Page 83 of Inside Out
“For who would live if life held no allurements?”
~Lewis Howard Latimer
“A life that doesn’t arouse you from slumber and tempt you with challenges might be cleaner and easier, but it’s also boring. Thrill me; let’s get messy.”
~Julius Shepherd
The POS situation kept us on edge for the first few weeks after the story aired on Channel Eleven news. Who could blame us? The hate group had worked quietly to disrupt the play without us knowing, so common sense made you wonder what else the group planned. Would they boldly retaliate this time? Were they a danger to us or the kids? Roy Halifax had already stalked Rome and me without us knowing it. Wasn’t that an indication the man could be unhinged?
God, I was so pissed when Rome told me about the photo, and even more concerned what Roy would do with it going forward. We couldn’t possibly hope it would always land in a fair-minded person’s inbox. Rome had asked Cait if she wanted him to step down, but she assured him a letter of resignation would be immediately put through the shredder. She reiterated what we knew in our hearts; we hadn’t done anything wrong. Rome had even asked Ashley if she thought we should obtain a restraining order, but the man had never physically threatened any of us. She encouraged us to file an official complaint with the local law enforcement, both for documentation and to see if they’d patrol by our house more frequently.Our house.I loved hearing people say that.
“Do you want me to go to the police station to file the report?” Rome had a series of meetings coming up after school, and I had more free time than he did since tennis was over.
“Why? So that muscled hunk in the too-tight uniform can try and take you away from me? I bet he’d offer to keep a really close eye on you. Probably stand over your bed and watch you sleep.” The last part creeped me out and made me shiver. Rome laughed, and I knew he wasn’t seriously worried about the cop’s interest.
Just in case though, I said, “Knock it off. No one is going to take me away from you, and you’re the only one I don’t mind watching me sleep.”
We went to the police station together, and I tried not to laugh when Rome placed his hand possessively on the small of my back when Officer Simanski was the one who took our complaint. The cop’s flirty side from the night of the board meeting disappeared when he heard our concerns.
“This is the part I really hate,” Officer Simanski said. “I will file your complaint to get it on the record, but right now, there’s not much we can do. I can ask the captain if patrol can swing by your house a few times during their shifts, but without a direct threat…” His expression contorted and looked like he’d sucked on a lemon, but maybe it was because his words tasted nasty in his mouth.
“My sister is an attorney, so we knew there wasn’t anything you could do besides document the claim, Officer,” Rome assured him.
“I’m serious about asking for extra patrolling,” he said. “Dr. Bradley, I have your address on the complaint. Can I have your address too, Mr. Shepherd?”
“We live together,” I replied without thinking. “I do have my own residence, but I’m never there.”
“Okay, so I’ll just ask if we can patrol this one address then.”
“Thank you for your time,” Rome said, shaking the officer’s hand.
“I just wish I could do more.”
“You’re doing what the law allows. We wouldn’t ask you to go beyond that,” I said, offering my hand to him. The big guy’s hand dwarfed mine but there wasn’t a single tingle or buzz when our skin touched. Only Rome made my skin come alive.
On the way out of the police station, Rome leaned close and said, “Make sure we’re pulling the bedroom curtains extra tight.” I just rolled my eyes and looped my arm around his waist. Rome stopped suddenly in the middle of the parking lot and turned to me. “I like what you said inside the station.”
“Which part?” I asked, even though I knew.
“The part about us living together. I know we’ve unofficially lived together for some time, but I want to make it official. I know you’re locked into a lease, and I’m not asking you to break it, but I want to move your things out ofyourplace and intoourplace.”
The smile on my face grew until it hurt. “Dare already told me he’d rip up the lease if I wanted to officially move out.”
“When?” Rome asked.
“A few weeks after we started dating. I’d only stopped by long enough to take my trash to the curb for pickup. He told me he’d never stand in the way of love. I kind of laughed him off, but I knew even then how much you meant to me.”
“So let’s make it official. Move in with me.”
I looked at our surroundings and chuckled. “You English lit guys aren’t always so suave. Asking me to move in with you while standing in the middle of the parking lot at the police station? How will I ever top this moment?”
“Spontaneity is supposed to be sexy. I can ask again with a bottle of wine and a crackling fire in the background if you prefer.”
“I prefer honest and sincere which is exactly what I got.”
“Is that a yes then?”
“It’s a hell yes.” I didn’t just see his joyous smile, I tasted it when I pressed my lips to his. “Let’s go home.”