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realize what she had in you. I hope that someday you let someone in again. Have you ever thought of trying to find her? Set things right?”
    Every damn day¸ Devin thought. He had thought about it so many times, since he had access to just about anything he wanted to know as a cop. His fingers had hovered over typing her name in the many databases he had access to so many times over the years, but he had never allowed himself to do it. For all he knew, she was still living in Jacksonville, was married with 2.5 kids, a picket fence, and the job she always dreamed of. Maybe she was even married to him. The thought of it made his stomach turn. If he ever, and he meant ever , ran into that guy, he wouldn’t be responsible for what happened. It was a miracle he had transferred out of there before actually putting his fist through his face.
    Devin rolled on top of her, careful not to put his whole body weight on hers, and did what he always did when he didn’t want to talk about something. He let his body take over, and he pushed the memories and the pain back inside their little box where they belonged.
     

     
    He hoisted the last box into the U-Haul truck, grunting with the exertion. He was ready to go. Miami would no longer be his home, and the cops that had become like his family would be hours away from him.
    “Good luck, bro,” his friend Ellis clapped him on the back. “We’ll miss you and your antics around here. And hey …” He leaned in, looking around to see if anyone could hear him. “That Cammi … is she, uh???”
    Devin laughed, shoving his friend away from him. “We aren’t anything, man. Go for it. She’s a great girl.”
    Ellis winked. “I bet she is,” he teased. “Seriously, though, enjoy your new life. Don’t miss us too much. And come back and visit us when you get tired of Retiredville over there on the west coast. What kind of crimes you gonna be solving, golf cart thefts and lost dentures?”
    “Seriously,” Devin laughed. “It may not be Miami, but I’m not going to Podunkville. There should still be plenty of hot ladies on the beach in bikinis where I’m going. As far as what crimes I’ll be solving, we’ll just have to see about that. I’ll keep you updated.”
    “I’m proud of you. This is a great job and I can’t wait to hear all about it. Especially while I’m still handing out speeding tickets and busting for window tint. Maybe I need to come there with you, big man.”
    Devin laughed, climbing into the cab of the truck, his car on a trailer behind him and his pride and joy—his motorcycle—tucked safely inside the U-Haul. He was ready. Ready to start over again, be part of a new challenge, and try again to see if he could keep the demons at bay. “See you around, Ellis,” he called out the window, taking one last look at his small house before driving off into the sunset.

 
     
    Justin stared at his phone, tapping his fingers nervously on the table next to him. He needed to fix this. He had royally screwed up. Damn temper. It always got the best of him. He needed to find a way to get through to Rachel. He never picked strong-willed, independent girls like her. That was too hard, took too much to break them. But when he saw her that night in that shithole bar, he just had to have her. Then, when she wouldn’t let him stay the night? Oh, he knew then. He had to make this one believe him. She would have to be tamed.
    He had been such an idiot at the sports bar with her friends. Now they probably thought he was an asshole and would tell her to forget him. You’re supposed to play it smooth , he thought to himself. But he was good at this. The romance. The seducing. It was all part of his game. But he had to figure out how to get past her wall. He had never been with someone so headstrong. And he had let her leave last night! What was wrong with him? Was he getting soft?
    The key was to convince her that she needed him, wanted him. That he was very, very sorry. With