A tall, lithe teen-aged boy stood in front of Syd's beachside home. In contrast to the boy's height, a small beagle leaped excitedly against his leg. Syd waved at the boy through the windshield of Steve's truck and grinned, earning a wave from the boy in return. Steve wheeled the truck into the driveway and cut the engine. Syd quickly undid her seatbelt and opened the door, hopping down to the gravel beneath her.
"Hey, Chad! What's up?" she called, shutting the door and walking up the driveway to the walkway where the boy stood.
"Not much. Mom and I had a fight." He deadpanned, looking to the beagle that was sitting by him wagging its tail excitedly. He didn't meet Syd's eyes as she stared him down.
"What was it this time?" she heard gravel crunch as Steve came to stand beside her, his gaze sizing the teen-ager up. The boy returned the look, still keeping his gaze away from Syd as he answered.
"I failed geometry." He muttered, looking down at he ground and studiously examining his feet.
"I see. Well, we can talk when we get inside. Here," she tossed the house keys to him and he caught them. "Oh, and I forgot introductions. Chad, this is my…friend, Steve Sloan. He's a cop with the LAPD." She saw a light appear in Chad's eyes at this revelation. She grinned at Steve, and waved her hand towards Chad. "And Steve, this is Chad Noble, and his dog, Buttercup." The beagle perked up at the mention of her name and barked. Syd grinned and slid an arm around Steve's waist guiding him to the front door, letting Chad and Buttercup lead the way.
"Buttercup?" Steve asked, looking at the dog's paintbrush tail as she trotted next to her owner.
"Chris got her for Chad on his thirteenth birthday. He wanted to name her Daffodil. He's a poet at heart, totally the opposite of his father."
"And his father is?" probed Steve, trying to get Syd to tell him more.
"Chris Noble. He called at dinner, he's done wiring the security system. He's an ex-boyfriend and my fix-it guy." She saw the surprise and instant defense in Steve's eyes at the mention of the Ex-boyfriend status of Chris. "We went our separate was amicably, Steve. He was the one who called it off."
"gee, that makes me feel so much better." He deadpanned, stepping through Syd's front door. A guy who was the image of what Chad would look like in about thirty years came around the corner.
"Hey Syd! Sorry for interrupting dinner, but you told me to call you when I finished." He dusted his hands off on his jeans as he spoke.
"Not a problem, thanks for doing this on such short notice, this whole thing just has me creeped out."
"Understandably, Syd. Who's your companion?" Chris asked, nodding towards Steve.
"This, is my current fling, Steve Sloan. As I informed Chad, he's with the LAPD." She grinned, hugging Steve. "So don't try anything."
"I won't, promise. Chris Noble." He replied, extending a hand to Steve. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Sloan."
"Likewise. She told you about the phone calls?" asked Steve, looking at the keypad that was now installed by the front door.
A nod from Chris, "Yeah, asked me to install this system. Anything to keep Syd safe and give her peace of mind. Though, I don't know how much more peace of mind she needs if she's dating a cop."
"Plenty." Syd laughed.
"Oops," Chris glanced at his watch, and looked into the den where Chad and Buttercup lounged on the couch. "Promised Dana that I'd have Chris over there by seven. Guess we'd better haul. Call me if you have any problems with the system, okay?"
"I will, and tell Chad to stop fighting with his mother."
"Right, like that'll ever happen. Anyhoo, catch ya later." Chris gathered up his tool bucket and whistled, causing Buttercup to leap off the couch and dash over to him, followed by Chad. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Sloan." he said as he ushered the teen out the door. Syd waved as she shut the door behind him, locking the deadbolt and heading into the living room.
"Seems like a nice enough guy." Steve commented, for lack of anything better. "Why'd he break up with a beautiful gal like you?"
"Funny, Steve. He is a nice guy and he broke up with me for the same reason he divorced his wife." She replied, examining the sensors on the windows before collapsing onto the couch. Steve sank down next to her and began to massage her shoulders.
"And that is…?"
"He's gay." She murmured, relaxing under Steve's ministrations.
"You're kidding, right?" he asked, more than slightly shocked.
"I never kid, Sloan." She tipped her head back to look up at him and leaned back against him. "I am dating you, right?"
"Har har." He kissed the smile that played on her lips, "You're funny."
"I know." She curled her legs up onto the couch and relaxed even further against Steve. "I know."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~