Chapter 3
Kelly
It’s been a week since the stranger broke into the clinic, making me spiral. I keep feeling like I’m being watched, like there’s something just behind me when I ride home from work. I keep catching glimpses of the same cars in my peripheral, but I’m not sure. Maybe I’m just losing my mind …
It took me over two hours to clean up the bloody mess and make it look like someone threw a rock through the window.
I actually went outside, found a rock, and tossed it on the floor like I was staging a crime scene.
My boss bought it though, even mumbled something about how it’s time to get cameras installed now.
The paranoia’s gotten so bad that I had to break it to Gary that I can’t work nights anymore.
I told him I’m too freaked out to be here alone right now.
He didn’t take it well and said I needed to man up, so instead I spent twenty minutes pleading my case, and he finally gave me day shifts.
Took bringing up work violations to get him to shut the hell up.
I walk through the hallway toward the kennels. I spot Gary in the lounge and pick up my pace, ducking past before he sees me.
I’m not in the mood for his shit right now. All I want to do is pet the brown lionhead rabbit who’s still here.
It’s her last day, and she’ll be sent off to the shelters and put up for adoption since she was abandoned at our clinic, and we can’t keep her any longer.
I feel a weird attachment to her after spending the past week petting her and basically trauma-dumping all my problems on her.
I bite my lip and glance back to make sure it’s clear before I walk into the kennels. I almost start to sob at seeing all the animals in here. If I could start an animal sanctuary, I would. In a heartbeat.
My mom was a vet too and the reason I became one. She told me I had too big of a heart and took pity on things too easily.
I’d adopt every single one of them if I could. Which is also probably why I didn’t call the police when that masked man passed out. I actually felt bad for him even though he pulled a gun on me. I’m a disaster. No denying that.
Those deep brown eyes haunt me when I close my eyes.
They were so vulnerable even while threatening me.
I hope he survives whoever’s after him. I searched the letters from his tattoo and think he might be Russian.
The family crest on his ring turned up nothing, which makes no sense.
Something that elaborate should exist somewhere online.
I keep thinking about him. More than I should.
He’s probably long gone by now, dealing with whatever mess he’s in. But I can’t shake the feeling that someone’s out there. Watching. Waiting.
I stop in front of the rabbit’s cage and smile down at her before opening it gently. I’d bought her a few extra things—little comforts—so she wouldn’t feel so alone with just the basics.
I lift her out, bring her close, kiss the top of her head, and tuck her to my chest, rubbing gently behind her ear.
“It’s a pity, huh?”
Startled, I spin around. “Don’t sneak up on me, Camilla. You almost gave me a heart attack.”
I let out a breath and glare at her. She gives me a sheepish smile. Her black braided hair’s up in a loose bun. She’s out of her scrubs already, in a long skirt and soft orange top, probably on her way home.
“Sorrrry. I forgot you’ve been extra jumpy since the whole rock through the window thing.”
“It’s fine.” I glance at the rabbit and give her another kiss. I didn’t tell her what actually happened. She would scold me for being so careless.
Camilla walks over and holds her hands out. “Can I?”
I pout and give her over carefully. She pulls the rabbit to her chest and gives her slow, gentle pets.
“Ugh. I wish we didn’t have to give her to a shelter,” she murmurs. “Maybe we could keep her, like a clinic pet or support animal or something.”
“Yeah, because Gary would totally allow that,” I mutter. “You know I had to talk him into letting her stay a few more days? He wanted her sent off right after surgery with her leg still healing and everything.”
She frowns. “I’m not surprised, honestly.”
“I kind of want to adopt her.” I blurt.
Her brown eyes widen. “Oh my god, yes. That would be so perfect for you.” Then she frowns. “Do you think Gary would even allow it?”
I snort. “What if we just say we sent her off to the shelter? I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t even ask for proof. He’s got his head so far up his ass he wouldn’t notice if we replaced her with a damn raccoon.”
She bursts out laughing. “Yeah, you’re right. You can bring her home today. Ooh, wait, I know. I can call over to the shelter and tell them she got adopted by one of us. I know someone who works there.”
“Are you sure?”
“Kelly. This is exactly what you need. I know it’s been a rough year for you, and she’s the kind of comfort that matters. You need something soft right now, and you should let yourself have it.”
It sort of feels sudden, like I’m doing this out of pure impulse. But the break-in last week has me so on edge, and it made me realize life’s too short to keep doubting everything. I want this, and I want to do it.
I rub the back of my neck. “I got an hour left here, but I assume you’re done for the day?
Could you maybe go to the pet store and grab a few things for her so I can set her up at home?
I want her free-roaming, and I can litter-train her.
Rabbits are clean and smart, so it’ll be no problem, I think. ”
“This is so exciting. Of course. But I’m also getting a bottle of wine and some takeout, and we’re going to get drunk and celebrate your new tiny roommate.”
I chew on my lip. “Please don’t buy cheap wine. I’ll literally pay for everything. You’re the best.”
She kisses the rabbit on the head and puts her back in the cage. Then she wraps me in a hug. “I’ve known you for years, and I’d do anything for you, you know that, right? I’m really sorry you’ve been going through it. Let’s get drunk, gossip, and build the best bunny palace anyone’s ever seen.”
She leans back, gives me a smile, and I nod.
“There’s a key to my apartment in my locker.”
“Yeah, yeah, see you when you get home. Oh my god, this is so exciting.” She turns and heads out, mumbling to herself on the way to the door.
I turn back and smile down at the cage.
I borrowed a small cage from Gary’s clinic. When I say borrowed, I mean stole.
I push into the building with the cage in one hand and head to my floor. Halfway up, some strange feeling crawls up my spine. As if I’m being watched. I pause on the landing and glance toward the next floor.
For a second, I swear I see someone dressed in black disappear around the corner.
I stand there, staring at the empty stairwell. Nothing. No footsteps. No movement.
I shake my head and keep climbing.
Camilla left the door unlocked, so I walk in, still glancing over my shoulder. The smell of Thai takeout hits me hard and makes my stomach growl.
I haven’t been great at taking care of myself since my mom died. Feels like I’ve been stuck in a loop of grief and survival mode, just going through the motions without really living.
I wish my father still lived close, but grief hit him harder. He sold everything and took off to Vegas like his life was the only one that had been destroyed. Midlife crisis, my ass. He left me with nothing.
Am I bitter toward him? Yeah, I am.
He abandoned me when I lost her too. The difference is I stayed and dealt with the aftermath while he ran. We used to be close when I was growing up.
He was a firefighter and someone I looked up to. I’d visit the station and would climb inside the trucks. I wanted to be a firefighter, until I realized that life wasn’t meant for me. I think those years of seeing trauma at work, and then losing her, just finally made him snap.
My mom was the best parent I could’ve asked for. Kind, supportive, never made me feel like I had to be anyone other than myself. She was the first person I came out to, and she didn’t even blink, just pulled me into a hug and told me she loved me.
When Camilla’s dad went to jail, and things got bad at her house, Mom let her stay with us without hesitation. That’s just who she was.
Camilla’s been like a sister ever since.
I come to an abrupt stop when I spot her near the moving boxes. Camilla spins around with her hands on her hips. “Okay, no. We talked about this. You need to unpack. This isn’t healthy.”
I roll my eyes and step inside, closing the door behind me. “Don’t start.”
I love her, but Jesus. Not today.
“Mhm. We’re fixing this, Kelly. What a mess.” She waves toward my room. “Tadaaa. Look what I did.”
“Wow. You weren’t kidding about the bunny palace. You really went all out … This is incredible.”
She’s set up a fenced area next to my bed with a pink waterproof mat on the floor, a litter box, bowls, water, toys, and there’s even a tunnel she can crawl through. The whole thing opens up so she can roam if I leave it unlocked.
I grin. “You’re already spoiling her.”
Camilla snorts and walks up behind me. “It’s perfect. And I went to the store, by the way. Your fridge had the nutritional value of drywall, so I bought actual vegetables and food for you.”
She nudges my shoulder, and I grunt, dropping to my knees. I open the cage and let the rabbit into her new setup, then sit back and watch her explore.
“So, what are we naming her?”
Oh right … I hadn’t even thought that far. I scratch the back of my head and try to come up with something. “What about Clover?”
“That’s good. She’s your lucky bunny.”
“Yeah, exactly.”
We end up on my bed with empty Thai containers scattered at our feet and Clover asleep between us.
A Friends episode plays in the background on my laptop.
We haven’t been paying attention for a while since we’ve just been talking.
Mostly work gossip, complaining about Gary, laughing.
Both of us feeling the slight buzz from the wine.
“You know it’s Friday night,” she says, nudging my knee. “We should go out somewhere, do something.”
“What, like a club?”
“Obviously. Both of us need to get laid, and you’re a great wingman.”
Clubs really aren’t my thing, and I don’t even remember the last time I had a proper night out or drank like this with anyone. It’s been hard letting people in again after everything that happened. It’s like I forgot how to exist without waiting for something to go wrong.
Part of me feels guilty even considering it. Like I don’t deserve to go out and have fun when everything’s still a mess … when I’m still a mess.
But maybe that’s exactly why I should go. Maybe I need to remember what normal feels like before I forget completely.
I chew the inside of my cheek. Part of me wants to say no, wants to stay here with Clover and my laptop where it’s safe. But safe hasn’t been working out great for me lately. The break-in was proof enough.
“When’s the last time you even went out?” Camilla asks.
“I don’t know. Almost three years, maybe? Before everything fell apart.”
“Exactly. You need this, we both do.”
“Screw it. Why not.”
She jumps off the bed and rattles off outfit ideas and places we can go while I just sit there and smile at her enthusiasm.
I search for my favorite T-shirt. But I come up empty. I could’ve sworn I washed it last week, but I haven’t been able to find it anywhere. It would go perfectly with the outfit I was planning.
I scratch my head and let out a sigh.
“Is there something wrong?” Camilla asks from behind me.
“Nah, just can’t find something. It’s fine, you can pick my outfit.”
She squeals and shoves me out of the way so she can dig through my closet. I huff and sit on the bed, scratching my neck.
It’s probably a good idea for me to go outside anyway. Clear my head. My brain’s been all over the place lately, and maybe getting out will help. Or at least distract me from spiraling about missing laundry and everything else that’s been going wrong.