Page 86 of The Geography of Happiness

“It should go without saying,” he insisted.

I couldn’t argue with that, so I changed the subject. “How are you and Hannah feeling about her big appointment tomorrow?”

Terry glanced behind and lowered his voice. “Hannah’s avoiding the subject, which isn’t like her, so, I’m guessing she’sworried. That also tells me she’s been playing things down when I ask how the knee is doing.”

Damn.“How long will it take?”

Terry pulled a face. “She has to have X-rays and an MRI beforehand, so I’m guessing it’ll take most of the afternoon. We plan to stay the night.”

“Then I’ll call around six to see how it went.”

Terry frowned. “You don’t have to?—”

“Shut up. I’ll call, okay?”

A small smile tugged at his mouth. “Thanks.”

“Why do you feel the need to fight me on everything?” I grumbled.

“You know why.” He studied me with a crooked smile. “But I’ll do better.”

I relaxed and returned his smile. “I’d appreciate that.”

“What about you?” he asked, turning the tables. “You must be excited for Monday. Heading to Adelaide for your look around.” His expression revealed nothing other than curiosity, and yeah, that stung a little.

“Mostly I’m simply praying I’ll get to Christchurch Airport in time since I agreed to catch a lift with my brothers,” I admitted. “I get that they’re adults and all and their timekeeping has to have improved since they were kids, but I’ll be setting two alarms just in case.”

Terry laughed. “What are you most looking forward to?”

Now there was a question with no good answer. “Well, I suppose I want to know exactly how they run their teaching clinic and what their expectations are. Being responsible for students looking after paying clients and their animals is quite different from doing it yourself. It’s a little scary if I’m honest.”

“I can see that.” He watched me closely. “Did they get back to you about the accommodation?”

I nodded. “They agreed that I can keep Miller with me in the on-site apartment attached to the clinic.”

An odd expression crossed his face. “That’s... great. It’s all falling into place. See, I told you it would all work out.”

“It has three bedrooms, so maybe you could come visit?” I tried not to sound too hopeful. “Hannah too. Of course.”

“Oh.” Terry hesitated and my heart fended off another hit. “Ah... yeah, sure. Let’s see how things go.”

Code for Never. Gonna. Happen.I was about to push harder when Hannah interrupted.

“Dad, Judah’s here.”

Terry spun toward the kitchen, his cheeks flaming. “Tell him I’ll be there in a minute.”

“You better go.” The words came out sharper than I’d intended, which wasn’t fair to Terry, and so I softened my tone. “Go visit with your best friend. You deserve to have some fun.”

Terry glanced toward the kitchen, his teeth working his lower lip like they always did when he was struggling to get his thoughts lined up. But when he turned around, none of that indecision showed on his face whatsoever. “Gotta go. We can talk tomorrow—” He hesitated. “—I’ll be looking forward to it.” And he signed off.

I threw the laptop onto the mattress with a growl.I’ll be looking forward to it.Fucking breadcrumbs. And I was following them like a fool.Why am I doing this to myself?The sooner I got on that plane to Adelaide, the better. I was becoming as ridiculously infatuated with another man as all my damn friends, and that wasn’t a compliment.

I groaned and starfished on my back.

“Okay, that’s it.” My brother walked in holding a couple of beers by the neck. He waited until I sat up, handed me one, and then collapsed into the armchair by the window, putting his feet up on the bed. “I need to know who this guy is who’s gotyou so tied up in knots that you’re calling him every night and wandering around growling like an angry bear when you think no one is listening. And when you’re not doing that, you’re glued to your phone texting. So, talk.” His brows lifted in expectation and I almost laughed.

Derek was the spitting image of our father. Long-legged, lean to the point of skinny, a mess of dark curls that he’d tamed with a severe cut, and a wide smile that rivalled mine for charm, or so I’d been told.

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