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Townsfolk cast curious glances our way, likely wondering when we switched from hating each other to hanging out. I don’t like the scrutiny, or the inevitable gossip that will follow, but I don’t dwell. Cheat day doesn’t include needless worrying.
chapterthirteen
Avett
I pet Moonshine’s soft ears, smiling as the old boy meanders out of the exam room with his owner. There’s something about old dogs that hits me in the heart. I jot a few notes on his chart, including the diet change I recommended. As I finish up, my stomach rumbles. I haven’t eaten since yesterday’s sugar fest and didn’t bother bringing a lunch, thinking I’d still be full from my binging. Guess I’ll be running into town for a quick bite.
A knock at the door is followed by my vet tech’s head popping into the exam room. “Someone’s here to see you.”
“Who?”
“A very pretty visitor.” There’s no missing the teasing in her tone, and I frown. I wasn’t expecting anyone, and the only pretty person that pops into my mind is Naomi.
“Let them in,” I say, curious and maybe a little excited, hoping it’s her. Except it can’t be Naomi. She has no reason to stop by the clinic.
When Naomi does indeed step into the exam room, a happy rush fills me. “What are you doing here?”
She holds up a brown bag. “I brought lunch.”
I blink at her. “Lunch?”
“It’s that thing people eat in the middle of the day.”
Normally, I’d be thinking of a witty comeback, but it’s tough to focus on much besides her hips in that slim skirt, the way her blouse stretches over her breasts. And the fact that she’s here. “Did we discuss lunch yesterday, and I forgot because my brain got scrambled on the Tilt-A-Whirl?”
Color blooms on her cheeks. “No. I just thought you might have sworn off food since your sugar-a-thon and might not have brought yourself something to eat.”
“Oh,” I say. One fucking syllable. The rest of my thoughts are too preoccupied with the fact that I’ve been on Naomi’s mind. That she was worrying over me and has gone out of her way to make sure I’m fed.
“This was dumb,” she says, ducking her head and turning.
I grab her arm. “You were right, and I’m starving. Thank you for thinking of me.”
She relaxes and nods.
We head outside and set up on the picnic bench beside the large field. She gives me a turkey sandwich, a container of sliced apple, and a water. “Not sure what you normally do for lunch, but figured this was healthy enough to counteract yesterday’s junk smorgasbord.”
“It’s perfect,” I say already taking a huge a bite of the sandwich. “Fuck, that’s good.”
“It’s nothing special.” She takes a much smaller bite of hers, her focus on a bird flying above us.
“Naomi.”
She slides her attention to me. “Yeah?”
“Everything about you being here is special and appreciated.”
We stare at each other a moment, and my chest gets all locked up. I might have taken that sentiment a bit too far. This isn’t cheat day any longer. She’s just being a thoughtful friend.
She shifts on her bench seat, then gives me a cheeky look. “Did any dogs pee on you this morning?”
At least Naomi excels at bringing us back to familiar banter territory. “Are you asking because you made sure some of them drank water before their appointments?”
“No, but thank you for that excellent idea.”
I shake my head on a laugh.
We talk and joke as we eat. I give her a rundown on the pets I saw, including sweet old Moonshine. She tells me she caught a kid cheating on her end-of-year assignment, but it was one of the Renshaw kids whose parents work two jobs each, and the kid often takes care of her younger siblings.
