I walked out of the station and scanned the cars to find Officer Martin. He was leaning against a police vehicle, apparently waiting for me. His stance screamed arrogance, and I was given another reason to dislike him: the man thought he was freaking fantastic.

When I approached he gave me a look to suggest he'd been waiting forever, when it had barely been two minutes. I added impatience to the list.

I expected him to open the door for me, as most gentlemen would, but he didn't move. Asshole. I pulled open the door myself, well, tried to, but he was leaning against it.

"You gonna let me in? Or do you just want to stand here? You're not one of those cops who smokes the stolen pot beside his car, are you?" Of course, I knew he wasn't, but his scowl told me I'd accomplished annoying him.

He ignored me, as if I hadn't said anything, and it was my turn to scowl. Until he spoke.

"You really want to see your friend, don't you? You're close?" It was phrased as a question but he said it as a statement. I thought about whipping him with a snarky comment, but didn't bother. He saw through the facade.

"She might as well be my sister," I said, knowing it was the best way I could explain who Bliss was to me.

He seemed to digest this information, as if making a decision. Then he nodded to himself, suddenly resolved. He pulled himself off from the car and walked around to the driver's side.

"Get in." I did as was told.

-

"What's the address?" I stared at Riley, sitting in the driver's seat beside me, completely clueless as to what he had asked, he knew where I lived.

"What do you mean?"

"Your friends address. Where does she live?" He stared sideways at me, waiting for the answer. We hadn't left the station parking lot yet.

"27 Oakerly Avenue. Why? Hudson said I wasn't allowed to go anyway."

"I didn't think you'd be one to follow Hudson's every demand." He shifted the car into gear and we took off.

I stared out the front windshield in shocked silence as we drove. I couldn't figure this guy out. He was the meanest person in the world one minute and breaking rules for me the next.

We sat quietly as he made his way toward Bliss' house, in the opposite direction to where Hudson told him to go.

I stole secret glances at his handsome face that was concentrated on driving. He tensed very time i looked and I knew he could feel me staring, but I didn't care.

Finally, my curiosity got the better of me and I had to ask.

"Why are you doing this for me?" He glanced toward me in what seemed to be confusion before returning his gaze to the road. For a second I was afraid he would just ignore me, but eventually he spoke.

"What do you mean?"

"Why are you helping me? You've been anything but polite from the moment we met. Why the sudden interest in being helpful?"

Just as he opened his mouth to reply, we turned into Bliss's driveway and he closed his jaw. I hadn't even noticed that we were close, but now that we had arrived I forgot about everything as my door was yanked open and if was pulled into the arms of a very excitable Bliss.

"God! I was starting to worry they were taking you off without seeing me!"

"They were going to; I'm not supposed to be here."

She laughed and linked her arm through mine, pulling me toward the house. "I don't even care what you did to get here, I'm just glad you did it."

Now it was my turn to smile. I was going to miss this blonde so much.

As we walked through the doorway, Bliss leaned closer and glanced behind us. To where Riley stood against the car.

"Who's Mr McHottie Cop?" She whispered to me and I could see the appreciating gleam in her eyes, causing me to roll mine. She had Christian.

"My personal guard for the next, however many weeks."

"Well, how lucky are you? No way you can be unhappy with having to stare at his face for too long." The wink I received just made me inwardly groan more. She had no idea.

Bliss turned around, still clutching my arm, and looked toward Riley, who hadn't moved, but was looking at us curiously.

"Well, come on, McHottie Cop," she called out, "Were going inside and my eyes need something good to look at!"

I yanked her head back toward mine, "What the hell are you doing?"

She smiled and turned back to Riley, who had begun walking toward us, an unsure expression on his face. "Wouldn't want something like those muscles to freeze out here, would you?"

-

"THEY WHAT?! You can tell those bastards to shove this 'no phone call' thing up their asses. Nuh uh. No way. Not happening!" Bliss's reaction to being told we couldn't talk on the phone was similar to mine.

"I know. I tried to tell them that it was ridiculous, but no one cares much for my opinion."

"But... they cant... how will i know you're okay?" She had gotten flustered at this point.

Leaning in closer i whispered in her ear, trying to calm her down. "It's okay, B. I'll find a payphone at whatever middle of nowhere place they send us too and call you from there. I promise."

She smiled at the suggestion and excited lit up her eyes. "How you gonna get away from McHottie Cop?" I know she knew his name, but was choosing to stick with 'Mr McHottie Cop'. "I know a few ways you can distract him." The arm nudge and suggestive eyebrow raise did it for me. I started shaking my head in disbelief and moving away from her slowly. This only made her laugh more.

I glanced toward Riley who stood, after refusing to sit when Bliss had told him too, in the corner of the room. He was already in bodyguard mode, watching every entrance to the room and his gaze travelling over myself and Bliss every 20 seconds.

He had a slightly amused expression, despite not having heard the conversation. I doubt he would be so pleased if he knew Bliss's suggestions.

B seemed to notice his amusement as well, because she included him in the conversation for the first time since he had followed us in and taken to the corner-view, which was about fifteen minutes ago.

"Think that's funny, huh, McHottie Cop? Come over here and be a normal Hottie for a second. I need to ask you some very serious and important questions." If he was going to refuse, one glance at her deadly face changed his mind. Riley sat in the singular coach on the other side to where he had been standing. He was sitting now, but still had a pretty good view point of the room.

"Now, there's a good boy." Bliss appraised him like she would a dog and Riley raised a questioning eyebrow at me. I shrugged, because i had no idea either.

"How old are you, hot shot?" The question came playfully and was much less expressive then i had expected from her. Breathing a sigh of relief, i waited for Riley's answer.

"I'm twenty-two years old." His face remained stoic and he checked around the room again. I don't know what he thought was going to happen here.

Before Bliss got a chance to answer, I directed my shock at his answer toward Riley. "You're only twenty-two? That's just five years older than me. You were acting like it was ten!"

Riley looked toward me but didn't respond and i sighed in annoyance.

Bliss decided she could go on with her questioning.

"How long have you been a police officer?"

"I entered the academy at 18, as soon as i finished school and have been on the force since i graduated."

"You know how to keep her safe?" Bliss motioned to me as if he might not know who she meant. His eyes glanced over me and he nodded.

"I specialise in one-on-one protection. She is safe. That's why Hudson assigned me to her."

I cleared my throat and both sets of eyes settled on me. "I'm right here, guys."

Bliss smiled and winked at me. "Oh, i know. That's why i asked."

"Are you done? Or do you have more questions for the poor officer?"

"Poor officer? Mr McHottie Cop can handle it, cant you, darl'?"

I rolled my eyes and stood at the same time as Riley. He nodded toward the clock at the head of the room, indicating we had been here half an hour. Way longer than we were meant too.

But i didn't want to leave.

Bliss seemed to notice his indication as well and she stood with us, shaking her head. "No, no. You can't go yet. I don't want you to go."

I stepped forward and circled her in a hug as she lent into my shoulder. I knew how she felt.

"It'll be okay, B. I'll be fine. And we will be back as soon as you know it. You'll probably enjoy the reprieve." I winked and tried to lighten the mood but it only made her cling tighter.

Riley remained quiet, but I knew he wanted to go. At least he had enough manners to stay still for now.

Eventually i pulled back and hooked Bliss's elbow through mine, like we always did, and began leading her toward the door. Riley followed silently behind us.

I tried not to break down and cry as we walked out the door. I was so scared. But i couldn't show it.

We came to the car all too quickly and i had to let go of Bliss to climb in. She held tightly for a second before letting me sit.

She leaned forward to tell me something and i assumed it was goodbye. What came out was the complete opposite of what i wanted to hear.

"He's so sexy. Enjoy this for me? I'm thinking of kidnapping him when you get back."

I smiled at her insistence to turn every conversation toward the opposite gender.

"You sure Christian wouldn't mind? I'm pretty sure he wouldn't like you keeping a hot police officer hostage."

Bliss 'pfft' at me and shook her head.

"Christian will do what i say," she winked. That boy worshiped the ground she walked on and did anything she asked, "He won't mind if i tell him not to mind."

With one last final hug, Bliss stepped out of the car and squeezed my hand once more before shutting the door.

Riley, who had been standing to the side of the driveway, walked her to the door, despite it being barely ten steps away.

Before he turned back to me, he told her something. I don't know what, but from the smile she sent my way, I'm sure it exactly what she'd wanted to hear.

Riley climbed into the driver's seat and started the car engine.

"Ready to go?"

I was scared if i tried to speak, my voice would waver, so i just nodded. He reversed out of the driveway and took off down the street; I turned my head and let the first tear fall.

I hated goodbyes.