Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

When I opened WhatsApp, I saw a message from someone named "HonorBound". The message simply said, "I'm Officer Jason."

That kind of serious name wasn't something a regular person would use. I tried to remember if I knew this person and realized that it might be the officer who gave me the death certificate yesterday.

I didn't get his last name, but he was the only cop I'd talked to recently. Plus, he had asked me for my phone number. I figured that if he needed something, he'd message me again.

I opened my WhatsApp chat with Lisa and sent her a message. "When you're in a relationship, you should play a little hard to get and act cute. Right now, you're like an iron woman. How will you make a guy want to protect you?"

After sending the message, I looked at Lisa, but she didn't react at all, like she didn't even have her phone. Anyway, I didn't expect her to reply right away. I just wanted to give her a tip for next time. Brandon then said, "Stop messing around and eat."

"Okay," I replied, and started eating my pasta.

My throat still hurt, so I didn't eat much. The fruit juice was really soothing, though it would've been perfect if it were chilled.

I wasn't very hungry, so I just sipped my juice and played around, while Brandon ate seriously.

Even though he looked rough, he had good table manners. He ate really fast. He finished his pasta quickly and left no crumbs behind.

This was how he always ate, not just today. I knew it was a habit for him, like how my parents taught me to clean my plate when I was a kid.

that, but I didn't always do it. I guessed that

I ignore the rule

clean his plate so well, I couldn't help but tease him, "Brandon, finishing your

go

because it makes cleanup easier, but here people might think

not about not being able

about not needing i

r pasta. Colet

said, reaching over

my

belongs

my leftovers before, this

doesn't matter what others think. Wasting food is wrong," he

so I just watched him

my foot. He stopped eating and looked at

saw his Adam's apple bob as he swallowed and said, "Stop

my straw and sipped my juice with a