Now it feels like a loose thread.
I down the rest of my drink then turn to my friends. “I’m going to get another. You good?”
Sam gives me a cocky grin. “I’m cool, but you’re not.”
I freeze. “What did you just say?”
“I said, I’m cool.”
I think of the text I sent Jessica about being cool.
My eyes narrow. “Why would you phrase it like that?”
His grin spreads. “Why wouldn’t I?”
I ignore his implication, tilting my head in the direction of the house. “So you’re good?”
“I am.” Sam zeros in on me, takes a deep breath, then blows it out.
A wave of calm laps at my skin like Lake Michigan on a still, sunny day. It soaks in, and some of the raggedness melts away.
Whatever he does works, but somehow, that just makes it worse.
All it does is amplify the sensation that everyone at this godforsaken party knows exactly how I feel about Jessica.
And how she doesn’t feel the same way.
I glance over in her direction. Her back is to me, her dark hair like a tumbling waterfall.
What drives me even crazier than the jealousy is how anticlimactic it all feels. I was prepared for her chaos, and I’m dissatisfied that she’s not giving it to me.
My phone goes off.
I retrieve it from my pocket to see a text from one of my lieutenants, Sadie.
“I’ve got to go.” I raise my head and say to Sam and Mitch, “Someone tried to off the congressman’s mistress.”
“I thought she didn’t remember anything,” Mitch says.
“She doesn’t, but that information isn’t public.” While I’m happy for the distraction, this is not a good situation. Now, instead of putting the finishing touches on the reports and closing the case file, I’m looking at an attempted murder investigation.
Why does everything need to be not boring at once?
Ryder disentangles himself from the group he’s talking to and comes over to me. I jut my chin back toward the crowd. “Since this party is in honor of your sisters, you stay. I’ll take care of it.”
He frowns. “You sure?”
I text my lieutenant to tell her I’m on the way. “Yeah, Sadie is already there.”
Ryder scrubs a hand over his jaw. “Other than the congressman being investigated, nothing we’ve uncovered hints at foul play.”
“Seems we’re missing something. Question is, what?”
“You sure you don’t want me to come?”
I shake my head. “There are so many eyes on this already. One less won’t hurt. If there’s anything that can’t wait, I’ll let you know. Otherwise, I’ll fill you in tomorrow.”
“All right. As long as you’re sure,” Ryder says.