Chapter 4 #2
“I’d need to clone myself for that.” I laugh. “I think it might’ve felt busier to you because the reception area was full the entire time. When there’s that many animals around, it’s chaotic.”
Vicki nods. “Totally.”
“Do you have a date in mind for the next clinic?” Fernando asks.
I glance at the wall calendar. “Um, probably the second Sunday in January.”
“We aren’t doing a clinic in December?” Vicki frowns.
“No. I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow.”
She shrugs, surprisingly not asking more. As my gaze follows her, I notice her watching Fernando with longing eyes as he checks his phone. Ah-ha. She’s too preoccupied to have processed what I said.
“If the date changes, Ava, let me know.” He glances up from the screen. “I’ve saved the weekend for you.”
Hearing him say that warms my body. “We haven’t scared you off? Are you sure you want to come back after today?” I stand and stretch, brushing a few crumbs off my pants.
“No. Even if it was hectic, it was still fun. I’ll be back.” My stomach flutters in delight. He stands too, tossing his cup into the trash. “I need to get going. I wish I could stay and help clean up, but . . .”
I place a hand on his shoulder. “You’ve done more than enough. Thanks again for everything.”
“It was my pleasure.”
Our eyes lock, and for several long moments, I wonder if there’s a thunderstorm headed our direction because my body feels like it’s filled with static electricity.
It’s only when the sound of Vicki’s voice fills the room that we break apart. “Boss lady, I’m going to reconcile the receipts. Do you mind if I leave a little early, too, when I finish?”
“No, um, that’s fine.” My cheeks sear with heat. I hope she didn’t notice us. “You’ve given up a lot of your weekend already.”
“Adiós, ladies.” Fernando waves and exits the clinic.
“Bye,” Vicki calls out, watching him through the front window as he slides into his car and drives away.
“Did you have any luck scoring a date with him?” I ask as I close the box of leftover bagels and screw the lid on top of the coffee jug.
“No.” Vicki’s shoulders hunch. “That gorgeous hunk of a man said he isn’t on the market right now. I knew there was a good chance he’d be taken, but I was still hoping I had a shot.” She exhales deeply. “At this rate, I’ll never find a boyfriend.”
A part of me is gleeful that I won’t have to worry about Fernando and Vicki becoming an item. But I’m also disappointed that he’s taken. Another part of me kind of wanted to ask him out too. “You’ll find someone, Vicki. Don’t worry.”
“I hope so. I’m tired of being the third wheel whenever I go out with my friends.” She sits down at the computer and prints out an end-of-day report.
“Do you want to take any of the leftovers home with you? Or should I leave them in the break room?”
“Leave them here. If I take them to my apartment, my roommates will eat up whatever’s left before I get up in the morning. At least if they’re here, I’ll have breakfast, snacks, and maybe even lunch for a day or two.”
I arch an eyebrow. “I don’t pay you that poorly that you have to eat like a college kid, do I?”
“No, boss lady, you pay me well.” Her eyes widen. “I just have expensive taste. I spent my next three paychecks treating myself to VIP concert tickets, a cute outfit, and a hotel.” She counts on her fingers. “I had to cut back somewhere to pay my bills, and this month, it’s the food department.”
“Well, if it ever gets so bad you’re sick of Top Ramen, let me know. I’m happy to spring for lunch.” I’m poor too, but I don’t want my one and only employee to starve.
“Thanks, Doc.”
Over the next hour, I clean up. Vicki heads home, and soon I’m alone. It’s about four p.m. by this point. Sitting in my office as I take a break, I open my phone and check my texts again. Nothing.
Why am I torturing myself? Dylan will text me when he’s good and ready. I rub my temples. A headache begins to form at the base of my skull.
“Dr. B?”
I jump at the sound of Fernando’s voice. My hand flies to my chest. As I glance behind me, I see the man leaning casually against the door frame. “Fernando, you scared the crap out of me.” My pulse is still racing at the speed of a jackhammer.
“Sorry,” he says. “I tried calling your name a few times, but I guess you didn’t hear me. I forgot these.” He holds up a pair of sunglasses. “Are you still cleaning?”
“Yeah, but I’m almost done.” I quickly stand and pick up the trash bag that I set to the side. “I just need to take this out to the dumpster on my way to my car and lock up.”
He tucks the sunglasses into the collar of his shirt. “I’ll walk out with you.”
I pop a hand on my hip. “Didn’t you have somewhere you needed to be?”
The faintest patch of pink appears on his cheeks. “Not really. Sundays are my catch-up day. I, uh, wanted to get away from Vicki. She’s a lovely woman, but . . .”
“She made you uncomfortable with her flirting,” I guess. “Well, don’t worry, she got the message that you’re, quote, ‘off the market.’”
“That’s a relief.”
The way he says it makes me wonder if he was telling the truth or if he was lying. Is he really single?
Wait. No. I don’t want to know. This isn’t what I need right now.
I grab my purse, sweater, keys, and the trash as we exit my office for the front. “If she made you uncomfortable, you should’ve said something. She’s a big girl. She can handle it.”
“I didn’t want to be rude.”
I wave him off. “Well, for future reference, you don’t have to be nice. Being direct with Vicki is the best way to get a message through.”
“Noted.”
Outside, the air has warmed since this morning. The stores on the other side of the mall are hopping with people shopping for holiday supplies at Hobby Land. They have a week to go before the Thanksgiving.
“Thanks again for all your help today,” I say as I lock the front door.
“You’ve already said gracias to me more times than I can count. You don’t need to say it again.” Fernando winks.
A warm, fuzzy feeling envelops me. I open the lid off the trash and toss the black bag inside, then squirt a little hand sanitizer on my hands and rub them together. The scent of pineapple and mango fills the air.
“I, uh, guess I’ll see you in January. You’re going on your trip home soon, right?” My mind has gone blank. I suddenly have no idea what to say to him.
He places the sunglasses on the bridge of his nose. “Sí. In a week.”
“Well . . . travel safe.”
“Thanks.”
He walks me to my truck. I open the door and slide inside. Alone, I’m able to exhale. Some of the tension leaves my shoulders. “At least I played it cool,” I mutter.
I click my seat belt on and insert my key into the ignition.
Turning it over, I hear the sound of it catching, but not the roar to life I’m used to.
As I glance down to the dashboard, sure enough, the orange warning light for the engine is glowing.
No repair shop in town is going to be open on a Sunday.
Looks like I may have to call Daph for a ride.