. I quickly switched back over to the ticket page and hit the purchase button.

---

That night found me in a skirt and nice top with light makeup, standing in front of the door to Jimmy's house. He was wanting me over to officially meet his parents. Not that we hadn't met before, but this time I was his girlfriend. Plus, I hadn't seen them since before he left.

The door opened to reveal a short brunette woman. She smiled at me and reached out to hug me. "Brenda!"

I returned the hug nervously. "Hi Mrs. Martinez," I told her as she pulled away.

She held me at arm's length and studied me for a moment. "Oh, you're just as pretty as ever." She released me and walked inside, gesturing for me to follow. "Come in, come in. Dinner's just about ready."

Jimmy as standing at the bottom of the stairs, watching us. When his mom moved into the kitchen, he came over, took my hand, and kissed my cheek. "Hey, there."

I smiled, biting my lip. "Hey yourself," I replied, noticing someone else coming up behind Jim.

His dad was tall, just like him, but instead of brown hair and brown eyes, his dad had black hair and brown eyes. Besides his name, it was the only way you could tell his grandfather was from Mexico. "Hello, Brenda," he said, his deep voice rumbling.

I shook the hand he held out to me. "Hello, Mr. Martinez. How are you?"

He smiled and his eyes crinkled around the corners. "I'm doing well. How about yourself?"

I glanced at Jimmy. "Pretty good."

He glanced at his son and returned his amused eyes to me. "I see that."

"Dad," Jimmy groaned.

Mr. Martinez simply chuckled and pat Jimmy's shoulder as he passed. "Tammy's setting the table, so dinner should be soon." He disappeared into the kitchen area.

"Tammy's here?" I asked Jimmy, excited. For some reason I hadn't thought she would be.

He raised an amused eyebrow at me. "She lives here, so yeah." He towed me by the hand into the dining room. "Tam," he said.

A brunette looked up from straightening a fork. Her eyes landed on me and her face lit up. She was pretty much the same as when I saw her last, but something was different, more grown up. "Brenda!" she said, hurrying over to me.

"Tammy!" I said as she gave me a huge hug. I pulled back and grinned at her. "It's so good to see you!"

"It's been too long!" she gushed. She eyed Jimmy and then leaned closer to me and loudly whispered, "I can't believe you can put up with my brother."

"Hey!" Jimmy said, playfully indignant, which made us giggle.

"Dinner's ready," Mrs. Martinez said from the kitchen before carrying in a platter of food. Tammy hurried into the kitchen and brought out another platter.

Soon, we were all seated around the table, eating in a comfortable silence. I was waiting for the questions I was sure would be coming.

"So, Brenda," Mr. Martinez said, wiping his mouth.

And there they were.

"What's in the plans for the next few years?"

I shrugged. "I want to travel."

"That's nice," Mrs. Martinez commented. "Anywhere in particular you'd like to go?"

"Not really. I really like the idea of picking a direction, seeing where I end up, and staying there a while before going somewhere else."

Mr. Martinez raised an eyebrow. "A drifter, then."

"A what?" I asked, confused.

"A drifter. Someone who's always moving from place to place without a permanent address or job." He rested his elbows on the table and laced his fingers together. "You want to be a drifter for a while?"

I swallowed, nervous, and felt Jimmy touch my hand under the table. I glanced at him and he gave me a small smile. "Um, for a while, I guess so."

Mrs. Martinez was watching me closely. "Do you plan on taking Jimmy with you?"

"Only if he wants to come with me," I said reassuringly.

Jimmy raised my hand and kissed the back of it. "And I do."

"So that's a yes, then," Mrs. Martinez said.

"That's a big commitment, James," his dad said.

"One I feel like I'm ready for," he said. I squeezed his hand and we smiled at each other.

Tammy was passively listening to us up to this point, when she looked up at us shyly and put her fork down. "So you're going to leave again, Jimmy?" she asked quietly.

Jimmy squeezed my hand back and looked fondly at his sister. "Eventually. Not soon, though. You're still going to have to put up with me for a while." She glanced up and returned his smile.

---

The rest of dinner wasn't as hard as that. Tammy made me feel bad for stealing away Jimmy. I half thought about breaking up with him before I left, but I knew it would only hurt both of us, and I didn't want to ever hurt Jim. As much as I never wanted to become attached to someone else, I couldn't ever imagine being without him. I couldn't even try to tell myself I didn't love him - it only hurt now.

I only hoped he was as far gone for me as I was for him.

After dinner, we watched a movie with his family and then he walked me out to Lilly's car she'd let me borrow. Finally alone for the first time all night, I told him. "Um, so, I hope you're not upset about it being so short notice," I started, tucking some hair nervously behind my ear, "but I bought some tickets to a show in Boulder that I remember you saying you liked. It's the last show with the same cast."

He grinned at me. "When?"

"The day after tomorrow. Oh, and I got a ticket for Lilly, too. Only her. They only had three left."

He hugged me. I froze for a moment before returning it. When he pulled away, he was smiling softly at me. "Thank you."

I returned his smile. "You're welcome."

The silence stretched between us for a long moment before I heard him breathe in, pause, and breathe out before repeating the progress, only to speak this time. "What are your thoughts on marriage?"

I sucked in a breath. "In general, or to you?"

He shrugged and dropped my hand. "Is there a difference?"

There most definitely was. Marriage scared me. It was a long-term commitment to someone, and that scared me. I was scared of giving myself so completely to a person, but Jimmy took that fear away. He wasn't someone who'd ever take advantage of knowing me and knowing I'd take that commitment seriously.

"Yes." My heart raced in my chest as I braced for the next words that were fighting their way out of my mind and heart. My face felt like it was on fire and I was glad he couldn't see how red it was in the darkness. "I want to marry you."

Even in the dim light of the streetlight a couple of houses down I could see the surprise on his face. "You do?" he breathed. I nodded, biting down hard on my lip. His expression morphed into something happy and he gave me a peck on my cheek. "I..." he murmured into my ear. He pulled back and studied my face. "I think you should be heading home. Lilly's probably waiting on you with a hundred questions."

I only had one though: what was he going to say? I had the distinct feeling he was going to say something else. "Probably so," I replied softly.

Since he was still close, he pecked my forehead and then took a step back. "Goodnight Brenda. I'll see you for breakfast tomorrow?"

"Of course," I told him, opening my car door. "Goodnight, Jimmy." I looked at him for a long moment before getting in the car. He didn't move from where he stood as I backed out, and I had a feeling he probably watched me drive down the road.

---

Lilly was waiting for me when I got in, and I was happy to answer all of her questions and to rehash the entire evening. Well, except for the talk about marriage. I wasn't quite ready for that discussion with her just yet. In time, I was sure, but not yet. But I was kind of surprised he had brought that up since we hadn't even said 'I love you' yet. Unless...

I shook my head and took a deep breath as I drew close to the diner me and Jimmy planned to have breakfast at. Right now wasn't the best time to think in depth about that moment. I had a big plan for today, and I was determined to carry it out: get that video. Everything else was all well and good, but I had to get that video.

Jimmy smiled at me as I slid into the booth across from him. "Morning," he said.

"Morning," I replied through a yawn. The waitress poured me a cup of coffee and I started on it right away. "I'm getting that video today," I said when she walked off.

He nodded. "Sounds like a plan. Want some help?"

I shook my head. "I don't know how you could, to be honest. I'll be fine. Maybe text me to let me know he's on his way?"

"I can do that."

As we usually did, we sat there talking and eating and drinking coffee and water until Rob and a few of his employees left. The moment they were out of sight, I slipped across the street. Since I couldn't be seen, I went around to the side of the building to check if the door directly into his office was open.

I pulled it and it came right open. Cautious, I slipped inside and eyed the alarm on the wall. It said it was off, so I closed the door behind me and locked the office door. I put my USB drive in the computer and went to the video files.

A cursory glance and I found the video I wanted. I moved a copy to my drive and got ready to pull it out, but before I did, I pulled my earbuds out of my bag and plugged them in to watch the video.

Looking back, if I'd known then what I know now, I would have waited to watch it. But I did, I watched it. Right there in Rob's office, where I knew I wasn't welcome and would be arrested if found.

And felt my still-beating heart be ripped out of my chest.