I shoot her a smile to let her I know I appreciate how sensitive she is about my caseload. Sometimes there isn’t jack shit I can talk about with non-co-workers, which is one of the reasons I’ve been on such a long dry spell with women. They all expect me to talk to them and get frustrated when I don’t. But Daphne’s a lawyer, so she gets it.
“Nothing serious is going on,” I share. “We’re short-staffed. Stedman is out with a back injury and Anderson is on paternity leave so we’re down two detectives.”
“Oh, that sucks.” She reaches out to give me a sympathetic pat, but before her hand makes contact, she gives me a weird look and withdraws.
Baffled, I grab her hand. Since when has she been afraid to touch me? “I don’t have germs.” I place her hand on my arm and cover her ice-cold fingers with my own. “Hell, Daphne, is something wrong? Are you sick now? Maybe you shouldn’t be eating fish tonight?” It’s June. She should be warm. I try to rub some warmth into 2her chilled digits, but she tries to tug free.
“I’m fine,” she replies. She tugs again, this time harder and with a sharp expression on her face that even I can read as annoyance. I release her fingers. “I’m fine,” she repeats.
“She’s fine.” Crystal rolls her eyes and glares at Daphne. The two exchange an entire unspoken conversation right in front of me.
“I’m right here.” I wave my hand between the two of them. “And I can tell you’re arguing about something.”
“Good job, detective,” Crystal snarks.
“Leave it, Crystal,” Daphne says, her lips pressed together in a tight, unhappy line.
I make a “T” with my hands. “Wait a second. Timeout. Daphne, babe, what’s wrong?”
“It’s—” she begins to say, but Crystal slaps her hands on the table, making Daphne recoil.
“If you say nothing, I will literally have the biggest meltdown that Maki’s has ever seen and we will never be able to come back here without wearing a bag over our heads. Tell him.” Crystal points at me.
“Yeah, tell me.” I reach for Daphne’s cold fingers again and this time she limply allows me to hold her hand. “What’s wrong?”
There’s a beat of silence as Crystal sits there impatiently, ready to spill all of Daphne’s not-so-secret secrets. After all, I’ve known Daphne all my life. There isn’t anything that has happened to her that I haven’t been there for, including when the asshole dumped her on prom night because she wouldn’t put out and then the asshole she dated in college who took her virginity and put her off sex for, like, ever because it was so bad, and, most recently, the asshole she’d been dating at the county prosecutor’s office. He’s the guy I hate the most out of all of Daphne’s hookups, although, I’m not sure why. Everyone else seems to like him, but he comes across as an arrogant prick. Maybe he broke up with her. I perk up. Not that I’m happy she’s broken-hearted, but she was going to have to dump him at some point. Because he wasn’t right for her.
“It’s Wilson, isn’t it? What’d the asshole do? I can take care of him. I know people.” I wiggle my eyebrows.
Daphne coughs in surprise. “Wilson? Why do you presume it’s Wilson?”
“Because he’s a fuckhead and if you’re upset, then it’s only because you haven’t come to the full realization of what a relief it is for you to be done with him. It’ll come soon.” I give the top of her hand a pat.
“Thanks, Dad.” Daphne flicks me away.
I draw back with a scowl. Dad? Nah. I’m not Daphne’s old man. I’m her friend, and no offense to Crystal, but I’m the best friend. Crystal’s a close second.
But, before I can make my girl spill the details, our food arrives. There’s one big platter of raw fish and, wait, is that a big, sizzling plate of steak for me?
“Like I said, you, big baby,” Crystal teases, pointing her chopsticks at my food. Her phone rings as she’s sticking a piece of pink fish inside her mouth. “Dammit,” she curses and sets down food to look at her screen. “Dammit,” she repeats. She stands up and packs up her stuff. “I gotta run. The babysitter’s tire is flat so she can’t make it.” She leans forward and kisses Daphne on the cheek. “Bye, girl. Call me later. We’ll think of a plan.” Crystal then turns to give me a hug goodbye. As I pat her on the back, she whispers, “You don’t do something with the opportunity you’re given and we won’t be friends anymore.”
“Huh?” I ask, but she’s gone before I get an explanation. I turn to Daphne. “What was that all about?”
She sighs, dabs at the corners of her pretty mouth, and finally starts explaining. “You know how Wendy is getting married this weekend?”