Rookie Mistake (California Dreamers #4)

by Dakota Madison

  His face scrunches up. He gets this weird expression, like I just started speaking to him in another language that he doesn’t understand.

  “That’s not what I was going to say at all. Do you really think I’d say something like that with you lying here in a hospital bed?”

  “Not when you say it like that. I guess I just thought you were like all the other guys. No one ever stuck by my side when it counted.”

  He gently pulls my hand towards his mouth and places a soft kiss on it. “First of all, I’m not like any of those other guys. You’re not going to get rid of me that easily. If you want me to stick by your side I’ll be there. I’ll stick to you like glue if you’ll let me.”

  “I’m not sure about the whole glue thing, but I appreciate the sentiment.”

  “What I was going to tell you is that I don’t think I’m cut out to be a police officer.”

  It takes a moment for his words to sink in. “Are you quitting?”

  He nods. “I think getting into policing was a reaction to Julia’s death more than anything else.”

  “I’m not sure what to say.”

  “That you’re happy for me. That I’m making the right decision.”

  I narrow my gaze. “Does your decision to quit have anything to do with wanting to be with me?”

  He gulps. “I’d be lying if I said it didn’t. But it’s not the only reason. I was offered another job.”

  My eyes grow wide. “Where?”

  “The high school. The assistant band director isn’t coming back, so they offered me the position.”

  “What about your certification?”

  “The high school is making a special arrangement for me to student teach over the summer. I’ll be leading the summer band camp. Then if everything goes well I’ll be a certified teacher for the fall.”

  My head is spinning as I process everything he’s said.

  “I think this is the best decision for me, and the best decision for us.”

  “There’s an us?”

  He grins. “I want there to be.”

  I see so much emotion in his eyes: determination, commitment, hope—even love.

  Then he leans over and kisses me. The fog I’ve been in actually lifts a bit. For the first time in a while I’m actually able to see things clearly.

  There’s a man in the world who knows I’m a cop. He’s intimately aware of my job and the risks I take on a daily basis and he still wants to be with me.

  And they say miracles no longer happen.

  Whoever they are, they’re wrong again.

  “No making out in the hospital rooms,” Zoe teases as she enters my room.

  “Cody, you remember my friend, Zoe.”

  “From the dive bar.” He gives her a polite wave.

  She points to our hands which are still joined. “I thought this kind of behavior is off limits.”

  “It would be if I was still a police officer,” Cody says.

  Zoe furrows her brow, clearly confused.

  “He’s taking a job at the high school. Assistant band director.”

  “Whatever floats your boat,” Zoe tells me. “And wherever you want to float it.”

  She glances around my tiny hospital room. “When are they letting you out of this god-awful place?”

  When I try to shrug a pain shoots down the injured side of my body. I’m realizing very quickly that I don’t do well with an injury. “Probably not soon enough.”

  “Is it too early to start planning the wedding? I know exactly what I want to wear for my Maid of Honor dress.”

  When my eyes dart over to Cody he’s actually grinning.

  “Technically we’re not even a couple,” I remind her. “We’re a long way from getting engaged. Why are you even bringing up the W word?”

  She stares at me blankly. “If you’re not married by the end of the year I’ll eat a hot dog, and not one of the soy variety either.”

  I’ve known Zoe for over a decade and I’ve never seen her touch meat. She must be serious.

  “Maybe we should talk about something other than when we’re getting married,” I offer.

  “You’re getting married?” Hadley shouts as she squeezes herself into the small space between Zoe and Cody. “Am I going to be the Maid of Honor?”

  “Already called it,” Zoe tells her.

  Hadley frowns. “That’s not fair. I wasn’t even here to call dibs on it.”

  “There’s no wedding,” I say a little too loudly. “Cody and I aren’t even officially a couple yet.”

  Hadley looks undeterred. “At this point I think those are merely semantics.”

  “Have you been studying vocabulary words for the SATs?”

  She lets out an exasperated sigh. “How many times do I have to tell you I’m not going to college?”

  Cody turns to her. “Why not? You’re a brilliant violinist. You could study music.”

  “I thought we were talking about your wedding, not me going to college.”

  “No wedding,” I remind her.

  “No college,” she fires back.

  “I have an idea,” Cody says. “If Maya allows you to be her Maid of Honor and help plan the wedding, would you at least consider applying to college?”

  Hadley rubs her chin as she considers his proposal. “I would.”

  Zoe playfully slaps Cody’s arm. “Thanks for selling me out.”

  “A man’s got to do what a man’s got to do.”

  When my mom returns there’s barely enough space for her to squeeze into the room.

  “Maybe we should all let Maya get some rest.” She eyes Hadley.

  “What are you looking at me for?” Hadley moans.

  “I’m not singling you out.”

  “We were just planning Maya’s wedding,” Hadley tells her.

  “There’s no wedding,” I correct.

  “Yet,” Hadley fires back.

  I realize there’s no use arguing. Everyone else seems to think Cody and I are getting married. Even Cody hasn’t disputed the idea.

  Maybe for once in my life I just need to go with the flow.

  Seven

  I do my best not to bump my arm against anyone as I make my way down the crowded auditorium aisle. I’m wearing a sling on my injured arm, but it’s still very sore to the touch.

  The auditorium is already packed. It takes several moments for me to find my mom and stepdad in the mass of parents and siblings attending the spring recital.

  I’m sure the string quartet will perform well, but I’m still nervous for Hadley and Cody.

  Apparently Sergeant Wilmore took the news of Cody’s departure a lot better than either of us anticipated. He told Cody that he wasn’t going to stop him from pursuing his dream if he truly wanted to be a teacher.

  I make my way to the third row where my mom and stepdad are seated. Fortunately they’ve saved me a spot right next to them.

  “You made it,” my mom says when I take the seat next to her.

  “My first day without pain killers. I’m making progress.”

  “I want to thank you,” Ed whispers to me.

  “For what,” I whisper back.

  “Hadley applied to two colleges just before the final deadline for fall admission. Whatever you said to her worked. She said the two of you made some kind of deal.”

  I chuckle. “Sort of. It was Cody’s idea. He promised that if she applied to college she could be my Maid of Honor.”

  He frowns. “Are you getting married? How did I miss that?”

  “No. He hasn’t asked me to marry him yet. We’ve just started dating.”

  He holds up a hand. “This may be beyond my level of comprehension of girl stuff.”

  “Sometimes you just know when it’s right with someone,” my mom tells him. “Obviously Cody and Maya know that it’s right. Getting married is inevitable.”

  I can tell by the twinkle in her eyes that my mom is thinking about my dad. It’s the same sparkle she gets whenever she tal
ks about him.

  “Is that how you felt about me?” Ed asks.

  My mom gives him a peck on the cheek. “Of course.”

  When the lights dim I hold my breath in anticipation. The string quartet will be the first to perform.

  Hadley and the other three students are dressed up in formal attire that makes them look much older than teenagers.

  When Cody walks across the stage in his black tuxedo it takes my breath away. If I wasn’t absolutely sure about my feelings for him I’m positive now.

  I’m head over heels in love with an assistant band director.

  And I’m pretty sure he’s head over heels in love with me too.

  Epilogue

  Two Years Later

  I stare at the diamond ring on my finger as it glistens under the theater lights. The university’s performing arts center is enormous. It’s at least four times the size of the high school’s auditorium, which was the last place I saw Hadley perform.

  “I’m still trying to get used to the fact that I’m married to a detective.” Cody gives me a kiss on the cheek. “I have a case you can investigate. The missing black sock. A pair of socks go into the wash, but only one sock comes out of the dryer. Where could the other sock have gone? Inquiring minds want to know.”

  My promotion was finalized a few weeks ago, but he still loves to tease me about it. Even though he enjoys kidding me, I know he’s proud of me.

  And I’m proud of him too. The high school’s band director took a job in Seattle and Cody was promoted to the position.

  I glance at my watch. It’s only three minutes before Hadley’s first college concert and my mom and stepdad still haven’t arrived. I know they wouldn’t miss it for the world, so I’m concerned about why they’re not here yet.

  Hadley told us that’s it’s rare for a sophomore to be invited to perform. The honor is generally reserved for juniors and seniors. But the chair of the music department was so impressed with her progress he gave her a rare opportunity.

  My mom and Ed finally arrive with just thirty seconds to spare.

  “Why so late?” I whisper to my mom as she climbs into the seat next to me.

  “Ed had an income tax emergency.”

  “Do I want to ask?” I whisper back.

  She shakes her head. “There aren’t enough hours in the day for him to explain the intricacies of the tax codes.”

  When the lights dim Cody takes my hand in his. Several students perform various arrangements as duets or solo pieces before it’s Hadley’s turn on stage.

  When her moment in the spotlight finally arrives she’s dressed in a lovely sapphire blue gown that makes her look like a princess. She’s being accompanied by a pianist.

  My knowledge of classical music is embarrassingly limited, but the program mentions the name of the piece is the Debussy Violin Sonata in G minor.

  Her performance must be good because when I glance at Cody he’s eyes are moist.

  “Her playing is beautiful,” he whispers to me. “She’s so talented.”

  The music seems to be transporting him to another place and time. He’s mesmerized.

  Once Hadley’s performance is done she receives a vigorous round of applause.

  “Maybe one day we’ll have our own little musician running around the house,” Cody suggests.

  “About that…” my throat tightens. I was going to wait for a more opportune moment to tell him, but since he brought it up.

  His eyes are filled with concern. “What’s up?”

  I press my lips together for several moments trying to put together the right words. “You’re not going to have to wait very long. We’re going to have our own little musician about eight months from now.”

  “You’re pregnant,” he blurts loud enough for several rows of concert goers to hear.

  “You’re pregnant?” my mom repeats. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Tell us,” Ed corrects.

  “I was planning on telling all of you. I didn’t want the news to overshadow Hadley’s performance.”

  My mom gives me a kiss on the cheek. “Congratulations.”

  I give her a big smile. “Thanks.”

  “I have just one request,” my mom says. “No more police officers. I don’t think my heart can take it.”

  “Our baby is going to be a musician,” Cody assures her. “I’ve already got my eye on a piano for babies. I’ve just been waiting for the right time to order it.”

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  About the Author

  USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR Dakota Madison is known for writing new adult, love in midlife, and contemporary romance with a little spice and lots of heart. Dakota is a winner of the prestigious RONE Award for Excellence in the Indie and Small Publishing Industry. When she's not at her computer creating spicy stories Dakota likes to spend time with her husband and their bloodhounds. Dakota also writes under the pen names SAVANNAH YOUNG, SIERRA AVALON and REN MONTERREY.

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  Rookie Mistake (California Dreamers #4)