T h i r s t

f o u r t e e n

Minor time jump

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"I'm not really an alcohol person." I told Mitch as we exited the hospital when he asked me for a drink.

"Really? How else do you cope then?"

"Cope?"

"With that?" He said, jerking his thumb behind us.

"Oh . . . . Crying."

He chuckled, leaning closer to me. "Does that work?"

"Effectively." I nodded, and he chuckled again. "I only asked because I know you're lonely."

I blinked. "Only for another couple of days."

"Right. Atlantic City, was it?"

"Yep."

"You miss him?"

I sighed, looking away. "You know what, I really do."

"That's nice." He sniffled. I wanted to ask about his dating life, when I smelled something. It was cigarette smoke.

I jerked my head in the direction and there he was, casually leant up against his car, shades on and hands in his pockets. He smiled when I looked at him and my heart stilled. Holy fuck, what was he doing to me?

"I'll see you later?" I asked Mitch, but he was already walking away with a smile. I often got the feeling that he didn't like Ryan very much.

"Oh, my God."

I chuckled and shuffled my way up to him, running the last few feet and throwing myself at him. He held my legs against his waist with a groan, chuckling. I popped the cigarette out of his mouth and wrapped my arms around his neck, and kissed him.

It was short and chaste, two-days-of-not-seeing-your-boyfriend kinda kiss.

"I thought I wasn't allowed to kiss you if I smoked?"

"You're not." I grinned and kissed him again, holding his face in my hands as he put me down, but still had his arms fastened around my waist.

"You got a haircut!" I grinned, running my fingers through it. It was cut short and stood up. "I like it."

"So why are you here early? Missed me too much?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Actually, yes." He sighed, gazing down at me with a gentle smile. I rolled my eyes and leaned back so he'd release me, but he held on to my hand.

"What about you? You missed me?"

"Little bit." I shrugged, smirking.

"Wanna get dinner?" He asked, clicking the button on his keys.

"Yes, I could do with some waffles right now." I got into the passenger seat.

He shook his head lightly and closed the door, turning the key.

"Don't you get bored of them?"

"Don't you get bored of smoking?" I raised an eyebrow when he looked at me.

"Okay, smartass."

I giggled as he pulled out of the parking lot.

"What about me? You ever get bored of me?" His tone had dulled down.

"All the time."

He snorted. "I'm being serious, Lo." He said, and looked over at me with a sombre expression.

I stilled. "Of course not." I shifted and lay my hand on his thigh. "Ry, where's this coming from?"

He shook his head, and I watched him swallow.

Just before he could answer, his phone vibrated on the dash. He turned off the engine and took it, getting out of the car. I watched him closely.

"Couple more hours, Kent." He was saying, and I noticed the lines around his eyes were deeper. What had him on edge?

I slid my hand into his and gripped it tight, and he did the same after a beat, hesitantly. What was he thinking?

"Deal with it. You owe me one." He snapped and threw the phone into his pocket.

"Everything ok?" I asked as gently as possible, rubbing my thumb over his hand comfortingly.

He sighed. "Yeah."

He didn't speak anything else even after we sat in our usual booth, staring out the glass. Debbie came and confirmed if we wanted the usual, and he didn't even look then.

I leaned forward and took his hand. His skin was rougher than usual.

"Ry?" He looked at me. "What's wrong? Are you mad at me?"

"Of course not." He frowned.

"Then why are you like that? Did something happen with the arrest?"

"I haven't arrested him yet."

"What?" I frowned and shifted. "Then why are you back--"

"It's only for dinner. I have to go back."

I stilled and gazed at him, silently beckoning an explanation.

"I don't understand."

"We're close, but the sting's gonna take a couple more days. I missed you so I--"

My throat dried. I could not believe my ears. I swallowed hard before saying, "You drove three hours because you missed me?"

He nodded and looked down at the salt cellar. I let go of his hand and leaned back in my seat, covering my hand over my face as the tears fell.

I almost never cried.

But I could not stop them. Eventually, he took notice and his eyes widened.

"Hey . . ."

I stood up and went over to his side and straddled him for a hug, sobbing into his shoulder.

"Lo?" He rubbed my back hesitantly. "What's wrong?"

I sniffled and pulled away to look at his face, full of concern.

"You came all this way for me."

"Yeah. Is that why you're crying?" He asked, holding my face. I nodded and pressed my forehead against his, swallowing.

He tittered, pressing his lips to my cheek. "Oh, kitten . . ."

"Why were you like that?"

"Hm?"

"Just now? I thought you were mad at me." I sniffled.

"No, it's just . . ." He sighed. "I never thought I'd miss someone enough to put them before my job and . . . it scared me, how bad I wanted to see you."

I frowned.

"And then I thought what if . . . what if you didn't feel the same way, but . . . now I know." He smiled and I kissed him.

"Here you go, hon--Oh, should I come back?" Debbie asked, balancing three plates.

"That would be great." Ryan mumbled from underneath my lips and I watched Debbie walk away with a smile.

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