Free Old Flames by Davi Rodriguez Page A

they both began to approach. I held up a hand to stop them as soon as I found myself standing face to face with my ex, who was laughing at the entire situation.
    “It’s fine, guys,” I said as I looked over to them with a reassuring expression in hopes that they’d back off and keep watching the crowd while I talked to Brad. They both nodded before turning around and walking back to the storefront. Looking back over to Brad, I quickly found myself overtaken by how attractive I found him. Even dressed in old jeans, a black peacoat, a fluffy scarf, and a beanie, he was still a sight to behold.
    Or maybe that was just the part of me that refused to let me stay mad at him for dumping me for no good reason. It was like seeing him in person set aside all of the bitterness and the pain of being dumped so suddenly and quickly, and replaced it with relief that he was okay and longing to be with him again. There was no sadness or anger or bitterness left in me. Just longing for what used to be and a wish that I might be able to make it happen again. Maybe it was the part of me that still loved him.
    Bad brain .
    “Gotcha good, didn’t I?” Brad asked with a chuckle and a smirk, almost as if the past four months hadn’t happened.
    “You got me with an ice ball,” I replied matter-of-factly as I reached a gloved hand around to brush the rapidly melting ice out of my collar before it tried to take a trip down my back. While I couldn’t stay mad at Brad for dumping me, I still, rather ironically, had the capacity to be irritated for the ice ball.
    “Yeah, well, at least it wasn’t a sharp one.”
    I rolled my eyes. “Whaddya want?” I asked testily as I looked at Brad with minor irritation. He should have known better than to sneak up on a cop like that.
    “To say hi,” Brad replied, his happy expression seeming to dim a bit at my attitude.
    “Hi.”
    “What is your problem?” Brad finally snapped, causing me to look square into his eyes.
    “Maybe it’s ’cause you dumped me five months ago and are trying to act like that never happened? And cause you threw an ice ball at me?”
    Brad nodded solemnly, seeming to understand why I seemed testy. To be honest, it was mostly a front, I was still in love with him—him calling us off blindsided me big time. Though I will admit, the ice ball kind of pissed me off a little. Truth be told, I really missed us and the four years we had shared together. Hell, the longevity of our relationship was one of the reasons I was stunned when he just up and left.
    “Maybe,” Brad began, offering me a weak smile as somebody bumped into him, his hand immediately going to his pocket and a small relieved sigh playing in his chest when he found that his wallet was still in there. “Maybe I regret dumping you.”
    “Look, Brad,” I began quietly, my heart doing backflips in my chest as my brain tried to think logically. Truth be told, I really wanted a second chance at what we had once shared. The past five months had been rather lonely and monotonous. Yeah, I still took care of errands and hung out at O’Lunney’s with some of the other officers of Midtown North, but there was always a part of me which felt lonelier without Brad around. “As touching as that is, I’m on duty and I need to get back to work. So. Rain check?”
    “Central Park. The pond. Tomorrow after your shift. See you then.” Brad offered me a small smile before edging around me, picking up the remains of my coffee, and walking down Seventh. I turned and watched, my heart squealing while my brain tried its best to reassert control and remind me that he had dumped me for no reason and that I shouldn’t trust him that easily afterwards. I ignored both and made my way over to the two officers who were now having their picture taken with one of the tourists
    “Hams,” I said with a smirk as I walked up. One of the tourists noticed my stripes and almost immediately gathered his small herd and rushed off. I watched