Page 82 of Man Seeking Woman

Tink! Tink! Tink!

“What was that?” Ella asked, whispering in my ear.

Pushing the button for my window, I rolled it down slightly to see what it was.

“Is there a problem here?” A man's voice asked, his tone accusatory and firm.

A bright light shone in my eyes, causing me to lift my hand and block it. “No, Sir, there isn't a problem.”

Ella slid off my lap quickly and back into her seat, adjusting her dress and wiping around her lips. Her eyes kept shifting back and forth between her lap, the windshield, and the cop at my window.

“How much have you had to drink tonight?”

“Nothing really, just a glass of wine.”

“Can I ask you to get out of the car for me?”

“August—” Ella's voice was uncertain, still trying to wrap her mind around what was happening.

It was easy. A cop had seen the car on the side of the road and decided to check it out. That was it. I wasn't drunk, we were both of legal age, this would be a quick formal stop and then we'd be on our way.

“Step out of the car, Sir.”

“Alright, I'm coming.” Opening the door, the cop took a few steps away and kept his hand on his holster. “Would you like my license?”

“I'd like for you to put your hands on the hood of the car and not say another word.”

Following orders, the police officer patted me down, asking me if I had anything in my pockets he should know about. I didn't, so I let him frisk me without worry.

“License,” he said, holding his flashlight higher. Passing him what he wanted, he held it in the light. “August Burke, as in—”

“Burke Brewery, that's me.”

“I love Not Your Grandma's logger you guys came out with last summer.” Handing me my license, he flashed the light between each of my eyes, scrutinizing the way my pupils reacted to the beam. “You say you only had one drink, is that right?”

“That's right.”

“Where you guys heading?”

“Home, only a few blocks up.”

“Mr. Burke, you two really couldn't wait a few more blocks before you decided to turn the breakdown lane into your personal bedroom?”

“I'm sorry, Officer—” leaning forward, I attempted to read his badge.

“Greenwood, Officer Greenwood.”

“Officer Greenwood, it wasn't planned. My girlfriend and I just had dinner with my mother, and it didn't exactly go well. I pulled over to apologize and one thing led to another. You know how that goes.”

“Unfortunately, I don't. I've been married for almost thirty years, we're on a special occasion only type of cycle. Spur of the moment died right after we had our first son.” The officer chuckled, his laugh gritty and thick. “But don't let me scare you, I'm sure you two have years before you end up in that boat.” Tipping his hat, he bent down and smiled at Ella. “No more street shows, why don't you two head home for the night.”

“Absolutely, thank you, Officer.” Shaking his hand, I climbed back into the car and started to drive.

“Do you think that's true?” Ella asked.

“What's true?”

“That him and his wife don't have sex anymore. Do you think that really happens to couples?”