Black Tie Event

Chapter Thirty One

I knocked on her apartment door three times, only to find myself fidgeting on the other side. It had been too long, and I didn't know if I was excited or nervous. But I was Kim fucking Hayden after all; I didn't get nervous, so I just assumed the former.

"Who is it?"

"Jehova's witness," I replied. "I'm here to spread the good news."

At the recognition of my voice, I heard Grace on the inside undoing all three of her locks. I wondered briefly why she locked her door three times. I had an entire gang of thugs that wanted me dead and even still once was enough for me.

"Kim," she squealed, jumping on me and nearly knocking me over. I took pride in being able to catch her weight and shut her door behind me. The reaction wasn't one I'd been anticipating; in fact, it was nearing midnight, and I was anticipating that she'd be asleep. But it was certainly welcome, and made me feel wanted, so I went with it.

"Miss me?" I smiled, putting her down on her couch. 

"Are you home for good?" she asked, sounding like a little kid, and ignoring my question completely though her response did speak for itself.

I nodded. "Mostly. I have to testify in a few days, but, I'm all moved out."

"Moved out?"

"Not of my apartment," I tried to explain. "Of, where I was. Previously. Before I came back."

Her confusion read across her face, and I figured I didn't need to speak in ambiguities anymore. It was all over, wasn't it? I could talk.

I exhaled, starting over. "I was undercover in Green Falls," I explained.

"Again?"

"Same place, different story."

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"Why do you have to testify? What did they do to you?"

"As an arresting officer," I promised. "And as a detective. Not as a victim. Don't worry, Grace. I'm fine."

"Do you promise?"

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help smiling at her concern. "Yes, I promise."

"Sorry," she relented. "I just worry about you."

"Don't be," I said. "It's nice that you care. And, you know, I appreciate you not wanting me dead."

"Well," she nodded. "Sometimes I feel like the only one."

"That's probably because you are," I shrugged. "I piss a lot of people off, but, I think you find eventually that you can count on your fingers the people you actually care about. So, if all of Green Falls wants me dead, I can deal with that."

"Was that your twisted way of saying you care about me?"

"God, you have selective hearing, don't you?"

She shrugged and bit her lip. "I pull out the things I like."

I just laughed, shaking my head at her and realizing all of a sudden how much I really missed her. Not just screwing her, I noted, but her in general. I leaned in to kiss her, which she returned, however lightly.

"Kim, can we not, tonight?" she asked quietly.

"Can we not what?"

"It's just, I just finished a double shift and I'm exhausted, and I haven't even showered."

"Go to bed," I instructed. "What's the problem?"

"I just figured you showed up at midnight because you wanted to--"