Badges and Bikes

Chapter 19

Ashton's POV***

I wake up after a hard night with little sleep. I have been worried about the guys. And their situation with their grandpa.

I could not imagine losing gpa or gma. I seriously don't think that I could handle that. Losing David was bad enough. I never want to go through anything like that again. I get up to go work out at the gym. I am waiting there when Jamey opens up. He smiles at me. 

"Good morning beautiful! You are up early. How hard are you going to work out this morning?" He asks with a hug.

"Good morning, uncle! Not really hard this morning. I just had a restless night. Thane and Max just found out that their grandpa passed away last year. It just got me to thinking about stuff. I am early because with my new job, I might not have a lot of time in the evenings to catch a work out. So you might be seeing more of me. Is that ok?"

I start pairing my music with the speaker system. 

"You know that you are always welcome here, Ash. We don't have certain hours for family. Do you need a key in case we are closed when you want to use the gym?"

He smiled when he heard the opening of the song Jack And Diane by John Cougar Mellencamp. They don't normally play eighties music here. But I am a huge fan of it. Mom said that I get it through dad and his taste for music. Mom likes country music. I do too, but you can't get a good work out listening to Reba or Carrie.

"You better ask your partners before giving me a key. They might not like that idea. I will try to keep myself to business hours. But thank you for the offer. That is why you are my favorite."

He laughed at me and turned for the counter. "You know that we have compared notes and know that you tell all of us that? But make yourself at home. I have some stuff to do before we get busy with people who wait until a decent hour to come in."

"I am at home here. I do know that you guys have compared notes and know that you are all my favorite. But you all still love me most of all the nieces. And those regular people are so ordinary. I can't be like them." I get on the bike and start pedaling for a while. At the ten-mile mark I go to the rowing machine. I hear the bell to alert us that someone has entered and look into mirror. I see Thane walking towards me. He hasn't realized that I am looking at him. He just stands there watching. I finally say something.

After he leaves, I shower and get dressed for work. I am ready to tackle whatever the guys throw at me today. I'm feeling great! I go behind the counter to get a bottle of water. Jamey is on the phone it sounds like Logan. I get his attention and wave good bye to him.

"Have a good day at work, Ash. Be safe." He tells me.

"You too, uncle J. Tell everyone hello for me."

"Logan says have a great day chief!"

"Thank you, Logan." I leave for the office.

I pull into the parking for our civilian cars. I don't see any cars from Thane, Max, Kyle or dad. I park in a spot for the assistant chief. Mainly because that is what I am right now. I see Willis getting out of his car as I get out of my Jeep.

"Ain't you in the wrong spot? The sign says 'Assistant Chief'. Last thing I heard said you are just a ordinary little whiny bitch. You got no rank here whatsoever."

"Apparently you haven't been keeping up with current affairs around here while on vacation. But you will find out soon enough."

"I did hear that the only affair going on around here is you and the sheriff. Oh! And you fuckin flipped your service vehicle." He laughed as if there was a great joke in there some where.