Page 141 of Like A Moth To A Flame

“My mom is the one who unleashed me on this world. You think she isn’t used to this shit by now?”

I sighed. She was right.

“Hey, I had a proposal for you.”

Amelia giggled again.

“A proposal? I dunno, man. Tommy might rip me in half.”

I barked a laugh.

“Not that kind of proposal! I mean…” I stopped, pulling my lip into my mouth and tearing at the skin with my teeth. “What would you think if I said we could work together?”

“You mean a chance to get out of this shithole and be closer to my best friend and my new boyfriend? Sign me the fuck up. I’ll pack tonight.”

I knew I could count on Amelia.

“Well, it’s not set in stone yet, but I was thinking about buying the old clinic in town and fixing it up. There isn’t a vet in Cottonwood Falls anymore and with all the farmers around here…”

“So, what’s holding you back?”

“Well, it needs a lot of work,” I said, looking back at the building. It seemed to be mocking me, with its sagging shutters and drooping gutters.

“Let me crash in one of your spare bedrooms until I get a place of my own, and I’ll help with all the work, dude. Say the word.”

All signs were pointing to yes. Everyone was telling me I should do it. Even Tommy thought it was a good idea. So what was holding me back? Amelia and I had talked about this for years—running our own practice. Now that I had the money, thanks to my dad, why not make our dream a reality?

“Okay,” I said finally, my voice shaking. “Let me call the realtor. I’ll let you know when I have the keys.”

“Badass!” Amelia squealed over the line. “I’ll put in my two weeks’ notice. This is gonna be great, dude.”

I wanted to believe her, but I was nervous as I hung up the phone. Pushing open the car door, I let myself out and walked tothe front door. A for sale sign hung in the window, nearly covered over by dust. Thankfully, I read the name loud and clear. It was Tammy, and I already had her number on my phone. I found her name and hit send. It took a few rings, but she picked up, sounding slightly tired on the other line.

“Hello?”

“Hey Tammy! It’s Vanessa Harper. I was calling to inquire about Dr. Addams’s old clinic?”

I heard a bunch of shuffling on the other line, and when she spoke again, her voice was loud and clear.

“I was hoping to hear from you, Ness! What were you wantin’ to know?”

“Well, my dad left me a little money, and everyone’s been telling me I should consider opening the old place back up so we can have a vet in town again. So I stopped by today and I saw your number on the door and was wondering if I could take a look and—”

“I’ll be right there!” Tammy said, and the shuffling grew louder. “Give me ten minutes, Ness. That okay?”

“That’s perfect.”

The line clicked to silence, and I chuckled, darkening the screen and shoving my phone into the pocket of my jeans. This was happening.

A chill wind blew over me, and I wrapped my arms around my chest, pulling my white, oversized turtleneck closer around my frame. I’d have to break out the hoodies very soon. Maybe Tommy would let me borrow one of his jackets.

The thought stopped me in my tracks, and I blushed. Thankfully, no one was around to see it. It was a weird thought. Maybe Iwas too shy, knowing everyone would know we were together, but it was bound to happen eventually, wasn’t it? Especially if we got married, or I ended up carrying his baby, or—

“I’m here!” I could hear Tammy’s shrieking voice over the howl of the wind, and when I looked up, she was hurrying down the sidewalk, shrugging on her jacket as she shuffled towards me, a wide smile on her lips and a clipboard pressed to her oversized, bouncing chest.

“Hi Tammy,” I greeted her as she waddled up to me, her hair blowing out behind her and her cheeks red from the wind.

“Hey there, sweetheart,” she said, turning toward the door. “Let’s get on inside and get out of this cold, shall we?”

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