I'm sitting in a small cozy cafe in the downtown of Boston, lost in thought.

Maybe I should introduce myself first.

My name is Jane Rizzoli and I was born and raised in this city. Presumably, I will die here too, but that is still written in the stars.

At the moment I wouldn't mind a change of location.

I work with the BPD, Boston Police Department, but at the moment I am not able to do my job diligently. I don't really wanna explain why.

I'm twenty-five years old, I'm quite successful in my job and in private I have also made the big deal.

I have a really promising relationship with my best friend Maura Isles, whom I know from my schooldays.

"Hello, sweetheart, I have good news."

I blink a few times and turn my head. Speaking of the devil.

Maura beams broadly at me as she sits down opposite me and her appearance once again takes my breath away. I still can't explain what she sees in someone like me, but I won't push my luck and get to the bottom of it, otherwise, I've had a promising relationship with her for the longest time.

I quirk an eyebrow and sip my coffee. "What happened? Don't keep me in suspense."

She also orders a coffee and still grins at me. "I just got a call from the New York office of the Medical Examiner and I have a job interview here in Boston today."

I force myself to smile and have to swallow hard. "So you get a chance here?"

Her smile twitches for a fraction of a second. "No, in New York, maybe."

I force myself to smile, after all, I don't want to be a stick-in-the-mud."That sounds great."

No, not really, but I certainly will not stand in their way. After all, New York is not at the other end of the world. Maybe that's the hopped change of location.

The big smile is back on her lips. "I'm excited, darling, we could afford a small house, maybe in a suburb, would not that be fantastic?"

I lick my lips and nod slowly. A suburb is not what I've imagined. "Yeah, that would be great, Maura, you'll make it, I'll keep my fingers crossed."

Maura skids a little in her seat and looks down at herself. "What should I wear? Should I wear something modest and professional or something casual? What do you think?"

Really? Does fashionista Maura Isles ask me what to wear for a job interview? Me? Jane Rizzoli, who would like to go to a four-star restaurant in jeans and a shirt? I reach over the round table and take her hand in mine. „No matter what you wear, you gorgeous."

Maura beams broadly and squeezes my hand. "That's cute." She looks at her watch and frowns. "I have to go again."

"Okay," I whisper as she gets up and collects her things.

She circles the table and leans down to me. "Bye," she whispers, smiling before she kisses me.

"One more," I say pouting and my girlfriend rolls her eyes before she kisses me again. "Knock their socks off, Maura."

She turns her head and raises her hand in farewell but then she greets her good friend Lena O'Neil, who enters the cafe.

I roll my eyes as I see the other woman. Not because I can't stand her. On the contrary, I am also friends with her. It is only -

"Hi, long time no see," Lena says while she's sitting down on the vacant chair and I nod smiling so I can't growl. How are you? How's the grieving going?"

I raise my cup and freeze at the question while Lena's blue eyes are piercing me. „Better. Much better. Since I've been dating Maura things have gotten better. She's good for me. "

"I believe that," the woman says, leaning back in her chair. "Maura is a great person, and I'm not just saying that because we're friends. She has a strong personality, warm and valuable, but also vulnerable. Treat her well."

"I will," I sigh and set my jaw briefly. "That's what I promise you. She's the best thing that has ever happened in my life."

„And what about your nightmares," Lena asks and raises her brows.

I set my cup down and avoid eye contact. On days like this, I hate to have a psychologist in my circle of friends. „Most of the time I'm sleeping well, I'm almost back to my old self. "

"Good to hear. To be honest, I had my doubts. Surviving such a serious traffic accident and seeing your best friend die is a great challenge to both, body and soul."

You don't say! I almost forgot if you hadn't reminded me. "That's why it's good to talk to Maura. We talk a lot. She understands. Tom was her best friend, too."

Lena nods slowly and frowns as she leans forward. "And what about Justin? Are you back in touch? Would you consider forgiveness?"

"No, I can't forget how irresponsible he had been," I growl, pushing my cup away. "He didn't tell us he had some drinks. He should never have been driving."

„Of course, he shouldn't have been driving after drinking. Especially with Tom and you in the car. You should try to get rid of that anger. Don't rack your brain about whose to blame. It would be a pity if a long-term friendship ends. "

I press my lips together and close my eyes briefly. Usually, I'm not a vindictive person, but I just can't get over this one night. "I think you're right, but every time I think about Justin I wanna beat him up."

"Then why don't you just do that," asks the normally so thoughtful psychologist. "Maybe you both feel better afterward."

I have to grin a little and furl my brows. "This comes from the psychologist who normally despises violence?"

Lena shrugs and holds my gaze. "Sometimes you just have to be pragmatic."

"Okay, are you the referee then?"

Lena laughs heartily and I smile a little. "Hooray, your sense of humor is back. A good sign."

"I'm in a good mood today," I reply and shrug. "Maura has a job interview today for a job in New York."

„Great. Why don't we have dinner, us three? I promise no therapy talk."

"Yeah, sure," I agree and empty my cup. "Then we can toast the future Chief Medical Examiner of New York."

"Yes," Lena laughs and gets up slowly. "I have to go, work's calling. It was good to see you."

I nod and smile as she squeezes my shoulder before she disappears again.

I bury my face in my hands and groan. I like Lena, but sometimes it's unbearable when she's in work mode.

"Hey sweetie, how are you?"

I cringe when I hear the more than familiar voice and drop my hands.

What is happening today? Are they all following me?

However, I don't need this conversation.

I look into green eyes and don't smile. "Fine. You?"

My ex-girlfriend Sarah Beasley smiles seductively as she sits down. "Not so good ... I think a lot. About you ... about us!"

I rub my eyes and exhale slowly. "Sarah, please, stop that."

"I know I made a mistake, but I've changed, I'd like to see you again."

"And I'm sure that Maura wouldn't like that!"

Sarah scowls at me. "It breaks my heart, again. Like it or not, I still love you."

"Sarah, stop," I state warningly. "It's pointless, I'm with Maura and I love her more than anything."

Something changes in Sarah's behavior and also in her eyes. "Of all the sluts you've chosen this one. It's so typical." At school, she had twisted every guy's head and you all were so stupid. You deserve better."

„Sarah please stop! Maura and I are happy!"

„So were we. We were more than happy! I feel so lonely without you."

I close my eyes and shake my head. „We are done, Sarah."

„Fine," she hisses and gets up. „You're such an idiot."

I chuckle and wait until Sarah has left. I don't want to give her the impression that I'm running after her.

I just wanna go home and lock the door and go to bed. That was enough for one week.

First Maura. Okay, I never mind seeing her, but what bugs me is the fact that she considers taking a job in another state. Then, Lena, I guess she didn't drop by by accident. She knows where to find me when I miss our appointments. And now my ex-girlfriend. I just hope that my mother won't be calling me.

I growl low when my phone starts buzzing in the pocket of my jeans and frown deeply because it's an unknown number. „Rizzoli."

"Hey," replies a strange male voice.

I stop abruptly and blink against the sun. "Who's there?"

"My name is Peter, Maura's ex-husband. Didn't she mention me?"

I scoff and close my eyes for a moment. "Yes, she has."

Yes, Maura and I lost sight of each other for a short while and during this time she had married a social parasite called Peter Hess.

"I hope she praised me in the highest regard," the scumbag laughs and I grit my teeth. "Seriously, you're her new lover, aren't you?"

"What do you want from me?" I hiss and am about to hang up.

"I need her new number, I need to talk to her urgently."

"What is so important?"

"It's about palimony."

This guy is kidding me, right? I shift my weight from one foot to the other and lick my lips. „You won't get her number from me."

There is a brief silence. „Are you kidding me? I'm currently on the dole. I have to beg for every crap ... Either I'll get that money or I'll sue Maura."

I roll my eyes and furl my brows. "Many people are worse off than you, so stop complaining."

"I want her new number!"

"I couldn't care less what you want," I reply and hang up.

I shake my head and decide to pay someone a quick visit instead of hiding at home.

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"What's up," I ask, smiling broadly as I'm looked at with disbelieving eyes.

"Hey," Nina says with a big grin as I enter BRIC, even though I'm not supposed to be there. "you are still alive."

I shove my hands into my pockets and shrug. "It's nice to see you, too." I nod on the screen of her laptop. "What do you do?"

Nina quickly closes the device and pulls down the corners of her mouth. "I'm just trying to design a logo for my blog." She stops and looks at me. "Isn't your girlfriend a great illustrator?"

I roll my eyes and push her a bit. "We broke up more than a year ago, but I'll ask her anyway."

"Great thanks." Nina slowly gets up and goes to the coffee machine. "Do you want a coffee too?"

"No," I reply and wave. "I already had more than enough for a day."

"What brings you here, do you want to convince Cavanaugh that you're fit for duty again?"

"No, I just wanted to see a friendly face."

"And you come to me, what about Maura?"

I roll my eyes and sit on one of the many desk chairs. "Has a job interview today."

"Nice."

"Not really, a job interview for a position in New York."

"Oh," Nina breathes and makes a face. "But better than if her education is for nothing, right?"

"Of course," I sigh and run my hand through my hair. "I mean, Maura is brilliant. It would be a waste of her talent if she did not work as a ME, I just thought-"

"That you could work together," adds Nina when I trail off.

I nod vehemently and furl my brows. "That's selfish, isn't it?"

Nina rolls her cup in her hands and shrugs. "I can understand. Maura knows you better than anybody else, and you've been through a lot, and you aren't together that long."

I lean back and exhale slowly. "I mean, she's my best friend, my soulmate, but I don't know if our relationship survives a long-distance relationship."

Nina looks at me for a long time and I see the concern in her eyes. "Did you tell her that?"

"I don't want to stand in her way."

"Jane -"

"Look," I say, getting up. "It was great to see you again, I don't want to keep you from working."

"Jane -"

I stop abruptly and turn back to her. "I'll talk to Sarah about your avatar thing. What's it supposed to be?"

Nina's shoulders slump. "A wolf."

"Really?"

"Yes, why?"

"I thought more of a cheetah or a gazelle. Something graceful. But a wolf?" I chuckle as I hear her laugh and raise my hand goodbye.

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I'm sitting on the couch at home in old sweatpants and a worn BPD shirt, thumbing through an older photo album.

This album contains memories of my school days and friends with whom I really should get in touch again. Now I have the time for that.

Back then, I always used my work as an excuse to avoid going to alumni reunions and realizing that Sarah was simply not the right woman for me.

Sarah is a great woman. She is quick-witted and sexy, and unpredictable. We had a great time, no doubt about it.

However, she had used my work as a cop as an excuse to start a fight with me and since we are both people who don't back down, these fights have become very heated.

One evening our neighbors even called the cops and I had to explain to my colleagues that neither she nor I had become physical.

That was a very unpleasant situation, especially for me at work.

Still, Sarah is a woman who judges people by appearance rather than by personality.

I didn't get along with that and the fact that she had cheated on me with a man from a different precinct.

The night I found out, I went to Maura's. I had no ulterior motives that night, just wanted to get drunk with my best friend while we were pouring our hearts out to each other.

Well, then one thing led to another.

However, we didn't head straight into a new relationship with each other back then.

After having sex with each other, we talked about how sensible people talked about it. Of course not immediately afterward.

At that time I was afraid that it would ... be weird when we saw each other, but that was not the case. We were just two adult women who had one ... let's say fairly complicated relationships behind us and had to relieve some stress.

The feelings we have today for each other have slowly but steadily built up.

I look up as I hear that the front door is unlocked and look at my wristwatch when my girlfriend enters the apartment. "Oh crap," I gasp, frowning deeply. "I didn't realize it's already that late."

Maura raises her eyebrows, takes a deep breath and drops her briefcase in front of the sideboard with an unreadable expression on her face.

I swallow hard that is something very uncharacteristic for this tickler for order. "You didn't get the job, did you?"

She doesn't answer me, goes into the kitchen, opens a cupboard, takes out a wine glass and fills it with her favorite wine.

"Oh, baby," I say, following her into the kitchen. "Maybe it shouldn't be that you work in New York."

Maura watches me for a long time and tilts her head a little. "Do we have any leftovers of your mother's lasagna?"

I blink a few times and look at her with a toothy grin. "I can order pizza."

She rolls her eyes and takes a long sip from her glass. "Yes, please."

I grab my phone from the kitchen counter and nod with pursed lips. "Okay, the usual?"

Why am I asking? I already know the answer.

Maura braces herself at the counter and frowns deeply. "You seem to be relieved?"

I do not look at her and lift my shoulders. "You do not work in New York, to be honest, I was not a big fan of the thought, so now I can spend some more time with you." I raise my eyes and furrow my brows as my friend silently looks at me. I can see exactly that something is occupying her. "Maura, what is it?"

Maura sets down the glass and licks her lips. "I got the position."

I blink a few times while I'm sure that my heart has stopped beating right now. "That's great, right?"

She smiles a little and nods. "Yes."

"There is something else."

"I have to go to New York tomorrow."

Okay, I am amazed by myself that I do not fall over dead as she says that. "Permanently?"

Maura is now swallowing hard. "I don't know."

I put my phone back on its side. The pizza order is long forgotten when I go to her and run my hands down her arms. "Then we have to make tonight unforgettable."

Maura leans her head as I start kissing her neck. "Yes, we have to," she sighs and slips her hands under my shirt.

I pull her closer to me and look at her. "We can order pizza later."

She chuckles as I take her hand and pull her towards the bedroom, but then she stops abruptly. "Wait."

No, I don't want to wait after learning that my girlfriend will move to another city already tomorrow.

I furl my brows when she walks to the fridge. "What is it now?"

"We need something to toast," replies the love of my life and grins broadly as she row fetch a bottle of champagne from the fridge.

I grin mischievously and let her pass me. "I've been wanting to sip champagnes from your belly button for a long time. And other places."

"Jane," Maura chuckles.

"I'm serious," I reply in a deep voice, grinning broadly. But then I growl when she turns her head and bites her bottom lip.

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The storyline hasn't left me for quite a while.

It's a slow start, but I hope you like it.

Of course, you can share your opinion with me.

Have fun,

T73.