“Hey partner, you still annoyed at me?” Debbie, glowing, wore a cheeky grin. Aurora quickly hid her welcoming grin and played at being the caustic cop who everyone recognized. “Slumming today, Mrs. Ashton?” She stood up and approached the very pregnant blonde who waited with apprehension showing clearly in her expression. The yearning on Deb’s face, her need for reassurance, forced Aurora’s arms to open seemingly of their own power. Hugging, an action that didn’t come easily to Aurora began before she could put on the breaks. And Debbie took full advantage. She moved in close and clung. After a quick squeeze, Aurora backed away. The familiar musky perfume fed the previous sadness and had Aurora blink quickly to stem the threatening moisture. God she wished things were the same as before, when the two of them shared the joined desks and worked as a unit. But it wasn’t to be. Instead she’d be having a new partner, and Debbie would be having a baby. Seconds of rethinking made her inner bitch smile.
