Stuck with You

By Nikki Mays

Elena has decided that she's done with the opposite sex for awhile. Anyone with a working brain would feel that way after finding her fiance in bed with her best friend. The only issue with her plan is the pain in the butt, grunting and grumpy cop that she has the misfortune of running into. But as long as she can avoid Darrin James, he

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kingston Publishing Company
• Release date: Sep 9, 2019
• ISBN: 9781645331971

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Copyright

Stuck with You is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

STUCK WITH YOU: A NOVEL

Copyright © 2019 by Nikki Mays

All rights reserved.

Editing by KP Editing

Cover Design by KP Designs

Published by Kingston Publishing Company

The uploading, scanning, and distribution of this book in any form or by any means—including but not limited to electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the permission of the copyright holder is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized editions of this work, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

Table of Contents

Copyright

Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Epilogue

Extras

About the Author

About the Publisher

Prologue

Two Years Ago:

Darrin

Have you ever woken up and realized that your whole day was going to be shit? You know the day. You wake up late, burn your mouth on the coffee that you’re chugging, spill the steaming hot liquid down the front of your shirt, and close your hand in a drawer looking for a towel....all before even walking out your front door.

Yeah, my day started that bad, well not like that exactly because I’m not spastic, but you get the idea. I was late for our morning roll call meeting. Which wouldn’t be a big deal if, as punishment, my Captain hadn’t decided to stick me with Messler, the equivalent of the force of the village idiot? But I’m an adult and was in the wrong, so I just shut my mouth and did as I was told. How bad could it be? Yeah, I was dumb enough to think those thoughts.

After being stuck with this moron for the past four hours already, I’m beginning to wonder if someone told him to apply to the force in hopes that he would get shot. Not only does this fool never shut up, but he’s spent the last forty-five minutes talking about his mother. For real, I’m not sure whether I want to slap him, or just feel sorry that he’s probably going to be a virgin until the day he dies.

And that’s why I like living at home with her. Who else is going to make my food and do my laundry the way I like it done? the current bane of my existence says.

I look to my right and wonder why I had to be late this morning. You ever think of doing that shit for yourself? Why I’m even engaging him in this conversation, is beyond me.

He blinks at me a few times from the passenger seat of the squad car that we’re in. Why would I do that when she does everything for me? he scoffs.

Probably, because women don’t want a man who lives in his mother's basement, I drawl.

He shrugs carelessly, before taking a sip of his – I shit you not – hot chocolate from his thermos. A thermos that has his name engraved on it. I’m sure I’ll find a chick who realizes how awesome it is living with my mom.

I just turn my head and look out the window. This fool is going to be sixty, never married, still living with his mother and a bunch of cats. I did my nice deed for the day by trying to help him. Okay, not really, but I should get an A for effort. It’s taking a lot of effort to not tape his mouth shut, cuff him, and toss him in the trunk. I deserve an award or some shit for my level of patience.

Just as I’m contemplating how much trouble I’ll get in, if I actually do toss him in the trunk, he opens his trap again. Do you think that we should go help that guy?

I look over to where he’s pointing and see some guy throwing up against an old, decrepit brick wall and sigh loudly. Did I also forget to mention that Cap thought that it would be a great idea to assign us to the Skid Row of our town? I just can’t catch a fucking break today.

I guess. Do I want to deal with a guy who is either drunk or high at one in the afternoon? Hell no, but it would be my luck today that he would choke on his vomit and die. Then his family would sue the town, because we didn’t stop him from making poor life choices.

Dipshit next to me starts rubbing his hands together like a toddler looking at candy. Finally, we get to do something today. I can’t wait to tell my mom about it, he says gleefully, before exiting the car.

I shake my head, check my weapon, and then get out of the car; a lot less gleeful than the moron now trying to look tough. I wonder if I could accidentally shoot him in the foot or something? I’m sure that I could come up with a plausible explanation.

I put that smirk inducing thought on the back burner, while I walk up next to my – God help me – partner, and stare at the man in front of us. I really don’t want to get any closer than I am right now. Especially, since I can smell him from five feet away and let's just say, that he doesn’t smell like roses. Well, maybe roses that have decayed on top of a pile of dog shit.

Messler pinches his nose and scrunches up his face in disgust. Jesus, how the hell can someone walk around smelling like that?

I side-eye him while keeping this guy in my line of sight, since God only knows what he’s on. Considering that getting his next fix is his only real concern in life, I don’t think that he really cares how he smells.

Sir, are you alright over there? Messler asks, not moving any closer to the guy. Not that I can blame him for that.

The guy who appears to be in his late twenties, but who is probably younger, got to love what drugs can do to you, looks over at us. Oh, wonderful, he puked all over himself. Jesus Christ, I really hate people some days.

I’m fine, he slurs out.

Do you require our assistance? I ground out.

I told you I’m fine. He flails his arms around, causing him to lose his balance, and you guessed it, fall into his own vomit.

This guy is disgusting, Messler states in disgust, and I’m pretty sure that it’s the first thing that I’ve agreed with all day.

I sigh loudly and scrub my hand over days’ worth of stubble. Dammit, is it too much to ask for people not to be complete screw-ups? Let’s go get some latex gloves. We’re going to have to take him in for public intoxication.

Messler’s eyes get as wide as saucers. You’re serious? We’re going to have to touch him?

How else you think we’re getting him in the back of the car? A fucking magic fairy? I shake my head in annoyance. Just go get the damn gloves and quit whining, I growl.

My tone leaves no room for argument and luckily he does as I say. While Messler’s at the car, I just stare down at the fool who couldn’t care less that he’s sitting in his own barf. I can’t even imagine how high you have to be to not care. Hopefully, some time in a cell will sober him up enough to take a good long look at his life. Probably not, but maybe it’ll be his wake-up call. I can only hope for his sake.

Messler and I spend the next hour getting Jared Parrow in and out of our car and into lockup. By the time that we’re finished, us and our squad car are covered in vomit. Thankfully, Cap is allowing us to take the rest of the day off. Unfortunately, not without laughing his ass off first. I swear, I’m going to find a way to get him back for today.

As I pull up to my house, I see my fiancée Kimber’s car in the driveway, as well as another car that I’ve never seen before. She should still be at work for another few hours and never comes home early. Despite the pit in my stomach, I force myself to park my truck and walk calmly to my front door. I know, just know with every fiber of my being, that I’m not going to like what I find behind this door. But I’ve never been one to hide from my problems.

I open the door, that isn’t even locked, which just pisses me off, and walk inside. I close the door quietly, making sure to make as little noise as possible. Not that it’s necessary, the sounds coming from my bedroom are loud enough to block out any other sounds. You know, like my heart being ripped to shreds.

I walk on silent feet up to the closed bedroom door. I stand here for a moment, contemplating my next move. I could easily walk right back out my door and pretend that I was never here. Or, I could walk into the bedroom that I’ve shared with Kimber for close to three years now, and face the truth that I have subconsciously suspected for some time now. Like I said, I’m not the type of man who cowers.

I slowly push the door open, and make a mental note to never allow another woman into my life and heart.

On my bed is Kimber and a man who I’m pretty sure is her boss. She’s riding him for all she’s worth. Like she’s going to find the cure for cancer if she gets him to nut fast enough. Between their moans and the slapping of their flesh, I feel like I’m going to be sick. Well, it could also be that I’m still covered in a junkie’s puke.

You hoping to get a raise, Kim? Hmm, never mind, looks like he’s already given you one, I drawl, in a bored tone. I keep my face blank and my limbs loose, even though I’m seething on the inside.

They both startle at the sound of my voice and they fall of the bed. I’d laugh if I wasn’t so damn close to tearing this guy apart. I’m sure that I’ll get a chuckle later on, you know, when I’m not feeling homicidal.

They’re both scattering like cockroaches and pulling on clothing. Kimber’s sputtering, most likely trying to figure out how to feed me a line of bullshit about her accidentally falling onto his dick. And him...well he looks scared. Good, he should be. I’ve had a shit day and he just made it a thousand times worse.

I can explain, baby, Kimber pleads.

I snort and roll my eyes at the whore that I thought would be my wife and the mother of my kids. Not interested in anything your whore ass has to say. I’m getting into the shower. All I know is that you and this small dicked fuckwad better be gone when I get out. Make sure that you grab all of your shit too.

I start to walk to my bathroom, but she steps in front of me. Darrin, it was just a mistake, we can work this out, baby, she purrs, and causes nothing but disgust to roll through me.

The dude, who thankfully has all of his clothes on, scoffs. A mistake? he growls. So, you’ve been making the same mistake for a year now then, huh? he says, while crossing his puny arms over his chest.

Her head whips around toward him. Will you shut up! she hisses.

A year? Good to know. She’s all yours man. But I was serious, get all of your shit before I have your ass arrested. Nothing would make me happier than having you end up in a cell, I calmly explain, while grabbing some clothes from my drawers.

You can’t do that! she screeches, and stomps her foot like a petulant child.

I give her a menacing glare. Considering that I bought this house years before I met your skank ass and we aren’t married, I’m pretty sure that I can. Whatever you can’t take now, I’ll be nice enough to box up for you and leave on the curb tomorrow. Now get the fuck out of my sight. Just looking at you is repulsive.

With that parting statement, I calmly walk into my bathroom and shut the door. Hopefully, a long shower will scrub away the remnants of this shittatsic day.

Chapter One

Present Day

Elena

Is today a full moon? Crap on a cracker, it seems like every patient that I’ve had today has been insane. If they’re not a drug seeker, half – or wholly – psychotic, creepy, or just plain annoying, I’m Mary Poppins. Seriously, how is that I get stuck with all of these lunatics?

Not too much really gets to me anymore. After being a trauma nurse for the past five years, I’ve pretty much seen and heard it all. But for fuck’s sake, it would be nice not to get all of the crazies at the same damn time.

I look down at my watch and cringe