Page 23 of The Last Lavender Sister

“I should probably advertise it more. Maybe that’s my problem.”

“I don’t think you have a problem at all. You’re a catch.” She touched Aster’s leg in assurance. “You just have to be patient. You’ll meet the right one someday, andbam, it’ll smack you in the head like a two-by-four. Your shoulders will get all loose, and your insides will tingle.” Brynn laughed.

Aster didn’t. She turned. “Swirly?”

“That’s a good word for it.”

Aster swallowed, not sure what to say. She knew who made her own shoulders swirly, and the person’s hand was on her thigh provoking all kinds of responses. Brynn seemed to notice at the exact same time and slowly removed it, touching the back of her own hair. They were quiet for a long moment.

“Your turn,” Brynn said.

Aster’s brain had temporarily stalled, and she rushed to cover her tracks. “Um. Same question.” Not that she even remembered what it was anymore.

“Well, my ex was my last relationship. Tiffany. She had a whole secret life.”

Aster turned to her slowly as the most unexpected realization swam and settled. Tiffany. “Wait. So that means…”

“Yeah. Me, too.” Brynn offered a gentle smile and shrug. They stared at each other for a moment, taking in that recognition of seeing a part of yourself in someone else. They’d clicked before as friends in conversation, but they now had something truly in common.

Brynn wasn’t straight. Aster didn’t know how to organize that information. She’d have to sit with it. Turn it over carefully. It made everything feel different. The idea of Brynn with a woman, kissing her, holding her hand, looking into her eyes, turned Aster’s world on its head. In fact, that head might explode.

“I think it’s time for our next feeding,” Brynn said, pulling her out of it.

“Brynn?”

“Yeah?” She turned back with a soft smile that about knocked Aster over. A new tension radiated.

“Nothing.”

Though it seemed like not much could top the news Brynn had leveled on her, something else remarkable happened. The puppy began to mewl, making nearly as much noise as his brother and sister. Aster almost couldn’t believe it. It was working?

Brynn smiled. “He’s found a little bit of strength.”

“That’s good news, right?” She sat up straighter, daring to hope.

“It’s really promising. He’s acting like a puppy, and that’s what we want to see.”

A huge weight came off Aster’s shoulders as the little guy yawned and closed his eyes, intertwined in the warmth of his siblings. He was doing all right. They just might have saved him. “That’s the best news. You know what you’re doing,” she said. “You’re a good vet, Brynn. Really.”

“Yeah, well, it’syouwho saved the day. It was a good thing you did, racing them here.”

“Well, they weren’t staying out there on my watch.” Aster smiled and leaned back against the wall, tired from the long day and just now realizing it. “I think I’m going to close my eyes for just a minute.”

Brynn nodded. “He doesn’t need to eat again for a little while, and I can take that one. Not to worry.”

It had to be close to five a.m. when Aster stirred. Her body seemed to know that it was near time for her to head to work and get started on her first round of doughnuts even though her alarm hadn’t gone off. She opened her eyes anyway, startled to learn that she wasn’t where she thought she was. Not only was she upright, but her head rested on something warm, and her cheek was being tickled by a soft strand of what felt like hair. She blinked and took in her surroundings. Dogs. Thevet clinic. Brynn. She was snuggled up against beautiful Brynn Garrett, her head resting on Brynn’s shoulder. How in the world had she landed here? Also, there should have been mayday sirens going off in her brain. There weren’t. Her body felt heavy, warm, and beyond relaxed.

“Hey there, sleepyhead.” Brynn had the sweetest morning voice.

She lifted her head and met green eyes. It wasn’t a bad visual to wake up to. At all. “I didn’t mean to crash on you. Especially in the literal sense.”

“Totally okay,” Brynn said softly.

“You have a nice shoulder, though. Five stars.” And for a very strange minute, Aster considered staying right where she was. She didn’t feel physically comfortable around too many people, but being near Brynn like this felt not only comfortable, but very nonthreatening.

“I honestly didn’t mind.”

“We’re friends, right?” Aster studied Brynn. She felt like they were, hoped.

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