Page 83 of Revival

“You only run this free clinic once a year, so I hope you can make it work.”

Every year during the Fairview Valley Festival I run a free vaccine and nail trim clinic. Many of my regular clients take advantage of the opportunity to bring their pets up-to-date and save a little cash to spend on the festival instead.

I scan the people passing around my tent. “Don’t worry, Dora. I’ll take care of him. Once my assistant returns, we can get started.”

“Do you know how long that might be? I need to get over to the square dancing competition in twenty minutes. Aiden promised to be my partner.” Dora winks and wiggles her heavily drawn eyebrows.

I laugh at the image of my youngest brother taking her for a spin on the dance floor. Despite nearing their seventies, Dora and her posse have twice as much energy as the rest of us.

“Why don’t you leave Mr. Fluffskateer with me and come by when you’re finished?” I offer.

“I’d rather not. He hates being cooped up in that thing.”

A wave of annoyance washes over me. Before I can point out how I’m doing my best to work with her demands, a voice rings out from beyond my left shoulder, so close that I stiffen.

“I’m available to help,” Spencer says.

18

Spencer

The minuteI saw SherifffuckingPerry, I should have turned around and gone back home. I should have known the guy would find a way to sneak in an insult or two before the conversation was over. He brought up my scars, and I gave him five minutes of a hard stare, waiting to see if he felt like saying anything else. I thought about giving him a piece of my mind, but I didn’t want to wind up in handcuffs on my first outing since coming back to town.

I turned around without another word, intent on walking away.

The problem is I walked straight intoher.

The single reason I’m back in this small town.

I’m not sure why I offered to give her a hand. It’s not the sort of thing I’m known for around here, for one. People talk, for two. But the image of her lips, parted and pouty, and the way I could just make out her eyes darting around the street, had the words falling from my mouth before I could stop them.

What the fuck do I know about veterinary care? Not one damn thing.

Except the fact that I might just be in love with the veterinarian.

“Oh, you don’t have to do that. Bree should be back any minute.” Cortney delivers her brush-off without even turning her head fully in my direction.

“My hands have burn scars, but they still work.”

Her wince tells me that was a dick thing to say.

The problem is I can see Dora staring at them while she waits for this exchange to pass. That’s two people in ten minutes taking note of how my body looks a little different.

Many around here heard the rumors about the flash fire where I worked. But this is the first time they’ve seen the damage with their own eyes.

I should have known they’d whisper and stare.

I definitely should have stayed at home. But I needed to see her. I didn’t want to reconnect over some text. I wanted to take in her face as she set eyes on me again. Though now that she’s hardly looked at me, I might have made a mistake.

“Come on,” Cortney says quietly, gesturing me to precede her inside.

I rub my shoulder against hers as I take the cat carrier from her and climb silently into the RV. The brief contact blooms comfort in my cold heart.

“We’ll be right back with Mr. Fluffskateer, Dora.”

“You two take your time,” Dora calls after us.

“Oh, now she’s not in a hurry,” Cortney mutters, pulling out a pair of thick black sleeves from a drawer. “Here. Put these on. They’ll protect your arms.”

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