Page 13 of The Grumpy Vet
"You okay?"
"Yeah. Just worried." He scratches his arm. "I hope we didn't freak him out. He's already had a shitty day."
"He has." I look out until the last signs of his car are gone. "Come on. Let's go inside."
We clean up in silence. I play the conversation back in my mind, trying to pinpoint the precise moment things went south. I concede I may have pried a bit, but I did open by saying he could tell me to mind my own business. So I don't think it was that.
Then I told him about what Mum went through when Dad got sick and asked him if he had any support. It was shortly after that that he left so abruptly. I don't get it. Why would asking him if he had anyone helping him out make him act like that?
"What's Linus's family situation?" I ask, handing Ryde a sudsy plate.
He takes it from me and starts drying. "It's just him and his dad."
"No siblings?"
"No."
"What about his mum?"
"She died when he was a kid. Some sort of cancer. I've never asked."
"Fair enough." I pass Ryde the next plate. "What about his relationship history? I'd imagine dating is a tad restricted in a place this small."
"From what I can gather, he dated someone ages ago."
"How long is ages ago?"
He lifts a shoulder, staring at the blackness outside. "I'd say ten years. Maybe longer."
"Wow. Okay. And what about friends? Does he have many?"
"Apart from the crew at work, I don't think he has, no."
"Does he at least open up to any of them?"
Ryde places the plate onto the drying rack and considers my question. "I don't think so. Or if he does, he swears them to secrecy because for all the gossiping those guys love to partake in, Linus's name never comes up."
"So no one knows about your crush on the boss?"
He smiles at me and gives me a playful bump. "Nope. As far as I'm aware, I'm fooling them all with my Oscar-worthy acting. I've been completely discreet."
I smile back at him even though the prosecution is totally leading the witness. A person could be legally blind and still see how into Linus Ryde is. It's cute he thinks he's pulling it off though. None of the guys have said anything to me—probably because I'm new and they know Ryde is my bestie—but in addition to me witnessing the way Ryde gravitates towards Linus anytime he's near him, hanging on every word he says, I've caught the other guys clocking it, too. They'd have to be idiots not to suspect something.
Once the dishes are done, Ryde wipes down the countertops while I take the trash out. Linus is still playing on my mind, and when I re-enter the kitchen, I can tell he's on Ryde's, too.
"I have a theory," I tell him as we walk into the living room and drop down onto the same couch.
"Go on."
"Did you notice how I didn't really give Linus much of a choice in coming over here tonight?"
"I did." A tiny grin tugs at the corner of his mouth. "Smooth."
"Not so much smooth as I sensed his hesitancy. Given the chance, I reckon he would've found some excuse not to come over. And after what you've told me about his family, dating life, and friendship circle, not to mention how many hours he puts in at the clinic,plusthe current situation with his dad, it's painting a picture."
Ryde blinks, waiting for me to fill him in. "I think Linus isn't used to having people look after him. He got weird right after I asked him if he had a support network. I might have inadvertently triggered something because…because maybe he doesn't have anyone?"
"But everyone loves him. The guys at the clinic. Everyone in town. Even though he has this whole grumpy bear vibe going on, I've never once heard anyone say a bad word about him. Unlike his dad. From what I've gathered, he wasn't exactly Mr. Popular."
