Page 81 of What Should Have Been Ours

Cam stands there in a fitted black tux, looking so good that I have to make sure my mouth isn’t hanging open.

His eyes drag over me slowly, and when they land back on mine, his lips tilt into a smirk.

“You look…” He exhales, shaking his head. “Beautiful.”

I feel my cheeks starting to flush. “You don’t look half bad yourself, Dr. Hayes.”

Wes whistles, walking in past Cam. “Kinsley, you—”

I turn just in time to see him offering her a hand, her placing her hand in his, and him kissing it.

“You look like the best kind of trouble to get into tonight.”

Kinsley smirks. “That’s because I am.”

* * *

We all make our way to the car, and both Cam and Wes open our doors, helping us in the back seats before climbing in the front together.

The drive to the event turns into an unexpected debate between Wes and Kinsley, which, honestly, isn’t surprising at this point.

“I’m just saying,” Wes starts, waving a hand around. “The girls have the better job. I would much rather deal with animals.”

Cam side-eyes him from the driver’s seat. “You literally work with kids for a living.”

“Exactly,” Wes says, pointing a finger at him. “Which is why I’m saying I know what I’m talking about. Kids might be as unpredictable as animals, but worse because they talk back. A golden retriever isn’t gonna look Gabrielle dead in the eye and tell her she needs to take the medicine.”

Kinsley smirks beside me. “Yeah, but you know who will talk back? Pet owners. Humans are always the problem.”

I nod in agreement. “She’s got a point.”

Wes scoffs. “Oh, come on. Pet owners can’t be worse than actual parents. At least they don’t try to diagnose their chihuahua with a rare, life-threatening condition they read about in a Facebook group.”

Kinsley laughs. “No, but they will tell you that ‘Mittens just isn’t herself’ with zero actual symptoms and expect you to read her aura like some kind of veterinary voodoo psychic.”

Kinsley leans forward, resting her arms on the console between Wes and Cam. “Okay, but real talk, when a patient bites you, do you have to put them down?”

I nearly choke on a laugh, while Cam just shakes his head.

Wes, however, looks way too intrigued. “Now that is an interesting question…”

* * *

Stepping into the event, the venue we picked is massive—high chandeliers, a live band, beautiful decorations, and waiters all in black suits walking around carrying fancy hors d’oeuvres.

As we step inside, I can already hear Kinsley muttering about how uncomfortable she is around all these rich, snobby people.

Cam takes my hand, his thumb brushing over my knuckles as he leans down. “Doing okay?”

I nod. “Yeah.”

“It looks so good in here,” he tells me, giving me a proud smile. “You did good.”

I squeeze his hand in a silent thanks, grateful he’s here with me tonight.

Not even thirty minutes of uninterrupted fun goes by before I hear a grating voice—

“Gabrielle.”