by Nic Roberts
“I can’t even imagine what kind of shenanigans you got up to in your youth. Oh wait, you still are in your youth,” Olivia shot back with a hearty laugh.
Clara nudged her jokingly.
“What can I say? Young, beautiful, and brilliant!” Her teeth flashed as she spoke, all dazzle and spectacle.
There was no denying that the two women were very different. Clara was all about performance, while Olivia tended to try and observe from the shadows.
Maybe that was what made them click so well.
“I have to ask,” Olivia murmured, suddenly aware that she might be tipsier than she initially thought. “Are you and Hershel still…you know?”
Clara smiled knowingly.
“We may or may not be going on a date tomorrow,” she practically whispered, ducking her head to explain to Olivia, who widened her eyes at the comment.
“That’s lovely!” she exclaimed, giving her friend’s hand an eager squeeze. “You’ll have to let me know how it goes!”
Clara shrugged before slyly taking a sip of her Gimlet.
“Who knows if it’ll go anywhere,” she admitted. “But I actually quite like her.”
Olivia thought that for maybe the first time, Clara was actually trying to hide a smile.
“I’m happy for you,” she hummed, mulling over her wine.
“And you?” The tech analyst asked. “Are you going to hit up Duracell again?” Olivia nearly spat her wine out at Clara’s question. “Sorry—forgot that was a sore subject.”
“First of all, I never hit up Constable Shaw,” she defended unable to hold back the tipsy grin on her face at the comment. “Believe me, I’ve thought about it, but I don’t know if it’d be a good idea. Besides...” Olivia sighed, holding back for a moment, trying to gauge whether or not she was ready to talk about the more serious things with Clara. She makes me feel safe, she realised as she glanced up at the tech analyst, who was avidly studying her facial expressions as she sipped her cocktail. “I’m not sure that I’m quite ready to take on a real relationship right now,” she admitted, looking down at her hands.
There was a moment of silence between them before she felt Clara squeeze her shoulder, and she gave her a grateful look in return.
“Maybe I am,” she added. “I just don’t want to rush things.”
“Take as much time as you need,” Clara insisted. “That being said, it doesn’t always have to lead to a relationship. You could always just…wham bam, thank you ma’am and onto the next!”
“Clara!” Olivia felt her cheeks flush with more than just the wine but found herself laughing.
“I’m just saying!” She giggled as she spoke, putting Olivia at ease. “If you want to roll around with Duracell in his bed, fuck what the office has to say about it. We women enjoy sex just as much as men.”
She shrugged.
“Maybe you’re right,” Liv acquiesced with a small smile. “Maybe he’s just what I need right now.”
Clara nodded slowly.
“Exactly,” she replied, tone surprisingly soft. “You just do you, babe. Don’t worry about anyone else.”
Olivia knew the tech analyst was right. Perhaps the assumption that every man she met might be a replacement for Rhys was holding her back. Having fun whilst healing wasn’t something to be ashamed of.
“I’ll try my best,” she acknowledged.
The two talked well into the night, swapping stories and discussing their lives. Warmth bloomed in Olivia; they seemed to get each other so well.
It’d been a while since she’d had a true woman friend—besides her sister, of course. It was hard in a men-dominated field to find lasting friendships—not to mention her reservations about strong ties on the force since the incident last year, and many of the ones she had made disappeared as the months went on, their own awkwardness at not knowing what to say preventing them from saying anything.
Clara was different. She had an uncanny way of encouraging Olivia to bring her walls down.
As they exchanged their goodbyes, Olivia felt bolstered up, as if she were a wilting plant that at long last had been watered.
“We’ll grab another drink soon, yeah?” Clara asked, preparing to climb out of their joint Uber.
“Of course,” Olivia agreed, a wide grin on her face. “To new friendships!” She beamed, raising an imaginary glass.
“To new friendships!” Clara called back.
Olivia smiled her whole way home, almost waltzing around the cottage as she got ready for bed. The words played over and over in her mind like an ode to the next morning’s sunrise. To new friendships.
The End - (Get Book Three, Kiss and Hell)
Can’t wait for Book Three? Here it is!
Kiss and Hell - DI Austin Book Three
Missed Book One? Don’t worry, it’s here!
Find the Girl - DI Austin Book One
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About the Author
I’ve always had a passion for writing stories and loved being able to create a world and have my characters live inside it. Being able to do this has been a dream come true and I’m so grateful that you could join me on this journey .
I live in the United Kingdom with my Husband and four young children who keep me busy and who I wouldn’t ever be without.
I hope you enjoy reading my books and please feel free to join me on social media where I love to interact with my readers!
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