Shane and Carmen spent the week with long awkward silences and uneasiness. They just stared at each other. But always at night, Shane would keep Carmen company. She would either sit on the sofa and sleep there or Carmen would wrestle her onto bed and make Shane her mattress. Tonight was just like any other night Carmen was watching Shane from the corner of her eyes. She couldn’t resist watching her reading intently. Carmen was sitting on the bed playing with her laptop. Ask or not ask? Carmen played with her hair. Shane felt quite uncomfortable. She could tell something was up. Carmen finally got the courage to say it.

Carmen: Will you be my girlfriend?

Shane looked up from her book. Carmen was staring at her.

Shane: Stop joking, I’m your bodyguard.

Carmen climbed from the foot of the bed to Shane and sat next to her.

Carmen: I’m not joking. I’m asking if you’ll be my girlfriend.

Shane: Why now?

Shane wasn’t ready for any relationships on the job or off the job. It had just been a few days. She hadn’t really thought about it because it hurt her head to think about it.

Carmen: Are you going to tell me you weren’t a bit jealous when I was with that other girl?

Shane: Not jealous.

Carmen pouted.

Carmen: So you woulnd’t mind if I were to go and make out with another girl right now.

Shane pretended to keep reading her book. Her brows furrowed in an attempt to look very absorbed into Moby Dick. She spoke with indifference hoping to end the subject.

Shane: No I wouldn’t.

Shane’s thought: Whale, whale, whale. Think about the whale.

Carmen pulled the book away from Shane. She forcibly moved Shane’s head so she could see the emerald eyes. They sparkled in the light.

Carmen: What are you scared of?

Shane: Not being perfect. Not being who you think I am.

Carmen: Who are you?

Shane: I’m Shane McCutcheon.

At that moment, Shane wished she was just Shane McCutcheon. Not Shane the detective. Not Shane the undercover guy. Just Shane. A Shane with no past and a bright future with the beauty sitting next to her.