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That’s enough to endear Jer to Steve and the rest of the exam proceeds without much excitement, even when they take him back for the X-ray.
“It’s clear,” Jer says five minutes later, showing me the digital film on an iPad. “His splint can stay off, and he can return to normal activities, which”—he rubs Steve’s ears, turning my pup into a limp puddle of dog as he slumps onto the exam table—“I suspect will consist mostly of snoring and sleeping.”
My lips twitch. “And sneezing and grunting.”
Jer laughs and the iPad dings, drawing my gaze to the banner notification that appears on the top of the screen.
“Sorry,” he says, swiping it away. “Our clinic tablet crapped out and I had to bring in mine from home. I guess it must still be connected to my personal account.”
I frown.
Because that sends a niggle through my mind.
“Oh, hey,” he says, reaching into his pocket. “Speaking of personal things, I need to give you this.” He pulls out his wallet, opens it, and passes me a business card from the depths of it.
I look down at it, expecting it to contain the clinic’s information.
Instead, it’s for a gallery owner.
“What is this?” I ask softly, feeling strangely choked up.
Because some part of me knows.
Because he’s already shown me.
Not Jer, but—
Lake.
“When everything went down at his place with your ex a couple weeks back, Lake asked me to reach out to my sister-in-law.” A nod toward the card. “She owns a gallery in town and is always looking for local artists. She’s expecting your call.”
My heart is pounding really fast.
Reallyfast.
Those butterflies are whipping around my insides.
Lakedid this?
For me?
Weeks ago, back when we were snowed in and barely getting along?
Before the call with his mom. Before we slept together. Before…the curtains and mules and fucking outside by the frozen pond.
He had pulled some strings to get my photographs in a gallery.
Those butterflies still.
And then rush into motion again.
Because he did it for me, and I don’t know what to do with that, with the feelings that gesture send rushing through me. I don’t knowwhatI’m feeling at all, what—
It’s okay to want something more than you think you deserve.
I want Lake.
More than I’ve ever wanted anything before.
