Chapter 48
Chapter Forty-Eight
Olivia: Update: The goat peed on the waiting room rug.
I repeat: THE GOAT PEED ON THE RUG.
This is not a drill.
:alarm: emoji : melting face: emoji
Lucian: Why was there a goat in the waiting room?
Olivia: His name is Samson.
The technician I was interviewing brought him .
. . apparently “just here for vibes.” I don’t make the rules, Lucian.
Lucian: You literally made the rules.
It’s your clinic.
Olivia: Technically, Sarah made the rules.
I’m just her admin.
Lucian: Pics or it didn’t happen.
Olivia: ( ) [Photo of Samson the goat on a rug, Sarah sitting beside him like she’s leading a team meeting.
]
Lucian: Tell your receptionist she’s doing great work.
Olivia: She just licked the counter.
Lucian: Same. When you left, I licked the coffee table in grief.
Maybe you should hire a human receptionist and let me hire a chef.
You’ve seen how great it works for Leif and Hailey.
Olivia:Dramatic. Are all football players like this, or are they just emotionally fragile running backs?
And no chef. They have a baby.
We don’t.
Lucian: We both work and we have a Sarah .
. . she needs more than Luna.
Olivia: How’s the ankle?
Lucian: Better. I told you it was nothing to worry about.
I’m ready for tomorrow’s game.
Olivia: So you’re saying I should cancel my plans and sit on the couch yelling like a maniac every time you get tackled?
Lucian: Yes, but only if you yell things like “That’s my emotional support running back!” and throw snacks.
Olivia: Sarah and I will be there in spirit.
She’s making a jersey out of lint and disappointment.
Lucian: Tell her I love her.
Tell her I love you both.
Olivia: (Beat) You’re just trying to distract me from the fact that my drywall guy ghosted (Mike) me again.
Lucian: I can come punch a wall for you.
Olivia: Thanks, but I need the wall intact.
Unlike your playbook during that fumble last week.
Lucian: Low blow. You’re ruthless.
I love it.
Olivia: You’re a menace.
I miss it.
Lucian: You miss me?
Olivia: . . . Sarah misses you.
She keeps growling at the entrance like she’s expecting you to pop out holding a bone and an apology.
Lucian: Tell her I’ll be home just for her in two weeks for the bye.
Olivia: Really? Just for her?
Lucian: You’ll be working.
I’ll stay at home and spend quality time with our girl.
By the way, thought I could maybe stop by the clinic before heading home.
You know, make sure the goats aren’t unionizing.
Olivia: Samson’s already created a Discord server.
Lucian: I’ll bring snacks and a cease-and-desist letter.
Olivia: Bring yourself.
That’s enough.
Lucian: Say that again.
Olivia: Bring yourself?
Lucian: No. The other thing.
The part where I’m enough.
Olivia: Don’t get cocky.
Lucian: Oh baby, I’m already cocky.
Just waiting to be back home so you can take care of it.
Olivia: Wow. Did you just flirt and make a dick joke in the same sentence?
Lucian: That’s called a two-point conversion.
I practice daily.
Olivia: Well, I hope you’re practicing hydration too.
The game’s at a high altitude, remember?
Lucian: Look at you pretending not to care while knowing my game time and elevation.
Olivia: Shut up and send a locker room selfie, Crawford.
Lucian: ( ) [Sweaty, post-practice selfie.
Hair damp. Shirt riding up slightly.
Caption: “Your future patient. Diagnosis: Misses you.”]
Olivia: I just dropped my phone in Sarah’s water bowl.
You’re responsible for my emotional damage.
Lucian: I’ll make it up to you when I’m home.
Dinner. Movie. Maybe you, naked, reading Pup’s Digest aloud while I try not to combust because you have a sexy voice.
Olivia: I’m not sleeping with you if you’re injured.
Lucian: Fine. I’ll heal faster.
Olivia: Please do. Because I’m tired.
And I’d kind of like to fall asleep next to someone who snores a little and hogs the covers but also makes my pillow smell like cedar and cinnamon.
Lucian: Olivia.
Olivia: What?
Lucian: I love you.
Olivia: I know.
Lucian: Say it.
Olivia: Fine.
I love you, Lucian. But if we don’t fix the drywall soon, I might leave you for a goat.
Lucian: Noted. Will bring toolbox and bribes.
And maybe a ring pop.
For vibes.
Olivia: You’re ridiculous.
Lucian: And yours. I’ll call Mike and see what I can do about the drywall.