Page 11 of The Grumpy Vet
And with my newfound commitment to silence in place, Linus ducks under the roller door and strides in.
Linus
I'd been replaying the conversation I had with the nurse all the way back from the hospice, so it slipped my mind that Dario had asked if he and Ryde could come over today and use the gym.
When I step into the carport, I feel like I'm interrupting something. Dario has his hands on Ryde's shoulders, and Ryde seems…unsettled. For a second, it makes me wonder whether something is going on with them, if maybe they're more than just friends. But then why would everyone at the clinic have beengiving me shit for the past two years about Ryde having a thing for me if he's with Dario? That doesn't make any sense.
I've tried to ignore the guys at work because not only would it be completely inappropriate for anything to happen between Ryde and myself, there's also the not-so-insignificant matter of Oakey's reaction to his best mate getting it on with his son. A double whammy shitstorm I've been doing my best to bypass.
But seeing Ryde and Dario together causes a twinge in my chest. It's not outright jealousy, although there's an element of that, it's…something else. Almost like a voyeuristic curiosity, which is puzzling because I can honestly say I've never experienced that before.
"Hey, Linus," Dario says, pulling away from Ryde and walking towards me. "Thanks for letting us work out. You have an amazing setup here."
"It's really great," Ryde agrees, stepping up beside him.
They're standing so close they could easily hold hands if they wanted to. A sudden warmth floods my chest. Like I'd like that. I'd like to see them holding hands.
What the hell is wrong with me?
"It's no problem," I say, waving my hand casually. I could aim for a smile, but I don't think I have it in me after the news I've received.
"We're done and were just about to leave," Dario says.
I don't know if he intended it or not, but there's something about his tone that's lighter than anything I've heard from him so far, almost as if he's subtly hinting they'd like to stay?
No. I'm obviously imagining it. Why would these guys want to hang out with me? My exhaustion from working ten days straight is rolling off me in waves, and I must look worse than normal, still processing what the nurse told me: "Your father's Alzheimer's is advancing quicker than we hoped. We're shiftingour focus to palliative care to ensure he remains as comfortable as possible in the coming…months."
She paused right before she saidmonths, which makes me think it could just as easily beweeks.
My mind is still reeling from that, so whatever I think I'm picking up on with these guys is probably pity at best or most likely, nothing at all.
"Have you…?" Dario starts then stops himself.
I glance at him. "Have I what?"
He shifts his gaze back and forth between Ryde and myself several times, silently reading the room. "Ryde makes an incredible grilled chicken salad. Have you had dinner yet?"
"I haven't."
I only managed a brekkie bar then downed half a cup of tea and some chips for lunch at the clinic before spending the afternoon with Dad.
"Great." Dario claps his hands together with a smile like we've just arranged something. Have we? Did I black out for a moment? "We'll cook dinner for you."
"We?" Ryde asks him, cocking a brow.
"Yeah. You'll cook. I'll set the table. It's called teamwork." Dario looks my way. "Come on. Let's have dinner together."
"Do I have any say in the matter?" I ask as he pulls Ryde into him, and they stalk towards me.
"Nope." Dario smiles right at me, sending a surge of warmth through my chest. "All you have to do is sit and eat."
Half an hour later, I'm sitting, I'm eating, and I'm feeling better than I have in a very long time. The three of us are in Ryde's dining room, and just as Dario boasted, Ryde's grilled chickensalad is divine. I can't remember the last time someone cooked for me, and I have to admit, it feels nice.
From the moment we set foot in Ryde's house, they insisted I sit down and relax. Dario fixed drinks and set the table, while Ryde got to work on making dinner. I kept a close eye on them, watching for any signs of closeness that extended beyond friendship. There's been nothing as far as I can tell. No touching. No kisses. No lingering looks.
That hasn't stopped my mind from wandering further into unknown territory, imagining what theymightlook like together.
I mean, can you blame me?
