Kevlar to My Vest

by Lani Lynn Vale

  “I don’t like that woman.” She declared softly.

  I snorted. She may think she wasn’t being obvious about it, but I could tell.

  “Yeah, I noticed. I haven’t been with her in over two months now. I don’t know what else to say to her to get that through her head.” I answered honestly.

  She shrugged. “You probably can’t do anything. You’ll have to just show her.”

  “How do you suggest I show her?” I asked, turning her body until she was sitting down on the bench beside the large fishpond.

  Once she was situated, I took a seat of my own and pulled her body in close, wrapping my arms around her shoulders.

  She laid her head on my chest, and stared at the rippling pond that was disturbed by the large waterfall.

  Koi the size of a large mouth bass in all shapes and colors swam around the water lithely. They were beautiful, and made me contemplate a pond of my own.

  “I don’t know. Find a woman, and bring her around a lot. Kiss her, hold on to her. Show Tillie that you’ve moved on.”

  I smiled. “Who should I do this with?”

  I could feel her body loosening, as she got more and more comfortable against my body.

  “Someone who adores you,” she said quietly. “Someone who cares about whether you get home safe or not. Someone who understands your job, but won’t make you change anything because she knows how much you love your job. Someone who could fall in love with you. Someone who already is in love with you. Someone who loves your brothers and your club. Someone who adores your dogs. Someone who can’t wait until she hears from you again.” She whispered.

  My heart started thumping hard in my chest. Did she just imply that she loved me? She just described everything I wanted in a woman. Every single thing. All those fears that I’d been turning over in my mind for the last couple of days totally disappeared. All that was left was a certainty.

  A certainty that this woman in my arms was the one.

  “The woman sounds like somebody that’d be perfect for me.” I rasped.

  She answered with a soft snore. One that warmed my heart.

  Chapter 8

  Police officers...because firefighters need heroes, too.

  -Trance, age 8.

  Viddy

  “You stupid piece of crap.” I said to the machine in front of me.

  Placing my hands on the top of the machine, I pushed with all my might, but only managed a small bump in the behemoth.

  So I started kicking it.

  “Give.” Kick.

  “Me.” Kick.

  “My.” Kick.

  “Cheetos!” Punch.

  My Cheetos were hanging on by a thread. The machine was the devil reincarnate. It stole something of mine at least once a week, and one would think I’d know better by now. But I didn’t. No, I fed my dollar into that stupid machine over and over again throughout the day.

  Luckily, it was after school, otherwise, I would’ve never been able to do this.

  I was waiting for a ride from my sister, who was over an hour late. I could have called a cab...if my phone wasn’t dead. I’d have called her cell phone...if I remembered numbers.

  I hadn’t memorized a number since the summer I turned 15 and got my first cell phone. The only one I remembered off the top of my head was the one man I wasn’t talking to because I was too embarrassed.

  To make matters worse, I couldn’t remember anything from the night before.

  I was alone when I’d woken, in my own bed, and thoroughly disappointed.

  I’d called my sister immediately to see what happened the night before, and all she’d had to say was that I’d gotten drunk and had to ride home with them because Trance was worried I wouldn’t be able to hang on for the ride home.

  Which had deflated something inside of me.

  I’d been at Trance’s place for going on three days at that point, and being in my own house by myself really blew.

  “Need some help cupcake?” A droll voice said from behind me, making me jump and lose my footing. Mostly because my foot was in motion towards the machine for another kick.

  I was stopped from falling down to the floor, which would’ve surely hurt like a mother, by Trance’s hard, muscular body.

  “You scared the shit out of me,” I said breathlessly.

  “I’m sorry. I thought you heard me come up. I wasn’t being quiet.” He apologized, still not letting me go.

  I shook my head, latched onto his forearm as if my life depended on it, and stood up straight. “No, I was in the zone.”

  He chuckled and helped me stand back on my own two feet.

  Turning, a small breath of exhilaration left my lungs at the sight of his muscled body in his tight uniform. My God but the man was stunning.

  His hair was unruly, as always.

  The dimples in his cheeks and the cleft in his chin started a fire burning low in my core.

  The uniform he was wearing was black, and the gold shield on his left breast shone brightly against his chest. The belt at his hips accentuated their trimness, and lead down to muscled thighs.

  I skipped over his package, not wanting to go there with my current state of mind, and landed on his black tactical boots that looked like they could kick a person’s head in.

  That was when I noticed two dogs at his feet.

  “You have both of them?” I asked in surprise, going down on one knee at Trance’s feet to pet them both.

  “Yeah,” he rasped. “This week starts Kosher’s training. I’ll give them about a month or so to acclimate before I start taking Kosher out by himself.”

  I don’t know why I looked up right then, maybe it was the gruffness of his voice, or the simple pull of his eyes, but when I moved my eyes up his long body, studiously ignoring the bulge in his snug black pants that was growing by the second, I found myself captured by his eyes.

  They were burning a hole into my soul that I was powerless to ignore.

  Releasing the two dogs, I stood, moving closer and closer to his body until we were mere millimeters away from each other.

  With a groan of defeat, Trance’s will broke, and he grabbed me by the braid to urge me forward until our lips met.

  I melted into his body.

  His mouth was absolute heaven.

  Wet and hot.

  When his tongue met my own, he seemed to lose some internal struggle, and I found myself pinned. My back against the lockers, and Trance’s body held my own hostage while he devoured my mouth.

  His hands were clenched into fists, planted on either side of my head. One hand still held my braid tightly, which I noticed when I tried to move forward and bring him closer.

  My hands were gripping the front of his shirt in desperation as I tried to meld my body with his.

  Pulling on his hair, I groaned into his mouth. When he finally broke away from my mouth, staring deeply into my eyes, I fell, long and deep. Jesus, that man was a drug.

  His breath billowed in and out of his lungs, and he stared at me as if I’d grown a second head. As if I was crazy.

  “What?” He panted.

  “Is that a flashlight, or are you happy to see me?” I panted.

  He looked down and saw the huge baton on his duty belt poking me in the crotch, as well as his gun and walkie-talkie.

  “Sorry,” he said as he cleared his throat. “I got a little excited. However, I am happy to see you. It’s been a long two days.”

  I smiled. “Did you get off early?”

  He shook his head. “Uh, no. Your sister had her baby in the middle of a Dairy Queen parking lot.”

  I burst out laughing. “Ahh! That’s honest to God the best news I’ve ever heard. Is everyone okay?”

  He nodded, smiling himself. “Yes, I’ve been sent to collect you. I tried calling but it went straight to voicemail.”

  “Excellent. Let’s go. I’m so freakin’ excited!” I said jumping up and down against his body and clapping my hands.

  His eyes clos
ed, and I felt what most definitely wasn’t his baton as it rubbed against my belly.

  “Sorry,” I said calming down. “I’m just so excited.”

  He squeezed his eyes so tightly that his forehead wrinkled before taking a step back.

  “Follow me.” He instructed and started striding away quickly.

  I followed behind him dutifully, and those pesky butterflies turned back into those bats again.

  ***

  “She’s just so perfect!” I squealed as I looked down at my little niece. “What’s with all this black hair?”

  Today was a good day for my eyes, and it couldn’t have been a more perfect time. I was ecstatic to be able to see my niece, and to see my twin sister with so much love in her for her new daughter was icing on the cake.

  “She is perfect...and what do you mean what’s with all of that black hair. How do you even know about her hair?” My sister thundered.

  My eyes snapped up from my tiny niece and her perfection to lock on my little sister.

  “W-what?” I stuttered.

  My heart was pounding.

  I hadn’t wanted to say anything. I mean what if my vision decided to go away again leaving me permanently blind? Would I have to endure even more pity?

  “Everybody out.” She snapped.

  The room slowly emptied of people, leaving just me, Adeline, and baby Saylor.

  “You can see.” Adeline said calmly.

  Not a question. A statement.

  Not seeing any reason to lie anymore, I nodded slowly.

  She looked at me for nearly a minute before she burst out crying.

  “How could you not tell me that?” She cried.

  I walked slowly over to the bed and sat down on the miniscule amount that Adeline didn’t take up before explaining.

  “I didn’t want you to worry. My vision,” I said shaking my head. “My vision isn’t that great. I’ve only gotten to about two thirds of the way on my outer eye. I still have a huge blank spot from my nose to a third of the way across my eye until about mid-morning. I didn’t want you to worry. I was planning on telling you after you had the baby.”

  She looked at me intently before dropping her head. “That’s the best news I’ve ever heard. I thought it would never come back.”

  I smiled slightly. “Dr. Morris thinks it’s all in my head, that I’m doing it to myself. He said there’s no medical reason that I shouldn’t have any vision.”

  “He really said you were doing it to yourself?” She questioned with a raised eyebrow.

  I shook my head. “Not in so many words, no. But he believes that with time and reduced stress that it could come back. He doesn’t know if it’ll ever be what it was, but it’s possible that I can gain full use back one day. He doesn’t really know.”

  She harrumphed. “So you can see me?”

  The whispered words tore at my heart, and I nodded as a tear welled in my eye and spilled over the brim of my lid, trailing down my cheek. “Yes.”

  “I’ve felt so guilty that I did that to you. So goddamned guilty.”

  “You shouldn’t curse in front of your baby.” I chided. “But I love you, and you shouldn’t feel guilty. I had just as much a part of our accident as you did.”

  “Yeah, but mine’s just a scar compared to your sight.” She said gravely. “I wish sometimes that it would’ve been me.”

  “Yeah, well I’m a bitch. I wouldn’t have done all those nice things that you’ve done for me. It was better for it to happen to me, so I could have you to take care of me.” I teased.

  “You do have a resting bitch face that I would hate to have to give up.” She laughed.

  “Hey!” I said indignantly.

  She burst out laughing before looking down at the newest girl in our family.

  “She’s perfect, isn’t she?” Adeline asked, running her finger along her daughter’s cheek.

  The tiny girl turned her mouth toward the finger, rooting for something that I most definitely didn’t have to offer her.

  “Oops, looks like you started something that I can’t finish.” I said as I held the tiny baby out towards her mother.

  She wrinkled her nose. “I don’t know what to do.”

  Taking the small girl into her arms, she looked down at the now crying infant helplessly.

  “Don’t you, just, ya know, pop that boob in her mouth or something?” I asked.

  She shrugged and started to pull down her shirt. “Uhh, sure. I should’ve taken one of those goddamned breast-feeding classes. Maybe I should just do formula.”

  “Just pop that sucker in there. I bet she’ll do the rest.” I guessed.

  Awkwardly she let her shirt slip off her shoulder and placed the baby to her breast.

  I laughed as the baby just practically motor boated her. “Here,” I said holding the baby’s head towards my sister’s boob. “Put your boobie in her mouth.”

  She did, and then yelped as the baby latched on with ferocity.

  When I tried to take my hands away from the baby, she popped off and started screaming uncontrollably.

  “Shit,” I said, putting my hand back on the baby’s head and the other on her boob where it had been. “Now what?”

  My sister had the same grip going on with her boob, with the other placed underneath the bulk of the baby’s body. “I don’t know. It shouldn’t really be this hard.”

  Not knowing what else to do, I called for help. “Kettle!”

  He came in seconds later, and then looked at us with surprise. “Not that I mind that you’re touching my wife’s breasts, but this is the hospital after all, and you shouldn’t be doing it in front of my baby.”

  His eyes were filled with mirth though, so it was obvious he was kidding. “We don’t know what to do. Maybe you should stuff some pillows underneath her arms or something so I don’t have to hold her boob.”

  Kettle rolled his eyes and went to collect some pillows.

  “The nurse recommended a Boppy, but I don’t know what that is, nor do I have one of those, so she gave me these.” He said as he shook the pillows at us. “Where do you want them?”

  After much maneuvering, I finally got to take my hand off my sister’s boob and sit back down.

  “I should’ve taken a picture of that.” Kettle stated dryly.

  “Yeah, and I could have gelded you in your sleep.” I replied sarcastically.

  “How? You can’t even see to get there. You’d have to call me to come get you.” He teased.

  I looked at him, narrowing my eyes, and he stood up straighter. “You can see!”

  I rolled my eyes. “This is the man you chose to marry?”

  “He’s good in bed.” Adeline replied, not even looking up as she ran her fingers along Saylor’s fuzzy head.

  A knock at the door had us all turning.

  “Can I come in?” Trance called from the doorway.

  Kettle became a whirlwind of movement as he went to stand in front of his wife, throwing a sheet over not only the still eating Saylor, but Adeline as well.

  “Hold on while Mr. Caveman makes sure his wife’s titties aren’t exposed.” I said dryly.

  Trance chuckled and waited patiently as I helped Adeline situate the sheet so most of her was covered but she could still look down at Saylor.

  “Okay,” Kettle snapped.

  Trance entered the room sans Kosher and Radar, walking hesitantly with his eyes closed. “I really don’t want to see anybody’s boobs. Are you sure everything’s covered?”

  Kettle rolled his eyes. “Yeah, man.”

  When Trance opened his eyes, I mock glared at him. “Not even my boobs?”

  Trance’s mouth opened and closed for a few precious seconds causing me to burst out laughing.

  He scrunched his nose up before walking to Kettle and offering his hand. “Listen, I’ve got to go back to work, but I can pick Viddy up once my shift is over. Does that sound good?”

  He finished the question looking at me with his eyebrows
raised.

  “Well, I guess so, but I wanted to go now. I’m going to give them some time to get to know their baby before I go hogging her and pulling the aunt card.” I explained. “Although, I can catch a cab.”

  Trance was shaking his head before I even finished my sentence. “Well if that’s the case, come on and I’ll drop you off. You’re in my district anyhow.”

  After kisses from Kettle and Adeline, and sweet Saylor nuzzles who, luckily, was no longer latched on to my sister’s boob, I walked with Trance down the hall.

  Our hands were both down at our sides, and I practically itched to grab his hand with my own.

  After the third circumstantial brush, I finally grew a pair and latched onto his hand with my own.

  He clutched it back, smiling down at me as he pressed the button for the elevator.

  It was eight o’clock at night, and it surprised me to see two teenagers in the elevator car, seeing as it was so late. Visiting hours been over nearly an hour ago for the rest of the hospital.

  Even more, it annoyed me that when the doors opened, the two didn’t even bother to disengage their tongues from each other’s mouths.

  Although, Trance made the ride absolutely memorable. When Trance pressed the button for the ground floor, he stayed facing the couple instead of turning around like most people on elevators do.

  Which caught the attention of the young teens, who pulled apart like they’d been cattle prodded when they got a load of the police officer just plain staring them down unflinchingly.

  They both moved until they were standing on opposite sides of the car, faces flaming, and didn’t say a word.

  When the elevator stopped at their floor, they practically flew out of the small box and started running, making me smile like the cat that ate the canary.

  “That was just so righteous!” I exclaimed.

  He shrugged. “Sometimes it’s good to be a police officer. There’s nothing better than scaring people into acting right.”

  I looked up at him, studying his profile as we walked down the hospital corridor.

  God, he looked so sexy.

  “What’s bad about being a police officer?” I asked.