My most cherished,

Fate keeps pulling us together. Entwined like the vines on your family lake house in Granby. Let’s take a trip there someday! Perhaps that can be where we share our vows? It would make for a beautiful wedding spot. Don’t worry, I’m not proposing quite yet, just considering our future, which is paramount because women like you enjoy planning ahead and preparing.

I adored the blue flower sundress you wore on our date the other night. The movie was hilarious! I rarely like movies but watching you laugh just brightens my day. I know you felt self conscious about your appearance but you shouldn’t; the dress fit your frame perfectly and your hair looks pretty curled.

Take these flowers, one for everyday we’ve been together. I know proper gentlemen should be aloof, but I’m progressive and sharing my feelings. Which is something they suggested at that seminar we attended in Seattle last month. I learned so much about you on that trip. How I wished to share a room with you, but I understand you want to save your purity for our wedding night. It will make your deflowering more special. Unquestionably, I won’t take it from you until the time is right because I LOVE YOU.

My unyielding adoration is ever deepening. Like a riptide, you’re pulling me from the safety of shore and I’ll drown in you forever after.

With doting idolization and tender appreciation,

Your Devoted Paramour

###

Hi mom, sorry I haven’t written lately. Work has been so busy! We’re working on the merger with Cheng Acquisitions which is taking all my time. I’ve slept at the office twice this week, (promise I’m trying to take care of myself, too).

Just a heads up, I think that creep found me. There was a note and flowers in my car. He mentioned Seattle and the lake house… Should I get the police involved again?

I don’t want to risk running into Officer Asshole, (please remind me to never date another cop 🤦🏽‍♀️). Did I tell you she got my car booted? Luckily, Olly is still talking to me, they got it off and only teases me about it when we talk, so like daily.

Love you so much!

Oh, still coming for our birthday? Elena wants to start planning lol.

Hugs and kisses,

Les

###

Leslie Anne Trujillo Cruz, do I need to send the Tio’s up there? At least tell Olly! Things were serious last time! We almost lost you to this man’s delusions ☹️

Love you, hita!

Mom

###

Sup loser, I have a favor to ask…

Get booted again?😏

😂🖕

no, I think my stalker found me 😬

I’m at the Foxhole swing

by and I’ll be a cop?

Love you, sis, be safe.

😘Thanks Olly, appreciate it.

###

Mamacita,

Don’t worry, I text Olly, I’m going to meet up with them at Max’s Foxhole, a cop/vet bar. If I need the Tio’s, promise to send the SOS emojis.

Love you! ❤️❤️❤️

###

My rapture and light,

Why are you doing this to me? When I attempted to pick you up for our date, that Officer Thompson assaulted me, then told me you said I’m stalking you! Why would you utter such a fallacious and hurtful statement? Do you realize she hit me AND threatened to shoot me if I don’t leave you alone!? Such unacceptable behavior. Fear not, I shall handle the disrespectful harlot later; a lesson in civility is required.

Clearly we need to reconnect… I realize you love me and see it every time we lock eyes. Don’t worry, we need only steal away for the weekend, then you’ll be wiser and shower me with affection. We can move beyond this and be stronger than ever. Perhaps we can lie together? You can give me your purity and I’ll give you my seed to make babies. Then you can care for us and we’ll live happily ever after. What a brilliant idea this will surely help. Pack a bag, I’ll come for you soon.

All my adoration and reverence,

Your Devoted Paramour

###

Les Cell is sharing their location.

Everything ok dude?

LEAVE US ALONE.

 

Ring

“You’ve reached Doctor Leslie Trujillo Cruz. Please leave a—”

Click.

Ring

“You’ve reached Doctor—”

Click.

Ring

“You’ve—”

Click.

Ring

“Everything is fine, my paramour and I are taking a weekend trip,” Leslie pushes out through choked sobs.

Olly lights a cigarette and takes a long drag. “Yeah, well, stop for a beer, I owe your paramour an apology. Shouldn’t’ve popped off like that, love you like a sister and I’m overprotective,” they say smoke falling out with the words.

A heartless laugh cracks the tense silence. “No, you won’t trick me, officer! You can’t hurt people there are consequences.”

“Wanna report me? Probably get me suspended for hitting you. Meet me at the station, I’ll introduce you to the captain.”

“Another time, I musn’t keep my lover waiting.”

The line goes dead with Leslie’s panicked “No!” and frantic sobs.

Art, it’s Olly, we have a problem.

###

🛟☎️

Leslie Anne shared 1 contact “Officer Olly”

📵💬

 

Officer Olly? This is Leslie Anne

Trujillo Cruz’s mother, Antonia,

she sent me the SOS emoji

that means she’s in trouble

and to text you instead of

calling. Is everything okay?

Hi Mrs. Trujillo Cruz,

there may be a situation,

our best officers are on it.

I’m headed into the precinct,

I’ll let you know as soon

as there’s any information.

Was it him?

Yep, I intervened when he tried

to take her out of the bar

and that may have set him off,

I’m so sorry.

Not your fault, he’s tried this before,

it’s why she moved up there.

Should I send her uncles up to help?

I’ll let you know if we need

additional support, thank you ma’am.

###

Hi my love,

So, you were right; I was mistaken, we’re meant to be together. Can you let me out now? And we can go live our happily ever after, my prince. With a perfect wedding and kids, all of it. Maybe we can invite our families to the wedding? I miss my mom, she’ll love you. At least let me call her, please?

Love and devotion,

Leslie

###

My amour,

Sorry, you’re forcing me to continue to reinforce boundaries and initiate consequences. You can’t lie and avoid consequences. Liars always face consequences!

I hadn’t intended to stay out here this long, so we need supplies. Don’t worry, I shall be back tomorrow and we will attempt sharing a meal again, then you may apologize face to face.

Fear not, our adoration will get us through this rough patch and strengthen our resolve.

All my admiration and piety,

Still Your Devoted Paramour

###

Hello Officer Olly,

Mrs. Trujillo Cruz again.

Have you made any progress?

We may have it narrowed

down from where her

cellphone last pinged.

I’m so sorry, I love her so much,

she’s such a great person,

this is my fault.

No, Olly, he is a sick man

that has created a fantasy.

This isn’t on you, dear,

this is on him, you’ll find him.

When you do, if I could have

a moment with him,

I would appreciate it. 🥊

😂Yes, ma’am, I think we

can make that happen.

###

Mom?

Writing this will make me feel better, even if you never read it… I don’t think I’m getting home 🙁

Tell Olly this isn’t their fault! They are going to blame themself and this isn’t their fault; I need you to help me help them realize that. So hug Olly for me and tell them they better not feel bad, they tried, this was inevitable. Then explain what inevitable means to them and say I told you to. That’ll make them laugh, they need to laugh more.

Elena better still have a birthday party for us. I want chocolate cake, she can have vanilla if she really wants, but why have terrible cake when excellent cake is an option?

Fair warning, if you don’t make me tamales for Dia de los Muertos I’m going to rearrange the kitchen cabinets. Like, I’ll put the spices in alphabetical order instead of by flavor profile. And! I’m mixing the baking spices with the cooking spices. Oh! and Tio needs to make his mango jalapeño margaritas, or his garage is getting a makeover too (two words: Andrea’s glitter) 😉

Have a celebration of life at Max’s Foxhole, please? Ask everyone to tell funny stories. Tell Max and Olly to do their Bohemian Rhapsody karaoke routine because it’s hilarious and I will never stop loving them for being so ridiculous, you’ll love it. If Officer Asshole shows up, tell her I’m definitely going to haunt her and I’m still not over the whole boot thing lol.

I love you so much. Tell everyone I love them so much. I think I hear him, I’m going to hide this. Love you, seriously I love you and I’m never going to stop loving you. This isn’t your fault either.

Les

– Shannon Massey

Author’s Note: “Your Devoted Paramour” is a short story set in the Broken Pieces universe, a series that follows Detective Olly Thompson and their partner Detective Arthur “Art” Kent (book 1 is currently being queried). “You Devoted Paramour” is set years before the events that take place in the series and features Officer Olly Thompson and their dear friend, Leslie. It’s the first of two short stories written before the first book in the Broken Pieces series.