Graham on the other hand embraced life as a couple. And ultimately Graham’s marriage ended because Emma wasn’t over Dane, she’d used Graham as a substitute. It was that realization that allowed him to forgive Graham in the first place, even though technically Graham hadn’t been in the wrong to begin with.
But what if Graham was right about Genevieve? What if he pushed and she decided to choose him over Graham after all? Or Graham decided to end it to make him happy? Would he be able to give her the future she wanted? If he was honest with himself, he saw there was a good chance he wouldn’t be despite entertaining the possibility she was the one. Genevieve had been through enough with her old fiancé, she didn’t need his games and commitment issues fucking her over a second time.
He looked over at Graham and sighed, “I’m sorry Graham. I overreacted.”
“Ya think?” Graham turned his head to stare at his brother. “I lost a tooth because of you.”
Dane chuckled. “With that ugly mug, won’t make a difference.”
“We’re twins, idiot.”
“So are we fine here? Or does a suspension sound good for the both of you?” their captain asked, visibly finished with the whole ordeal.
“Yeah. We’re fine.”
“Yeah,” Graham seconded his reassurance.
“Good. Get out of my sight, I have real work to do.”
“How about we go get a beer and talk this through,” Dane suggested as they exited the office, closing the door behind them.
Graham looked hesitant but nodded. “Yeah. It’s best we clear the air. I don’t want a rehash of what happened with Emma. I really don’t.”
~*~*~*~*~
~ Genevieve ~
It was 8pm and not a sight or word from Graham. She’d called twice and sent a few text messages. Nothing. With a sigh she moved away from the window that overlooked the street and flopped down on the sofa. Her brief and awkward conversation with Dane had been on her mind. One section of their conversation in particular came to mind – the fact Graham was manning a murder crime scene. What if something happened? What if he got hurt?
Panic began to seep into her. What if he wasn’t answering because he was in the hospital – or worse? Ten minutes passed and her anxiety increased until the point she had her phone in her hands and preparing to phone the precinct.
After looking up the number she quickly input the numbers and then sat with her finger hovering over the key, not sure if she should dial or not. Just as she made the final decision to press the button, the buzzer for her apartment rang.
Oh, thank God!
Leaping from the sofa, she rushed across the room and pressed the intercom. “Hello.”
“Ginny. It’s me. Buzz me up.”
Genevieve frowned. It sounded like him, but he didn’t quite sound right. Without question she pressed the buzzer opening the security lock on the front door. As she waited she stood in front of the full-length mirror and examined her reflection. Her make-up was still perfectly applied and her black knee-length pencil dress accented her figure perfectly. He’d love it.
A wide smile emerged on her lips when the knock came at her door – loud and insistent.
“Ginny!” Graham yelled from the other side of the door, followed by more loud knocking.
“I’m here!”
What in the hell? She rushed to the door and without bothering to look through the peephole flung it open, scared he’d disturb her overly anal neighbours with the noise.
“What are you –” her mouth dropped open at the sight of him. He looked seriously fucked up.
One hand held a bouquet of mangled flowers, presumably picked from the flower beds outside, and the other a half-drunk bottle of beer.
“Hey, Ginny.” He took a step over the threshold and thrust the flowers at her. He faintly smelled of beer and was still wearing his uniform pants and white undershirt.
She gingerly accepted the flowers, noticing that some had been yanked out of the ground and still contained the roots. She was so confused she couldn’t be angry. There was no doubt whatever he had originally planned for the evening had gone straight out the door.
“What’s going on, Graham?”
He walked past her and into the apartment, clucking his tongue off of the roof of his mouth.
“Dane and I had a talk.” Surprisingly he wasn’t slurring his words although they sounded heavy and his walking was a little off kilter.
She didn’t have to ask what about. Closing the door, she took his hand and pulled him over to the sofa. Sitting down, she patted the vacant spot next to her. As he sat she noticed a minor blackening of his eye and a cut on his upper lip, which was slightly swollen.
“Oh my God, what happened to you?”
“Dane.” He took another drink of his beer, finishing up the contents of the bottle.
Her eyes widened. “Were you guys in a fight?”
“Bingo.” He smiled wide and she noticed a missing tooth several teeth in from the front. She was sure he’d had all his teeth the previous evening.
“And your tooth?” Her heart sank. She didn’t want them fighting over her and certainly didn’t want them coming to blows with each other.
This is my fault. All my fault.
He grinned as wide as possible. “Arrr. I’m a pirate now.”
Her hand flew to her mouth, not sure if she should laugh at his antics or cry because she was the cause of it. A giggle escaped her while tears formed in her eyes.
“Don’t worry.” He graced her with a wink. “I got a few good whacks in myself.”
“When did this happen?”
“After my shift. He found me in the locker room. No big deal.” He waved a dismissive hand at her. “We fight all the time.”
“With your fists?” She looked down at the flowers in her hand and placed them on the coffee table, wiping the soil from her hands on a napkin.
He did say he was going to surprise me, she mused, I’m thoroughly surprised.
“Nah, it’s been a while for that… we were about due really.”
“Are you drunk?”
“Wha’? No. No. No. Just had a few beers. That’s all. We worked it out over beer.”
She gave him a dubious look, but didn’t challenge him on the drunk issue.
“Oh shit! Wait!” He stood up quickly and collapsed back onto the sofa.
“Oh God, are you okay Graham? Do you need some water? Aspirin?”
“We have a date tonight. I was supposed to give you the date of a lifetime.” He leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. “I just need a minute and we can go.”