Keeping It in the Family (Linstead)

Chapter 10

Looking at himself in his bathroom mirror, Jay Halstead made a little adjustment to his shirt collar. He was happy with his appearance ahead of his date with Erin. He had decided that he couldn't dress too formally, not for a baseball game. Therefore he had gone for dark blue jeans and a light blue shirt. Given the weather, he would be wearing a coat the whole time anyway. It was remarkable how Chicago could be so cold so often.

Ready to leave, he took his phone out of his pocket and typed out a quick message to Erin.

I'm leaving now. x

A reply came back before he even made it down the stairs.

Erin: It may be a big shock, but I'm ready! Looking forward to seeing you. xx

Her words put a smile on his face as he went through to his garage, grabbing and putting on a black coat along the way, and got into his car. Happily, unlike during the first few days of her return, he felt like he had been able to get Sergeant Lindsay out of his head. He was going to the game with Erin Lindsay, his girlfriend. With the passage of time, maintaining the distinction between the two in his mind was becoming easier.

Just go out with her, relax, and enjoy a good time, he told himself. They needed to try and forget the fact that they worked together, forget the hurt and upset in their past, and make a truly fresh start.

"And what better start than watching the Cubs lose?" he said to himself as he fired up the engine and started the electronic garage door opening. The self-depreciation of his own favourite team made him smile again, although in truth the team were looking very good on paper ahead of the new season, and had gone well during spring training.

It wasn't long before Jay was parking his car outside of Erin's house. The area definitely wasn't the best, he saw as he looked around it in daylight for the first time. Still, this was only where she was staying while she looked for a place, it wasn't actually her home.

Getting out of the car, Jay walked up to the front door. There was no sign of a doorbell, so he gave the door a firm knock.

It only took Erin a few moments to open the door. She too had gone for jeans, along with a black leather jacket and a blue Cubs beanie hat. She was carrying a pair of black leather gloves in one hand. Most importantly, there was a happy smile on her face. "Hi!" she said brightly. "Where's your Cubs merch?"

Jay laughed. "I don't buy merch."

"I don't buy merch," she impersonated, teasing him. "Well, today we're going to buy you some. We're both going to look the part."

"Yes, boss," he grinned, and she stretched up to give him a peck on the cheek.

"I didn't mean to start by teasing you. I've really been looking forward to this. It's been a while since I went out and had some fun, and even longer since I went on a date."

Jay laughed again. "I think George Bush was President the last time I went on a date, so you can bet I've been looking forward to it too."

"Which George Bush?" Erin asked as she closed and locked her front door, and they both laughed.

"I was thinking that we're going to be pretty cold by the time the game is over, and probably hungry. We could go for a meal somewhere?"

"I do like that idea, but I did have my heart set on a big dirty hot dog when we get to Wrigley."

"Do both," Jay said as they approached his car. "Have a hotdog before we get there and a meal after the game."

"Are you trying to get me fat?" she asked, looking at him with raised eyebrows.