Page 69 of Detectives in Love

For a moment, he doesn’t answer. Then I hear the soft click of the middle stall door, and Xavier steps out, looking miserable.

“How bad is it?” I ask, walking up to him, eyeing the soaked clothes. “Let me see.”

“It’s fine,” he mutters, though there’s a wince in his expression. “Just got burned on my stomach.”

“Let me see,” I repeat, stepping closer.

He hesitates, then lifts his shirt. A large red blotch stands out against his skin. It doesn’t look too bad, but I lean in anyway, trying to see if the skin is starting to blister.

“You need to splash some cold water on it, so it doesn’t swell,” I say, brushing my fingers lightly over the spot. Xavier sucks in a sharp breath. I glance up—he’s frowning, tense, eyes locked on mine.

“A cold shower would be ideal, but you’d have to go home for that,” I say. “And by then, it’ll be too late. Come here.”

I take him gently by the elbow and pull him toward the sink, grab a paper towel, and run it under cold water. Xavier just stands there, frozen, as I start dabbing the burn on his abdomen.

“Doesn’t look too bad,” I say as I press the towel to his skin. “You should be alright.”

“Thanks,” Xavier says—and then, after a beat, his hand closes around my wrist, holding it there.

My heart skips. Our eyes meet, and for a second, everything goes still. His gaze is steady, pupils dark in the dim yellow light. My pulse thrums in my throat, my skin buzzing under his touch. I swear he’s about to kiss me.

But then—like the universe just can’t help itself—my phone rings, loud in the quiet room.

I flinch. Xavier lets go, stepping back. The spell breaks.

“Sorry,” I mutter, flustered, pulling my phone from my pocket.

Unknown Number.I swipe to answer.

“Hello?”

“Newt?”

“Yeah?”

It’s a woman, but I don’t recognize the voice right away.

“It’s Katie.”

I blink, taking a second to catch up. “Katie! Yes. Hi!”

He lets the shirt fall, looks away, and tosses the towel in the bin. I watch as he grabs another paper towel to blot his coat.

“Am I too early?” Katie asks after a pause, her voice a little hesitant.

“No, no,” I say quickly. “I’m already working.”

“Oh, good.” Another pause. “Did you get my text yesterday?”

Shit. I completely forgot.

“Yeah,” I say, then lie without missing a beat. “I was just about to call you back…”

“Oh, cool. Would you like to meet up? Grab a coffee? I’m free in two hours…if you’d like, that is.”

“Yes, sure,” I say, catching Xavier’s gaze in the mirror. He looks away.

“Perfect. Maybe we could relive our high school days and hit up La Marseillaise on Cottonhill Square?”