Akira Watanabe’s greatest issue isn’t being a lesbian, but rather having a father with the maturity of a teenager. He’s a heavy drinker and hardly works, so she supports them both with a job at a local convenience mart. It’s there she befriends police sergeant Rosey Garatino, who frequents the store and lives in the same complex as the Watanabes. Akira has the hots for a Goth girl named Jade, but unfortunately, Jade likes guys, and she also drinks and smokes. One night when Jade comes into the store, drunk, and tries to steal some beer, Akira stops her. Jade gets sick, and Akira helps her outside. Sparks fly between them, but nothing happens. Later Akira hears rumors that Jade is a lesbian. The heat that smoldered between them now sparks into a fire, especially when Jade promises to quit drinking and smoking. Akira’s surprised to learn Jade is Rosey’s daughter. Growing up can be difficult in the best of situations, but the neighborhood where Akira and Jade live is dangerous, too. As their friendship deepens into love, will they be able to protect each other and find their happy ending?

Saving Akita

Back in the patrol car, Rosey told Jade she’d take her home, rush to the department, change into civilian clothes, and rush home.


Jade moaned, “Can I stay with you?”


Rosey transferred Jade to her personal car, left the patrol vehicle in the police garage, and changed out of her uniform.


Riding home, Jade said, “I appreciate your standing up to the jerk for me, but are you in trouble now?”


At home, with Jade in bed and sedated, Rosey called to contact the on-call Police Officers’ Association rep. She ran the situation by him, including what the citizen, the retired officer, said about smelling booze on the lieutenant’s breath.


“I don’t know. I don’t think so, but I look for that with citizens during calls, not from peers.”


Chapter 14