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“You know this is why I love you, right?”
Theo looks up from her desk to see Tina leaning in the doorway, fingers and lips smeared carelessly with chocolate. Her chair squeaks in protest as she relaxes into it, folding her hands over her stomach.
“Really?” she asks. “You sure it's not because of my vibrant wit? Or my charming personality? Or my extraordinary ass?”
“Oh, those are all great qualities, for sure.” Tina's voice is gummed up, her words muffled, almost incoherent around a mouthful of rich fudge brownie. “But I would quite happily spend a beautiful, tender, passionate, unprecedented night with a plate of these bad boys.” She sucks frosting off her index finger, rolling her eyes back to exaggerate the point.
Theo blinks, mouth dropping open in mock offense. “But not this ass?”
“Sweetie, you and I both know that ass is spoken for, and your boyfriend scares the shit out of me.”
“Not my boyfriend,” Theo corrects with a finger in the air. “And nobody is ‘spoken for.’”
Douglas pops his head around the corner and wedges himself in past Tina, three brownies stacked on a napkin in one hand, a Wayhaven P. D. mug filled with something steaming in the other. “Morning, detective!”
“Wow, Douglas. Save some for the rest of us.”
In a display of impressive personal growth, he ignores Tina's snark and walks forward to set the mug on Theo's desk, twisting it so the handle is in her direction. At first, she squints at it, unable to tell if it's tea or very poorly brewed coffee, then a sweet, stimulating blend of citrus and cinnamon wafts toward her.
“Is…” Theo stares at the mug, then back up at Douglas. “Is that for me?”
“Yep.”
She lifts it to her nose and inhales gently, but deep. Her eyes drift closed as the hot steam curls into her senses, carrying with it the comforting scent of spice. A tentative sip and she clutches it to her chest.
“I checked earlier, and all we had left was mint!” she says. “Where the hell did you find this?”
Douglas can't hold back a self-conscious smile when he answers, “Haley sells it in the cafe.”
“You went out and bought it? For me?”
“Yeah, I—” He shifts nervously, eyes dropping to the napkin full of sweets in his hand. “It's not really a big deal. I mean, you're always bringing stuff in to share with everyone, and it's so nice of you. Just thought someone should return the favor.”
Tina gapes at him. “Ok, that's—”
“Incredibly sweet,” Theo finishes for her, well-aware Tina's comment was headed in a very different direction. “Thank you, Doug. I mean it.”
He beams at her, even through Tina's skeptical snort. The confused tint to his expression is understandable—she can't remember ever showing genuine gratitude toward him. For anything. Though, in her defense, he hasn't given her much reason to until lately.
Douglas settles into the chair opposite her desk. “So, um… Who's not your boyfriend?”
“Yeah, Mags.” Tina grins at Theo, a challenge glimmering in her eyes. “I, for one, would love to hear you answer that question.”
Theo glares at her. “I feed you. I employ you.”
“You absolutely do not.”
“And this blatant disrespect is the thanks I get?”
“Plus a mug of incredibly sweet tea,” Tina adds with a smirk.
“Don't you have a patrol to get to?” Theo snaps, folding her arms across her chest.
Tina glances over at the large analog clock above reception and sighs heavily, then blows Theo a kiss before gliding away. Through the glass, she offers a silent “Good luck,” complete with two thumbs up.
Theo glares at her some more, then softens her gaze before it slides resignedly back to Douglas, who is watching her and nibbling at one of his brownies. She opens her mouth in the hopes a clever, evasive, semi-honest answer will present itself, but none volunteer.
Luckily, in that moment, her eye is caught by the glare of sunlight on glass as the front doors open and the members of Unit Bravo file in. As they move her way, she takes another sip of her tea, then stands.
“Excuse me, Douglas.” She nods and he turns.
“Oh, sure. Right. Of course.”
He scrambles up and out of her office, greeting each of them in turn with wide eyes, and she's surprised to find he holds semi-steady when Mason wrinkles his nose at the napkin full of brownies on his way past.
“Detective West made them,” Douglas says, squaring his shoulders. The pride in his voice is touching. “They're super good! You should try one.”
Mason scoffs and shoves past him. “Not gonna happen.”
Douglas' face falls at the brush-off and he turns to go.
“Hey, Doug?” Theo navigates her now-crowded office, parting Felix and Adam to lean out the doorway. “Thank you. Again.”
He nods and brightens at the attention. “No problem.” Then he goes to tend the front desk, sitting straighter in his chair than she's ever seen him.
“Oh! You finally restocked the tea!” Nate exclaims from behind her, and Theo drops her head in a huff of laughter and swings around to play hostess.