CRYPTO: Infidelity (Book 1)

CHAPTER 49: HEARTACHE

I didn't cry often, especially not over impractical things, but I cried that night. More than what I thought was warranted. I just couldn't stand the fact that Birdie wasn't mine. It wasn't fair and it didn't make sense. Birdie deserved better than Rockie. I needed to convince her that she was selling herself short. That she deserved a good guy, not a sadistic criminal.

I wanted to call her or text her, but I didn't want Rockie to know I had her number. I had to wait until I knew they weren't together. I would have to stay in close contact with Rockie so I would know when he was out of the house.

When I went to work, I saw my partner.

"Hey, did you get the gift basket?" he asked me.

I remembered the basket I found by the front door. I had set it on the kitchen counter but hadn't opened it up yet.

"Yeah. I got it. Thanks," I said.

"How come you haven't answered your phone, and what happened to your head?" he asked.

"Oh, my phone broke. It actually broke when I fell down the stairs. That's what happened to my head."

"Oh. I'm sorry about that. And when you were sick too. It looks bad. Did you go to the hospital?"

"Yeah. They got it all stitched up for me. I'm fine now."

"That's probably where you were when I dropped the gift off. I noticed your car wasn't there."

"Yeah."

"I just figured you went to the grocery store or something and left your phone at home. I'm sorry I didn't check on you more often."

"It's alright," I told him. "I like to have my personal space when I'm not working."

"I get that."

I was glad my partner respected my space. It could've turned out a lot worse if he had checked on me more often.

After work, I texted Rockie to see if he had anything going on that night. He said he was meeting up with his gang and invited me to join, but I politely declined, saying I was still tired from our trip.

I then texted Birdie: Hey, we need to talk. Can I come over?

She replied: Okay ???

I didn't want her to think she did something wrong so I sent another text: Don't worry. Just wanted to talk about the trip. ;)

She texted back: Oh OK! :)

I texted her: Oh, and maybe don't tell Rockie? I told him I was too tired to go to our gang meetup but I actually just didn't want to go. XP

She sent: OK with a thumbs-up emoji.

I changed out of my police uniform and checked what was in my gift basket. There were a bunch of treats, a get-well-soon card, and a mug that said, 'I can't fix stupid but I can arrest it'. I wished I had looked at it sooner so I could genuinely tell my partner thank you, but it was too late for that. I mistakenly made him believe I had already seen it. Oh well, I thought. Maybe I could give this gift basket to Birdie. It's a nice gift.

I threw away the letter and put the mug in the dishwasher. I brought the gift basket along with a souvenir from Paris and headed to the door.

"Where you off to?" my uncle asked. "You just got here."

"I, uh, Rockie wanted me to hang with him and the guys. I thought I'd bring some snacks."

"Oh, okay. Have fun."

I headed out to my car and drove to Birdie's house.