Chapter 37
Grace
March
One Month Later
Iglance down at my scrubs again, which are coated in slobber, fur, and a little bit of dog vomit. I sigh and repeat my mantra, as I do every time I find myself covered in animal fluids:
At least my patients aren’t human.
At least my patients aren’t human.
At least my patients aren’t human.
Breathing in and out through my mouth, I feel better already.
The mantra works every time. I try to remember how many clean pairs of scrubs I have on hand as I walk down the hallway to my office.
My day is almost over, but I’d rather not see my last patient in splattered scrubs.
I peek in the closet right outside my office door and pull out my personal favorite—a bright pink set.
As I strip out of my blues and put on my pinks in my office, my cell vibrates on my desk. I eagerly snatch up my phone, knowing right away who messaged me.
How’s the Best Vet Within Twenty Miles Of Columbus doing today?
Currently covered in dog vomit and slobber.
That good?
Yep, and I already got three “can you trim his nails today, too?” requests.
The Curse of the Overgrown Nails strikes again.
The vomit and the nail trimming I can handle, but I also had a frustrating case. One of my patients wasn’t responding to the medicine as well as I’d like.
Why don’t you try prescribing bacon? That always made Charger feel better…
If you suggest “bacon” or “a little treat” one more time for a sick patient, I will block you.
You wouldn’t.
After our intense talk, digging up old feelings and addressing new ones, we took some time for ourselves before my flight back home.
We’d both needed to process what happened.
Danny reached out after a few days and sent me a text requesting a picture of my Unofficial Patient of the Week.
From there, we’ve talked regularly for almost a month now, tentatively building a friendship again.
Through our conversations, I’ve learned small things about Danny, like he can’t handle caffeine after 2:00 p.m. He’s fully into all things Marvel, which is unsurprising for Mr. Spider-Bite Conspiracy Theorist. I am dismayed to learn he golfs now, too.
I also learned big things, like how he kept his vow not to drink alcohol again.
I cried when I learned he’s been sober for thirteen years.
Danny also told me that his dad reached out to him six years ago, notably after his most successful pro-football season.
He’s firmly no-contact with his dad, so his response was crickets.
But it stings I wasn’t able to support him during the hard times, like we’d promised each other years ago in the woods.
My goal is to get to know this Danny so well that I can fully understand all the places and faces on the expansive gallery wall in his home.
I want to know about his friends, trips, accomplishments, and failures.
I want to know it all, clinging to each of his facts and trading some of mine in return.
I gotta run, seeing a patient in five. Talk later?
Yes.
I pull on my fleece zip-up and tie a new bandana in my hair. As I grab my phone to put it back in my desk, I see one last message from Danny.
Remember to eat something, please.
I grab a protein bar from my desk drawer and take a bite, washing it down with a swig of water.
Being the only two vets in our high-demand practice, Elle and I are stretched thin around here.
Once he found out I was accidentally skipping meals, Danny started catering lunches for the office and having my favorite snack delivered to my desk.
I’ve been wanting to spoil you for the last ten years, please let me, he said when I protested his generosity.
After I finish up my last—and thankfully, easiest—patient of the day, I hurry to my office and pack up. I hustle to my gray SUV and call Danny. The phone rings only twice before he answers.
“Best names so far today?”
It’s always the first question that flies out of his mouth when we get on the phone after I’ve worked a full day at the clinic.
“Freddie Meowcury wins for CATegory. Two sibling dogs—one named Cheesy and one named Tots—win for DOGegory. Bringing up the rear in the catchall ‘Other’ category is Hamlet, the guinea pig.”
Danny’s laugh sends shockwaves through the speakers. “Damn, people are so creative. Any funny animal pics for me today?”
“Yep. One coming your way now.” I send him a picture of the rattiest little dog I saw today.
Danny snorts. “Oh my God. He kind of looks like… I hate to say it.”
“Who?”
“Martin Short.”
I dissolve into laughter. “Mae? Is that you? You sound different. Alive, primarily.”
He laughs. “She’d love that joke. Look at him again, Gracie, and tell me you don’t see it.”
Glancing at the picture, I see… damn it.
“You think he looks like Martin, don’t you?”
“Whatever, Daniel.”
“Hey, that’s Danny to you. I haven’t heard it nearly enough over the past ten years.”
My eyes squint from the smile taking up half my face. He’s almost done with his postseason duties in New York, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t eager to see him.
“I can’t believe I see you in two days.” I shift in my seat, unable to contain my excited energy.
“Me either. It’ll be good to be in Ohio for the offseason, and I can’t wait to see your clinic, Gracie.”
My body warms at the thought of him walking through the door and seeing all my hard work in action. I don’t need him to be proud of me, because I’m proud of myself. But I want him to be.
“Tell me more about it. What should I expect?”
“Well, it’s always chaos here. Barking and meowing overpowers the waiting area music. Our receptionist, Hannah, is our Resident Young Person. She runs our social media handles and works the front desk, scheduling patients and handling walk-ins.”
“I love some chaos. I’m excited to meet Elle, too, and get all the dirt on your twenties.”
I shudder, thinking of the things Elle knows.
Crying into a box of donut holes at five in the morning after an all-nighter during vet school, I told her all about Danny.
She comforted me at all the right moments and agreed with me throughout the entire conversation like I did nothing wrong (the best sort of friend).
Avoiding the subject of my cringey twenties at all costs, I pivot our conversation. “Enough about me. How was your day?”
“I met with the board of my charitable foundation. I don’t think I’ve mentioned it to you yet, but I started a foundation with some teammates a few years ago.”
“Danny, that’s amazing!” I’m not surprised his generous heart led him to foundation work.
“Yeah, and it’s even better having some of the guys’ support. Speaking of my foundation, I actually wanted to ask you something.”
“What is it?”
“Our inaugural gala is in two months in New York City. I know it’s kind of far out, but, um, I was wondering if you’d like to come with me as my plus one. It will be nice to have a… friend there.”
The word “friend” sounds like it’s being yanked out of his mouth by a dentist. Yes, we’ve been rebuilding our friendship, but using that word to describe us is starting to feel wrong.
We’re in motion, fluctuating between friends and more.
Lately, my heart is leaning toward more. I just need my courage to catch up.
“Sure, it sounds like fun.” Even though I’ve been out of the football world for a while, getting back into it through a sports charity will be a great start.
“Perfect, Gracie. Thank you.” Danny sounds almost relieved, like he wasn’t sure if I would say yes.
“I’ve never been to a gala, and it would be really cool to meet some of your teammates.”
“I’m excited to introduce you to them. A couple of the guys already know a little bit about you,” he admits. “Oh, I almost forgot to mention. I have to give a speech.”
“You are kind of a big deal.”
He chuckles. “I don’t know about all of that, but I’m going to feel like a big deal, being your date for the night.”
I light up, glowing so bright he might be able to see the glare from his window in New York. “Well, I’m looking forward to it. I’ll need to pick out a dress.”
“You could wear your green and white Sharks sweatshirt and still be the most gorgeous one there.”
My face heats, and I’m suddenly grateful he can’t hear my loud blush.
“But I actually wanted to talk to you about the dress. It’s totally up to you, but, um, Tessa offered to design one for you if you don’t already have something.
You’d just have to send her your measurements.
She’ll be at the gala and can bring it to the house beforehand. No pressure at all, though.”
A pang hits my heart as I ache for another person I haven’t seen in years. “Tessa wants to design a dress for me?”
“Yes?”
“Of course I would love for her to design me a dress! I’m honored. I’ll email you my measurements so you can send them. I’m actually dying to see her.”
“She’ll be so excited, Gracie. Thank you.”
“Thank me? Thank her. I hate dress shopping. She just made my life so much easier.”
Danny clears his throat. “And, since I asked you to come, I’d like to foot the bill for your plane ticket. The team has a travel agent, and I can give you their information, if you’ll let me. Also, if you want hair or makeup done, I’m happy to send someone to the house.”
“That’s all really thoughtful. I’d love my makeup done. I doubt I’ll do anything different with my hair.”
“You’re perfect. I mean, your hair is perfect,” he praises.
I smooth a flyaway back from my forehead.
“Listen, I’m so sorry, but I have to run. I promised I’d grab dinner with Tessa tonight. We haven’t caught up in a while.”
“Tell her I said hi. I miss that girl.”
“She misses you, too. And…I’ve been missing you.”
I hesitate for a moment, then decide to be honest. “I’ve been missing you, too.”