4. Matty
Chapter 4
Matty
I T’S BEEN FORTY-eight hours since I created a profile on Blinding Love and about twenty-four since I matched with someone named Dawn. She seemed interesting, so I went for it. Problem was, the only thing the app would do is let me send a hello. Literally: Hello. I had one choice, and it was…Hello.
Cue the Lionel Ritchie soundtrack.
I’m not sure this thing is going to work. Especially since it’s been a full day, and nothing has happened. I’m having serious regrets about the whole thing, and I’m especially having regrets about my decision to be less boring. I’m a small-town vet. Outside of emergency calls to farms or an unexpected litter of puppies getting dumped on the clinic’s doorstep, how exciting can my life possibly get?
Bessie, the cow I’m inspecting at Farmer John’s right now, doesn’t seem to care one way or another that my match hasn’t responded. She blinks her big brown eyes at me as I settle my stethoscope around my neck and look at the old man. “She’s fine, John.”
He peers at me, uncertain. “You sure?”
“Positive.”
“Cause she was mooin’ like she done been shot.” He pulls his dirty red ball cap off and wrings it. “She’s my best milker, Matty.”
I thump her on the side and she blinks again. “Not a thing wrong with her.”
“All right then. Might as well look at the rest of ‘em while you’re here.” He turns and I follow, futilely attempting to avoid squishing my boots in the patties that Bessie and her compatriots have dropped.
My phone chirps and I pull it out, my eyes landing on the giant letters practically yelling at me on the screen.
YOUR MATCH RESPONDED
“Holy shit,” I whisper, my heart doing a wild twisty thing as it leaps into my throat. Naturally, I trip over a rock, sending the phone flying out of my hand and landing perilously close to a pile of fresh poo. That was close.
“John, I’ll be right over,” I call, slowing my steps through the field to open the app.
John grunts and keeps moving.
Dawn
Hello
I stare at the simple word, wondering if that was all she was offered. Quirking a smile, I figure that’s as good an intro as anything.
James
Was “hello” the only choice you had, too?
She answers instantly.
Ha. Yes, it was. But it seems we’ve got the world at our fingertips now.
Indeed we do. Thanks for responding.
Is this your first match?
Definitely. You?
I watch the dots on the app, indicating she’s typing. I walk even slower, knowing that John will grow impatient but unable to tear my gaze away from my phone.
Tbh, I joined a year ago and never matched with anyone. I forgot about it. Had a whole existential crisis when the notification came through yesterday.
That explains the 24 hours you made me sweat.
Yeah I guess so.
“I got more to do than wait around on you, Matty!” John yells from the entrance into the horse barn.
“Coming!”
I’d like to keep chatting, but I’m at work. Can I text you later?
You work on Saturdays?
I wince. I don’t want to give too much away at first.
Sometimes.
After a minute, she answers.
Sure, text me later. Have fun at work!
Thanks.
Then, before I can spiral too much, I add a smiley emoji at the end of it.
I spend the next hour looking over the horses and giving them their scheduled vaccinations, John close by and watching me like a hawk, which is standard. The man is nothing if not thorough.
“You remember that little slip of a dog I told you about last month?”
“The chihuahua you found?” I clarify.
He nods and runs a hand over his gray beard. “I don’t think it’s going to work out here.”
“Why not?” Finished with the last horse, I begin packing up all my supplies.
“Thing’s gonna get trampled or ate, and I don’t know which one. Plus, it keeps shakin’ like it’s scared half to death. Hell, maybe he is.”
“Where is he?”
“Kept it in the house today. Figured that was best.”
I sigh and gesture for him to lead the way. “Well, let’s see him.”
The second John opens the small house’s door, we’re greeted by the little cream-colored dog. He’s yapping happily, bouncing and vibrating. John scowls at him. “There he is.”
I grin and scoop him up. He’s a tiny thing, maybe three pounds if I’m being generous. “Hey there, killer.”
The apple-headed dog yips and licks my face, his bulbous black eyes bright and intelligent.
I laugh. He’s the most ridiculous-looking little thing I’ve seen in quite some time, and I’ve seen my fair share of adorable pets.
“Seems he likes you,” John says.
“Seems so.” I know where this is going, and I’m okay with it. Finding this little guy a home won’t be hard. “Want me to take him off your hands?”
John’s answering smile tells me plenty. “I’ll get you his food.” When he returns with the food, he’s also kitted out a cardboard box with a blanket that he holds out to me. “Figure he can ride in this.”
Narrowing my eyes, I ask, “Just how long have you been waiting to foist this dog off on me?”
John looks askance. “Dr. Brodigan. You know I am an animal lover.”
I wave him off with a laugh. “I’m kidding, John. I know you are. Help me get him to the truck?”
Soon enough, I’m securing the box to the front seat of my truck and driving off John’s property, the tiny cream chihuahua staring at me adoringly as we go.
I shake my head. I’m the world’s biggest sucker.
Later, after I’ve introduced the chihuahua to the other animals in the house—Kitty is excited, though the little dog is more than a little terrified of Kitty, Spot is indifferent, and Crush is murderous, all to be expected—and showered, I pull the Blinding Love app back up.
JAMES
Hey, look at that—still get to use more than Hello
After a few minutes, the notification chimes and I grin, falling onto the couch with the chihuahua tucked into my chest.
James! You’re back.
I grimace. Yeah, James is what I went with. It’s my middle name, and I figure that’s not too deceptive, right? I can’t use my real name yet.
JAMES
All done with work and relaxing at my house.
Glad to hear it. I’m hard at work relaxing in my house as well.
Now is when we’re supposed to engage in witty banter, right?
Ha, something like that. You got any?
Hang on. I’m checking my pockets.
Nope, no banter in my pockets. Found a dollar, though, so I guess that’s something.
Nice. That’ll get you a sample bite of fudge at the Fudge Shoppe in Lucky.
You know Lucky?
I do…
Does that ellipsis mean you don’t want to tell me more?
It does. Can’t give too much away just yet, right?
I can’t stop the grin that spreads on my face.
Couldn’t agree more.
Look at you—a man who knows how to pick up on a woman’s subtle hints.
I laugh and scratch the chihuahua’s knobby little head, chuckling at the happy snuffle he makes. I’m already a goner. No way am I going to place him with anyone else. He’s way too cute, and he’s the chillest chihuahua I’ve ever met. Now I just have to come up with his name. I turn back to the conversation with Dawn.
Not to brag, but I’m known for my ability to pick up subtle hints.
You’re funny
Can I screenshot that? My friends will never believe it otherwise.
Lol sure, go for it.
My stomach rumbles, ready for dinner, but I can’t make myself get up just yet. I’m enjoying the conversation too much. I spend the next hour talking to Dawn, and by the time we finally sign off, I’m amazed. I’ve never been able to talk to anyone so easily.
Well, no one other than Willa. And Goldie, too, I suppose. But those are the only two women—hell, people —I’ve ever been that comfortable with. I mean, I’m a vet because I like animals better than most humans. They never let you down. Humans? They’re a whole other story.
I shrug off the momentary blip of sadness and focus on the good things in life. Things I got by relying on myself and myself alone.