Chicago Love ✔️

Chapter 55: Split Opinions

"Hailey, my office..." Hank states as Hailey just nods her head in response, following the boss inside the office with the door closing behind them. 

Hank was not sure what he wanted to discuss with her first, or whether he should have pulled Alex inside those four walls first. Should he be taking the business approach, knowing they had a case they should be working? Or should he be personally concerned for her right now? 

Hailey, meanwhile, was unsure as to what would be said here. She did not think this was necessary, and felt it would make the situation even worse. What about Alex right now? He had time to think about those words that Adam said, and what if they played with his mind? Would there even be a relationship to worry about by the end of the day?

"Alex, would you like a cup of coffee while you wait?" Erin offers as she motions into the break lounge beside Hank's office. 

It seemed to be the only logical place to have him wait as everything else transpired. It was a space to call his own for the moment so he was not standing in the middle of the room, and had both a chair or couch to sit on as an option. She also did not feel it would be right to throw him into one of the interrogation rooms. Besides, she remembered from the brief time she spent with him at his house. He liked his coffee. 

Alex simply nods his head, knowing he could not pass up on a cup of coffee. Maybe it would help soothe the nerves that had not eased, perhaps intensified, since making his way into the 21st district. He should have just called her after she was done work, perhaps met up with her at the condo or Molly's as they did before. He should have known it would be a bad idea to come here with all the players at bay right now.

Jay, meanwhile, had not looked away from Adam or Kevin since the comments began. He had debated saying something in response - should have, to be honest. 

He knew Alex better than they did. He knew from the time he spent with him and became his friends that anxiety was a big part of his psychology. Little things like this could eat at him, and it was not fair for that to be dropped in his lap when all he wanted to do was surprise his girl.

It also was not fair to watch either of them get involved in the midst of his personal life. It was already awkward enough without adding Alex to the dynamic. 

Imagine working with your girlfriend, who broke up with you after finding out you were still married to your first wife, and then rekindling back together when she returned to town about eight years later. Imagine working with your ex-wife. Imagine your boss being a father-figure to your girlfriend. Oh, and one of your male partners dated your ex-wife at a time, too. 

The dynamics were crazy all over the place, and now this just complicated it further. Now you had a good friend of his that he met working on a case dating his ex-wife. 

Jay wanted to let it go, allow Hailey and Alex to handle things for themselves. It was their relationship, their motives for being together. If it was for the true reasons, it would work out in the end. Just like he and Erin were able to rekindle together. Just like he and Hailey were able to keep their friendship despite everything going on.

However, his own frustration in the comment and perhaps what lied beneath it caused the feet to work their way down the small walkway between the desks and stand toe-to-toe with the fellow member of his unit.

"Was that really necessary, Adam?" Jay allows himself to question as Adam does not change his gaze one bit. Jay had broken Hailey's heart more than he probably realised. Adam was there to witness it then, and was not about to let Hailey go through that again. 

"I'm just worried about her," Adam confesses with a sigh. "You do not realize what it was like for her when you left for Bolivia. You do not realize the range of emotions that she suffered through in missing you, to anger, to shock and then back to tears. It broke down even more when you extended that leave without consulting her first. She tried to be strong, not show any signs, but we could all see it. I think the only reason she got through it at times was because of Hank. I don't want to see her heart broken again." 

"Alex is a good ki-"

"I never stated he was not a good kid, Jay. He could be the greatest thing to bless this earth. It does not change what I said. What if she's still reeling? What if she is still bothered by everything? What if this is a rebound? What if this is an act on impulse? What if this is an emotional reaction to everything? I am just trying to look out for her by saying that in being worried about her intentions here." Jay takes a deep breath, nodding his head as he could understand what Adam was saying in learning the details. The emotions weren't anything new. He went through his own roller coaster ride when Erin left town before. He went through his own when he made the decision to go to Bolivia, and felt it while overseas in missing pieces of life at home. 

"I still don't think that was the time or place to have said those words, Adam. It may be true, or it may not be true. With how Alex talks about her, I truly believe she cares about him a lot. The same way she talks about him. I mean, she talks about him in ways she never talked about me with how close they are together. I feel they are a match made in heaven. You just made Alex question things. You made him begin to wonder as he enters into a new world that he may think he knows, but doesn't. His anxiety is going to be pegged and bothered, and what if you drive that wedge now? It's like Alvin used to always tell you - take a step back, and think before you act...."