Page 86 of Against All Odds

Everett’s lips turn up into a cute quirk. “Never that, babe. Never that.” He chuckles. “I was so angry. It was wild. I hatedbaseball by that point and the idea of playing, nursing more injuries. I even had to have another surgery before I could join a farm team. It was ... like, for what? For the hope that someday I’d be brought up? To spend years barely scraping by and asking my parents to support me when they were barely making ends meet? Anyway, my cat, Brunhilda, was a nightmare.”

If I had water in my mouth, it would’ve sprayed everywhere when he said the name. “You named your cat Brunhilda?”

He shrugs. “It was that or Hazelette. She refused to allow that.”

“Naturally.”

“My cat was one that liked to do spiteful shit. I mean, all cats are assholes. They fuck with people and have attitudes like no other animal. Traveling with Brunhilda in a car was a whole other experience. I had no idea about cats when I got her, but I learned fast.”

I grin, imagining a twenty-two-year-old college kid with a cat. Not just any college kid, either, a jock who was probably partying more than he was sober.

“So Brunhilda and you formed a bond, and she is why you went into being a vet?”

“Kind of. She and I had a very contentious relationship until she got sick. I really didn’t think I liked her all that much, but when we were faced with something being seriously wrong, I was a mess. The parasite she caught can be very serious and even lead to death. You would’ve thought I was out of my mind. I drove to three different doctors, and finally the last one spoke to me rationally and gave me clear instructions. I held her, fed her with a syringe, and nursed her back to health. After that, I had this passion to do that for someone else. To save someone’s pet or give them hope.”

I smile, hearing the devotion in his voice. He truly loves what he does. “That’s really sweet, and where is Brunhilda now?”

“She’s not good with dogs at all, so when we got Brutus, she went to live with my lead tech, who she loves so much more than me anyway. Erin brings her to the office twice a week so I can see her and be ignored properly.”

I can’t help the laugh that falls from my lips. I just imagine this beautiful cat walking right past him.

“Do you love it?”

“Being a vet? Yes, every day is truly special. Even the days when I can’t give good news or there’s nothing I can do to save the animal, I do what I can to make it easier for them and the owner. What about you with teaching?”

I glance up at the blue sky, remembering my own story and how I decided to go into teaching. “My story isn’t as cool as yours, but I was studying English literature and thought I would go into publishing, like all young book lovers do, but I took a teaching class and fell in love with it. It gave me the opportunity to combine the two things I love.”

“I think your story is cool.”

My eyes move to his and I smile. “Most days are a testament to my patience, but then there are days where a student who struggled just gets it or I see them go from hating to read to suddenly wanting to discuss a new story. Those days are really rewarding. I don’t want to give it up again, you know? I stopped when Dylan became this superstar actor because it was too hard with the constant media attention. Getting to teach again has been so rewarding.”

Everett reaches over and takes my hand in his, squeezing softly. “Why would you have to give it up again?”

I sigh heavily as he turns down my driveway. I’m sad that our day together is almost over. “Because if Dylan wants to be a part of the baby’s life, I’ll have to move.”

“Why?”

“He’s the baby’s father and will be awarded visitation, I’m sure. I can’t stick a newborn on a plane. It’s all so complicated, Everett. I can’t pretend that this is all going to just work out. It’s why days like this and nights like we’ve had are dangerous for me.”

I can see the wheels turning in his mind. “I don’t want to be a source of stress for you. Maybe you’re right, and we should stop doing whatever we’re doing and just keep it to being friends.”

With my hand on the door handle, I look into his beautiful brown eyes, so warm, so familiar, so much history there. I force a sad smile and decide to rip the Band-Aid off. It’ll be better this way. “It’s not what I want, but I think it’s for the best.”

I hate this so much.

“Okay, then.” He sounds ... resigned. Like it’s the last thing in the world that he wants, but for me, he’ll do it because I’m not in the right place for anything more.

I hate that I have to lose him too.

“Everett?” He stays silent and just waits. “Thank you for today and everything. I can’t begin to tell you what all of this has meant to me.”

“I’d do anything for you, Violet.”

Too bad he can’t make this all different. That he can’t make it so we went back in time and I never made the mistake of letting him go.

I nod once and close the car door, heading inside.

Those stupid tears start to build until I gasp as I see someone sitting on my couch. “Hi, honey, I’m home.”

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