“If Lola’s worth it, if you truly care about her, you’ll fight to earn her forgiveness even if itistoo late.”
I didn’t have to think about it.
Lola was worth it.
13
She Saw No Effort in His Apology
Lola
Brooke slung her bagover her shoulder. “Are you sure you want me to come over for dinner?” She stuck her key in the clinic door and flipped the lock.
The day was officially over.
Finally.
“Yes,” I said. Instantly. No pause. The last thing I needed was more time on my own. “After today…” I grimaced.
“The joys of living in a small town. Did you see any patients whodidn’tmention what happened on Friday night?”
“One. I think the mother with the projectile-vomiting toddler had bigger problems to worry about.”
“You have a special talent for attracting the pukers.” Brooke grinned. “How about I wash up, get out of this uniform, and drop ’round in about an hour?”
“Sounds great.”
“I’ll come with wine and this face.” Her features crumpled into a serious frown, and she nodded, tapping her chin.
I laughed. “That’s one heck of a listening face.”
“Yup! I take my friend duties very seriously.”
I waved goodbye and wandered down the street to the village store, my eyes glued to my phone. I needed to look busy—way too busy to stop and talk to anyone still itching to ask me about last Friday night. I saved my only smile for Ryan Hollyoak, who spared me an awkward conversation and simply tipped his hat and held the door open for me as I stepped into the store.
I grabbed a metal shopping basket off the pile and ran through the list of ingredients to host another lonely girls’ dinner and drinks. This wasn’t the night for moderation. I stumbled around the shelves like a zombie. Yeast to make pizza dough?Get in my basket.Extra cheese?I’m sprinkling the whole bag, and it still won’t be enough.
The dairy fridge was tucked away at the back of the store. My final stop. My fingers curled around the silver handle, ready to pull open the door.
I froze.
No. Not today of all days. Line after line of cold, lonely shelves. All empty.
No milk.
This couldn’t be happening. I bounced up and down on my toes, eyes scouring the bare shelves of the fridge. Nothing.
A heavy sigh caved in my chest as I trudged to the register.
Ashley’s eyebrow arched.
I dropped the cheese on the counter. “I don’t suppose you have any milk hidden out back?” I knew the answer was no, but I was a glutton for punishment. It seemed like the day for it. “I’ll pay you a hundred dollars.”
Ashley’s smile was sympathetic. “Our dairy restock got held up outside Hobart. An accident on the road. We’ve been runninglow all day,” she explained as she scanned my groceries. “We might have some milk powder left on the shelves.”
I wrinkled my nose. Yuck. That stuff tasted like chalk. “No thanks.”
Sighing, I lined up the last of my groceries. A carton of milk slid behind it.
