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Joe put his face in his hand and sighed. We all jumped as Zoey’s door slammed shut.
“Oh, man. I think I said the wrong thing.” I grimaced.
“No, you didn’t,” Joe said. He turned to the petite blonde as I went and wrapped my arms around her in a hug. “Lily, this is huge news.”
“I know. But now I don’t know if I should take it. I’ve hurt Zoey.”
Joe rested his hand on Lily’s shoulder. “If it’s something you’ve wanted for a long time, if it’s going to be of benefit to you and your career, then you shouldn’t worry about us. I want you to take this incredible opportunity. Zoey will come around.”
“But what if she doesn’t?” Lily trembled.
“She will if she loves you.”
“I agree with Joe, Lily,” I said. “You can’t let relationships get in the way of your other dreams. That’s part of what I love about Logan—he’s encouraging of mine. His own has taken him away from me and it’s a struggle. I have to decide whether to accept this part of his life or to step aside, because I’ll be damned if I get in the way of his goals. Give Zoey time to cool down and get her head around it, then try to discuss it with her again. You also need to decide what you want more.”
Lily pressed the heels of her palms into her eyes. “Why do I have to choose? Why can’t I have a well-rounded life with an amazing careerandan amazing relationship with both of the people I care about?” She threw her hands down and thumped the table. “Why should any of us have to choose? Why can’t Joe go to the Navy? Why can’t I go to France? Why can’t Zoey do her thing here in New York and still be with us? Long distance can be tough, but it can work out if you workatit!” She turned to me. “Why can’t you be Miss Super Veterinarian and accept Logan’s life as it is and love him hard and have an amazing relationship that I think you’re being too quick to give up on? Why can’t we all be happy for one another and love unconditionally and celebrate our differences and our different dreams? Why does everything in life have to be one or the other? Why do we all have to have ultimatums hanging over our heads?”
Joe and I were both blown away by her diatribe. We looked at one another with our mouths hanging open and eyes wide as saucers as we marinated in her words.
“Yeah, why can’t we?” I repeated.
“I’m in total agreement. I want to continue what we’ve started, Lily. I’d like to try to hold it together because I think we’re worth it.” Joe rested his forehead against her temple. “My heart swells for you two. You’re always in my thoughts, and that isn’t going to change even if we’re half a world away from each other.”
“I guess that’s part and parcel of loving a military man, right?” I piped up.
“Right,” Joe said to me with a smile. “Or a historian.”
I thought about my own situation with Logan. I knew he was on a job. I knew he was supposed to be undercover and have no contact with me. I also knew that however hurtful his actions seemed, the was more than likely him only trying to protect me. It was the ultimate indication of his love for me, more so than the night I’d shared with him at the fancy bar and hotel, yet I was ready to pack it all in?
Was I?
“Thank you for sharing your perspective with us, Lily. You’re absolutely right,” I said.
Lily’s face was full of hope. “So, you’re not going to give up on Logan?”
“No. I love him too much. I don’t think you should give up on Zoey, either, and she shouldn’t give up on you two. I hope she heard your outburst, and I hope she’s thinking long and hard about it. Because what you guys have may not be conventional, but it’s beautiful and it deserves to blossom into something great.”
“You’re awesome, Aria,” Joe said.
I waved away his compliment.
“Uh, I don’t mean to rain on this parade, but . . .” Lily trailed off for a moment. “I think Mama had an accident.”
I followed her pointing finger to the wet spot on the floor and observed the way Mama was moaning and digging around in her bed. I inspected the puddle on the floor. “Uh-oh, I don’t think that’s urine. I think she’s about to have her puppies.” I looked at Lily and Joe. “I’m going to need your help, you two. You’re about to become midwives.”
