I thought better of knocking on Rourke’s door. If he was having a bad morning, I wanted to stay on the other side of that shit. Turning on my heels, I went to the hall closet and retrieved my uniform.

“Caster?”

“Yeah, it’s me,” I called back. I pulled out my uniform, stepped back and found Rourke standing in the hallway. “What’s up?”

“When did you get here?”

I shrugged. “Just now,” I lied. “Need my uniform for work. You almost ready?”

He peered at me closely before he nodded. “I will be in ten.”

“Me too. Let’s pick up food on the way to the precinct. I can’t be late again.”

“Fine. Let’s get moving.”

I paused. “Are you okay, Rourke?”

He turned back toward me. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t know. Lately, you seem a little off, that’s all. I was wondering if you’re okay.”

His eyes narrowed. For a brief moment, I felt ice trickle through my veins before the look on his face dissipated and the fear I felt went right along with it. What the hell was that?

“I’m good, kid,” he said before nodding toward me. “Are you coming or not?”

“Yeah,” I said, still trying to shake of unease that crept down my spine. “Yeah, I’m coming. Sarge wants us to go over the files before the chief gets in and needs to be caught up.”

“Then let’s do it,” Rourke said, disappearing into his room.

“Yeah.”

I stared after him for what felt like ages. What’s his problem? Is he acting like this because I’m staying here more often? Or because he knows I fucked Enzo?

Rourke had never been all that short with me. Straightforward and a pain in my ass, sure. Short and snappy? No. Something was going on with him.

I stepped into the bathroom and closed the door. Whatever’s going on with him, it’s not my business. But partners are supposed to tell each other everything.

Both sides of me warred, trying to figure out the best way to deal with this. In the end, I put on my uniform and swallowed it all down. Rourke would talk to me eventually. The last thing he needed was me pushing him into a conversation he wasn’t ready to have. The same way he respected my privacy, I needed to respect his.

“Ready?” Rourke asked when I walked into the living room, his bad mood gone.

“Yeah.”

He nodded, looking me over before he smiled. “Sorry, I’m in such a shit mood. It’ll pass.”

“I’m sure it will. We’ve all been there.”

“Exactly,” he said, gathering his keys from the coffee table. “You get it.”

“I do,” I said, laughing awkwardly. “I need coffee.”

“Me too!” He grinned. “I’d rather not snap at work and get fired.”

Just like that, we brushed past the situation, but it sat in my gut like a stone. I sucked it up and prepared myself for the day ahead. The chief and Sergeant White were waiting for answers. I needed to give it to them.