Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 41952 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 210(@200wpm)___ 168(@250wpm)___ 140(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 41952 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 210(@200wpm)___ 168(@250wpm)___ 140(@300wpm)
“Here you go, Officer Cl—” Erlene touched her fingertips to her lips, cutting herself off. “I mean, Joshua.”
Clark spread his mustache wider than Mason ever got the privilege to see and reached in his back pocket for his wallet.
“Hello. I’ll have a lemon bundt too, and a caramel latte,” Mason added with a crooked grin. Man, he couldn’t wait to tease his friend when they got back in the car.
“Of course, Officer Mason.” Erlene laughed and shook her head as if she was behaving silly and filled Mason’s order as well.
Clark paid for their order and left Erlene a generous tip, as usual. His partner stilled after he took his bag like he was contemplating saying something else but ended up just standing there like a tongue-tied fool.
Just ask her out, you moron. Mason gritted his teeth, almost wanting to lend his helpless partner a hand because this was pitiful. He didn’t understand what was so hard about asking a lady out. Granted he’d never done it, but it couldn’t be that hard. Mason was gay and even he could tell Erlene was giving off those “ask for my number” vibes.
Clark stared into Erlene’s kind eyes before he chickened-out—like he always did—and said a rushed goodbye. “Thank you again, Erlene. You have a good night.”
Erlene’s smile fell a little as she waved at Clark’s back. “You two be safe out there.”
Mason tipped his latte at her in thanks, then followed his partner to their squad car. Clark pointed his finger in his face before Mason could open his mouth. “Don’t you even think about it.”
Mason barked a startled laugh. “I didn’t say anything.”
“Then don’t,” Clark growled, looking as if he could kick his own ass, so Mason cut him some slack.
“I don’t know why you don’t just ask her out.” Mason shrugged. He checked their computer to make sure they were in the correct application to receive calls so Clark didn’t bite his head off.
“It’s complicated, okay?” Clark said and shoved half of a mini cake in his mouth. He moaned loud enough to make Mason scoff, but Mason ended up forgiving him after he took his own bite.
“Fuck, that’s good,” Mason said. “Is that the toasty marshmallow things tasting like that?”
“Goddamnit. I know, right.” Clark was already reaching for his second one. “Imagine if I could eat these things all the time?”
“It looks like you can, buddy.” Mason frowned. “And I don’t know what’s so complex. She obviously likes you, and you like her.”
Clark began to chew slowly, his scruffy jaws working the delicate cake around in his mouth to avoid commenting. Mason could see the fear and the uncertainty in his friend, but the only way to fail was to not even try. Instead of badgering him, he shut his mouth and listened.
“Remember that woman I dated a couple years ago?” Clark flicked a few crumbs from his beard and off his jacket.
Mason nodded. Jacklyn, Jasmine, or Jackie-something. He remembered things had been going okay between those two until Clark injured his back after taking a tumble down a flight of stairs with a suspect. The woman he’d called “his lady” hadn’t stuck around long enough for the orthopedic specialist to confirm Clark would be fine. She’d texted him goodbye, stating she could no longer stay up half the night worrying if he’d come home safely.
It was a valid concern but a shitty way to go about communicating it.
“Yeah. Um, Jackie.”
“Jaime,” Clark gritted out.
“What about her?” Mason crumpled up his bag, then took a long sip of his hot latte, enjoying the warmth as it coated his insides. Atlanta in December didn’t get snow, but there was still a bite in the air that made this his favorite time of year.
“I haven’t really thought about dating anyone seriously since her.” Clark didn’t look at him as he made his confession, but if he had, he would’ve seen no judgment from him. Mason was alone by choice too… just not his choice. “Erlene, she… she doesn’t seem like the type, ya know. But…”
“But you don’t wanna go through that again.” Mason nodded. “I get it, man. But my father used to tell me that a closed mouth doesn’t get fed. You just gotta go for it, Clark.”
“Oh yeah. Then why are you still single? How come you didn’t make a play for Godfrey all those years ago before he fell in love with Day? Or what about the way you procrastinated asking out Freeman?” Clark scoffed, throwing his hands up in exasperation. “You let Hart swoop in and steal your dream guy.”
“Exactly. I never opened my damn mouth.” Mason looked at his partner pointedly. “But I promise that shit won’t happen again. It’s a new year, and it’s our time for romance, buddy.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Mason. That sounds like something a man your age would say,” Clark rumbled and turned the computer to face him as if he’d heard enough and was ready to go to work.