Closure (Partners in Crime Book 5)

Chapter 7

Blake stood by the edge of the rubble. The CSI lab was a total loss. The fire crew and paramedics had packed up and left, for the arson investigator would be by in the morning. Blake was mourning the loss of all his evidence.

He shoved his hands in his jacket pocket and kicked at a rock. He was back at square one if Ford decided not to talk. There went his promotion.

"You look gloomy." He saw Nicole standing there, her hands inside the red paramedic jacket that looked like an undersized letterman jacket. Her ponytail was falling out, sending wisps of hair across her face. He tried not to stare.

"I said, you look gloomy."

He looked up, "Sorry. Yeah, you could say that."

"Why?"

He looked over at her. She was looking up, her eyes closed, letting the breeze do its thing. "I lost all my evidence and now am back at square one."

"That sucks."

"Yeah."

Nicole opened her eyes, "At least everyone inside made it out alive."

"If you're referring to your sister who got all up in my business today, I suppose it's a good thing."

She laughed. "She's just overprotective."

"Is she your older sister?"

"Nope, I'm the oldest girl." She turned to him, "Yay me."

He grinned. "So why'd you come out here? There's no ride for you."

"I figured I'd better apologize. I've been kinda rude lately. Like I said, it's been a bad week." Nicole shoved her hands deeper into her pockets and shivered. "It's only September, why is it so cold?"

Blake pointed to his car, "I have a coat you can borrow."

She looked at him, grateful, "That would be nice, thanks."

Blake retrieved the coat for her wondering why he was being nice all of a sudden. Brielle's words popped into his head, "No matter how much you hate her, it's always going to make her day when you're nice." Good advice, but the thing was, he didn't hate her.

He brought the coat back to Nicole and set it on her shoulders. "Here."

The coat dwarfed her but she looked warmer. "Thank you."

"Of course."

They were quiet for a moment before Nicole piped up, "So I was going to apologize. Yeah. I have been very rude for the past few days and you were the nearest person I could take my anger out on. I also know we both..." She closed her eyes for a second, "I also know we both haven't forgotten high school and if we could get past that and just be friends, that would be great."

Did she know that when Jessica Waters told the entire high school Nicole's secret, Blake actually felt hopeful? That he tried to get up the nerve to ask her out? That he didn't because his stupid high school self was worried about his reputation? Did Nicole know he had obsessed over her for ages? Of course she didn't. Cause he never got the guts to tell her.

"We can be friends, sure. I'm willing to forget if you are." Was he? He wanted to always remember the day she made him feel like he had always wanted to feel. Cared for. Loved.

Nicole gave a bright smile that lit up like the stars. "What a burden that just left. Thank you, I could hug you." Then she blushed, "And that would bring us back around the circle."

Blake held out his arms, "To give closure?" Was this a good idea?

She shrugged, "Sure, I guess." Nicole stepped into his arms and laid her head on his chest. He wrapped his arms around her, appreciating all of it. Maybe it was just him, but she fit well into his arms.

Nicole pulled away, "Your friend is asking if she could get a ride home."

Blake grinned, "No car?"

"At least it was the end of my shift."

"I suppose I can give you a lift."

~~~~~

Nicole instructed Blake on how to get to her home and tried to settle her racing heart. The weight she had been carrying for practically all her life was finally gone.

Blake looked over to her, "You okay? You look flustered or something."

She smiled, "Just relieved to have that done with."

He tossed her a lopsided smile, "What, the hug or the apology?"

She hit him softly, "Wow, Tanner."

He settled back into his seat, smirking.

Nicole snuck a glance at him. He was very good-looking, and when she wasn't fighting with him he was a very nice person. She stopped herself before she got any further. She had just dug herself out of that hole, she wasn't climbing back in.

She was going to have to take a long shower if she wanted to get his scent off her. A hug and his coat? She smelled musky, and like the woods. If Jenna got too close tomorrow she'd have trouble explaining. Jenna was nosy enough. Nicole got an idea.

"So, my friend Jenna, you've met her."

Blake pulled onto the interstate, "Yes I have."

Nicole tried to be subtle, "She's nosy."

"Yeah, tried to fix things between us."

Nicole laughed but secretly wondered what he meant. "She just does that to satisfy herself because she's got no life of her own. Or so she says. A poor lonely single woman, she calls herself."

Blake nodded, "Interesting."

"She's very pretty."

He smirked, "I see what you're doing."

Whoops. "None of my brothers would take her."

"Well try your luck somewhere else." Blake voiced.

"Come on Tanner. Just one date? You'd make her day." Nicole pleaded.

"I would be leading her on."

"One date? Puh-leeze."

"Give it up Nicole." Blake rolled his eyes playfully.