An Officer, The K9, And Me

Chapter 6

SOPHIA

You can't miss it. It's the big, white one and it says 'Sheriff' on the side.

Jack's voice reverberated in Sophia's head as she stood out front of the emergency room.

The car. Standard white with the exception of the county name splayed across the side of the vehicle, right above the word 'Sheriff' in bold, silver lettering, along with an intricate design of black and blue lines in the background.

Sophia tilted her head to the side as she looked at the car. And than the similar one parked right behind it.

Left or right. Right or left.

Contemplating the decision, Jack reappeared behind Sophia.

"Problem?" Jack spoke.

"There's two."

He chuckled. "So you have a 50/50 shot of choosing the right one."

She turned around to face him. "Or you could just tell me."

"What would be the fun in that?" Jack cocked his head to the side, smirking.

Easton, down at their heels, looked back-and-forth between the two. Standing up on all fours, he proceeded to walk over to the one in the front.

Sophia turned back around. "Thanks, Easton," she called out. Turning back to Jack, "good to know the dog still has chivalrous instincts."

Jack smiled. "Let's go."

****

The drive was silent.

For a while it was just Sophia looking absentmindedly out the window, watching trees and street lights pass by in a blur.

"You hungry?" Jack spoke suddenly.

Sophia shrugged. "I could eat."

"I know just the place."

****

It was late. There was no denying it. Not a lot of restaurants were open past ten o'clock. Except one.

Jack pulled into the parking lot of a medium industrial looking building. Exposed brick wrapped the outside facade with two concrete columns near the entrance.

When Jack parked up front, the neon glow from the company's sign lit up and shown across his features.

Sophia looked up through the windshield. "Sugar n' Spice?"

Unbuckling his seatbelt, Jack spoke, "let's go."

The closer they walked to the front entrance the more they could hear the sound of loud and booming music coming from inside.

The place was packed with patrons drinking and dancing wildly. Some chatting with others. Neon signs hung up on the exposed brick walls were lit up."

"Ice cold beer served here...?" Sophia murmured. Turning to Jack, "...you brought me to a bar?"

Jack smirked. "Just keep following me."

Pushing aside a red velvet curtain, Jack gestured Sophia to walk through the doorway. The room was similar to the bar. Exposed brick walls. Hardwood floors. Black tabletops and red booths all around the room. On this side, there were less neon signs, only one which was in the design of an strawberry ice cream cone; the top a pink neon and a yellow neon for the cone.

"Let's find a seat." Jack announced from Sophia's side.

They walked over to one of the corner booths, albeit closest to the neon sign.

Sophia sat down on her side of the booth before looking at Jack. "What is this place exactly?"

"You like it?" Jack smiled before picking up a menu.

"It's a bar and an ice cream shop."

"The best of both worlds."

Sophia reached for a menu. "Is that two of your favorite things?"

Jack shrugged. "Can't say I hate them." He paused for a minute before adding, "what about you? What do you like?" Not a moment to soon, he realized what he was asking to who and said, "sorry."

At Jack's side, Easton barked, making Sophia jumped.

"Shit. I forgot he was with us."

Jack swung an arm around Easton. "How could forget about him?" Jack ruffled the top of Easton's head, scratching him behind the ears. "Anyways..."

"Yeah...?" Sophia smiled overlooking the menu.

"I mean, we should get to know each other if we're going to be living together essentially."

"How do you get to know someone with amnesia?"

Jack shrugged. "Maybe we can start with a name?"

"I don't know my name. That's the problem."

"What do you want your name to be?

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, like, what should we call you?" Jack asked, curiously.

Sophia flicked her eyes over the man in front of her. This guy was toned but still built in a way that one could easily assume he worked out. A lot. Kind of obvious since he was a cop. She moved her gaze over his biceps, clad in the short sleeves of his uniform; black and with a little bit of navy blue on the edge of the sleeves. Then, her eyes flitted over to his torso, making the assumption that he had a pretty well-defined chest just below the layer of fabric and bulletproof vest.

Suddenly, her eyes drifted to that little piece silver piece of hardware pinned to the left side of his chest. Five points encircling the county name encircling the State seal. Sophia's eyes lit up as soon as her gaze landed upon the officer sitting across from her and she couldn't help but smile before saying, "How about Star?"