Page 9 of Watch Me

I smiled and went to sit on my couch as she placed her purse on the table. “Yeah. Then we can see how you do with dead bodies.”

Reagan sat next to me, but not close enough to touch. “Do you get them every day or something?”

Chuckling, I said, “No, but we do live in one of the thirty cities with the highest murder rates.”

“No wonder you’re used to it.”

“Yeah, and like I said, it gets easier.”

“A ride-along sounds fun. I’d love that.”

“Great, I’ll set it up.” Being a gentleman, I should have offered to take her home—or drive her to her car at Judy’s—but I didn’t want her to leave. “Want to watch a movie or something?”

She paused, and I knew she wanted to do the right thing—the right thing being head home since it was late. Instead, she said, “Yeah. Let me use the bathroom first.”

I grinned because her answer gave me hope that we were both feeling something. “Just down the hall. First door on the left.”

Reagan returned not long after, and we selected a movie while she got comfortable on one side of the couch, and I got comfortable on the other side. I had to admit that we’d never watched a movie together this way. Even when we first started dating, I’d wrap my arm around her shoulders. Now, she was a mile away, and I felt the distance between us.

While we watched the TV, I made it my new mission to win herback.

Reagan Hunter was going to be mineagain.

Iwoke in a bed.

A bed that didn’t feel likemybed.

After slowly opening my eyes, I looked over and noticed I was alone. I couldn’t remember falling asleep or getting into a bed—Ethan’s bed. I didn’t feel hungover, drugged, or anything like that, so I didn’t understand how I didn’t remember anything except watching a movie on Ethan’scouch.

I lifted the covers, looking down to see that I was still in my clothes except for my shoes. Turning my head, I noticed a piece of paper on the pillow next to me, so I sat up and grabbedit.

Buttercup,

You’re still cute when you snore.

Key is by your purse. Lock up when you leave, and I’ll stop by Judy’s tonight to get it.

-E

I didnotsnore. Okay, I did, but only when I was really tired.

It finally made sense why I couldn’t remember falling asleep in Ethan’s bed. Usually, after work, I’d go home, take a shower, and be in bed by one, not reminiscing with my high school boyfriend until whatever hour it was that I’d finally fell asleep. I must have fallen asleep during the movie and didn’t wake when he—did he carry me tobed?

I didn’t regretstaying.

Ethan’s bed was fuckingcomfortable.

Every time the front door of Judy’s opened, I looked for Ethan. I really wanted to see him again. He was currently my only friend in Chicago, and honestly, I was okay with that.

The night before had been nice. He hadn’t grilled me about why I’d broken up with him all those years ago, and I didn’t pry and ask how long he’d been divorced. I wanted it to be a long time so I wasn’t his rebound—ifanything happened. It was as if we were starting over in a sense, putting our childhood in the past and moving forward as adults.

And that excitedme.

The door opened again, and I glanced up. Two women entered, and I turned my attention back to the beer I was pouring from the tap. The door opened once more, but again, it wasn’t the person who I wanted tosee.

“Waiting for someone?”

I looked over at Derrick, who was standing next to me, refilling the limes and lemons. We were the only ones on the floor because Frank was on break and the other barback had left for the night.