Chapter 45
FORTY-FIVE
Nova
A week later, Steve and I are waltzing into Jeremy Blevins, DVM’s clinic.
It’s a bright and cheerful place, full of pictures of animals and an office kitty sitting on a bed behind the reception desk.
I’ve successfully driven—without ending up in any snowbanks—from Lake’s house down into town.
Go me.
“Woof!” Steve barks, tail uncurling and hanging low like it does any time he’s scared—and vet offices might be number one on that very short list. But we need to get his leg X-rayed so the splint can—hopefully—come off.
“Hello, welcome in,” the receptionist says. “Who do we have here?”
I make introductions, do my check-in, and sit down for a bit before we’re called back and follow the tech to a room. Jer is coming in just as we walk through the door. “Nova,” he says, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Lake treating you well?”
I think back over the last couple of weeks.
Movies in bed together. FaceTime calls when he’s on the road. Delicious food in my belly when he’s home. A pair of butterfly-printed fuzzy socks left on my nightstand. Another skating session that didn’t end with me taking him out, or having an orgasm in the snow—
Though, it did end up with me having an orgasm, this one just inside the front door.
My cheeks heat.
But my belly is full of butterflies.
Because he has been treating me well, so well that I’m…
Falling for him.
Those butterflies move faster, fluttering around like they do every time I think of Lake.
It almost takes my breath away because it feels so good.
“Yes,” I say softly. “He’s treating me well.”
Jer studies my face, nods, and I think I see approval in his eyes as he reaches forward and squeezes my arm. “I’m glad, sweetheart.” A gentle sentiment before he gets down to business with my pooch. “Steve”—he makes a pit stop at the jar of treats—“it’s good to see you!”
He extends his hand toward my pup, revealing a handful of treats sitting in his palm.
Clearly, the man knows the way to Steve’s heart.
Who gets over his shyness and starts creeping forward. A sniff. A lick. And then the treats disappear.
That’s enough to endear Jer to Steve and the rest of the exam proceeds without much excitement, even when they take him back for the X-ray.
“It’s clear,” Jer says five minutes later, showing me the digital film on an iPad.
“His splint can stay off, and he can return to normal activities, which”—he rubs Steve’s ears, turning my pup into a limp puddle of dog as he slumps onto the exam table—“I suspect will consist mostly of snoring and sleeping.”
My lips twitch. “And sneezing and grunting.”
Jer laughs and the iPad dings, drawing my gaze to the banner notification that appears on the top of the screen.
“Sorry,” he says, swiping it away. “Our clinic tablet crapped out and I had to bring in mine from home. I guess it must still be connected to my personal account.”
I frown.
Because that sends a niggle through my mind.
“Oh, hey,” he says, reaching into his pocket. “Speaking of personal things, I need to give you this.” He pulls out his wallet, opens it, and passes me a business card from the depths of it.
I look down at it, expecting it to contain the clinic’s information.
Instead, it’s for a gallery owner.
“What is this?” I ask softly, feeling strangely choked up.
Because some part of me knows.
Because he’s already shown me.
Not Jer, but—
Lake.
“When everything went down at his place with your ex a couple weeks back, Lake asked me to reach out to my sister-in-law.” A nod toward the card. “She owns a gallery in town and is always looking for local artists. She’s expecting your call.”
My heart is pounding really fast.
Really fast.
Those butterflies are whipping around my insides.
Lake did this?
For me?
Weeks ago, back when we were snowed in and barely getting along?
Before the call with his mom. Before we slept together. Before…the curtains and mules and fucking outside by the frozen pond.
He had pulled some strings to get my photographs in a gallery.
Those butterflies still.
And then rush into motion again.
Because he did it for me, and I don’t know what to do with that, with the feelings that gesture send rushing through me. I don’t know what I’m feeling at all, what—
It’s okay to want something more than you think you deserve.
I want Lake.
More than I’ve ever wanted anything before.
“Oh,” I rasp to Jer, throat beyond tight, edges of the card pressing into my fingertips. “Thank you for doing that.”
Jer smiles. “Of course. It’s not a problem at all.” Then he squeezes my arm, scratches Steve’s head, waves goodbye, and heads off to his next client.
Leaving me with those butterflies like a tornado in my abdomen as I check out and pay and head to my car.
As I snap Steve into his puppy harness.
Then, once we’re both safely inside, I pull out my phone and text Ella.
I need you.
Thankfully, she’s in town, having come up to visit Knox, and responds quickly.
What’s wrong?
I close my eyes, thunk my head against the steering wheel.
I think I’m falling in love with Lake.
The “…” starts and stops.
Starts and stops.
Then she sends,
Meet me at Ronnie’s.
The bar is just around the corner.
Fucking perfect.
I need alcohol.