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I sighed. “Well, you’re five years older than me. I couldn’t think of a scenario that made sense.”
“Yeah.” He chuckled. “You were giving me too much damn credit then.”
Frowning, I tried to figure out what he’d meant by that. “Care to explain that?”
“I was weak when it came to you. Not sure delving any deeper into the past is good,” he replied.
For him. But he had his memories.
“Then, tell me why you called me at least,” I said.
“Because I missed your voice.”
I closed my eyes tightly. I hadn’t expected that response.
“You going silent on me now?” he asked.
“No, I …” I put my hand on my heart. It felt funny. “You, uh, have an effect on me I’m not used to.”
“That right there. That’s different. The old Shiloh, she wouldn’t say what she was feeling. I was always fucking guessing.”
“If she felt like this, then it was because she was scared. She was a teenager, and, well, you were you.” I let out a laugh. “That’s intimidating.”
“Fuck, Shiloh,” he groaned. “That’s about all I can take for one night.”
I instantly regretted saying anything. I had said too much. Maybe I did understand the old Shiloh better than I’d thought I did.
“I’m sorry,” I said.
“Oh, no. You’re not doing that. Don’t apologize for being honest.” He sounded tense.
“But it was more than you wanted to hear.”
He made a deep sound and muttered something I couldn’t make out. “I fucking wanted to hear it. It’s my fucking body that can’t take any more. Don’t get the two confused.”
“Okay,” I replied, but I wasn’t sure I understood that.
“I’m going to hang up now before I do something stupid. Good night, Shiloh,” he said.
“Good night,” I replied, and then the call ended.
I stared at the phone and sighed. That was a roller coaster I hadn’t been prepared to ride. I wasn’t sure how I was feeling now.
I set the phone down and stood up to take my melted ice cream to the garbage disposal. I wasn’t in the mood for television now. A warm bubble bath and bed. I turned out the lights and locked up, then went to run my bath water. Remembering I’d forgotten my phone, I went back and got it from the living room. There had been a time two weeks ago that I didn’t keep up with my phone at all. Barely checked it. Now, I was unable to stay away from it.
Seventeen
Shiloh
There were only two patients left on today’s schedule. It had been busy, but then it was flu season on top of other things. Strep seemed to be making its way around. Ace, Uncle Neil’s ten-year-old golden retriever, nudged my leg with his nose as I put the last patient file away.
I smiled down at him. “You’ve had enough treats today.”
His big brown eyes stared up at me, as if to remind me I was a pushover and that was why he loved me most.
“Ten-year-old doggies do not need to eat too many treats. It’s bad for you,” I explained to him.
It was clear Ace didn’t care about canine health. He just liked the taste of bacon.
