Page 40 of The Grumpy Vet
Oakey's head tilts even more. "You…are?"
"It's what people do. They talk. They make jokes. I'm learning." Linus's eyes dart between me and Ryde, igniting a flare of warmth in my chest.
He really is trying, and he's opening up to Ryde and me, in the same way I opened up to them in the bathroom. I honestly didn't think I could go through with taking my shirt off, which may sound silly, but to me, it was the most terrifying thing in the world. But then I thought about how safe they make me feel, and I knew that whatever fears I had, they were mine, not theirs. So I did it. And I'm glad I didn't fucking dilly dally about it, or Oakey would have walked in on a whole other scene.
"I'm impressed," Oakey tells his best mate. "You're living proof that you can teach an old dog new tricks.
The two men exchange a warm smile before moving on, with Linus filling Oakey in about what's been happening around Scuttlebutt and the clinic. That gives me an opportunity to catch my breath and ponder how the arrival of our new visitor is going to affectthings.
I'm sure it'll be no problem for Ryde and me to continue using Linus's gym, but it might be a good idea if Linus doesn'tjoin us. In fact, it might be a good idea if the three of us limit spending time together outside of work until Oakey leaves.
Which…feels pretty awful. But I think it's the right thing to do. At the clinic, we've got the busyness of work to occupy our minds and hide our feelings. But when we're alone, an electric charge buzzes between us, and we cannot—repeat cannot—let Oakey catch on. He's a smart, observant man, and I don't think we have it in us to pull one over on him.
I do my best not to let the disappointment of the three of us possibly spending less time together show on my face, and when Oakey asks me how I'm finding working at the clinic, I tell him a story about Muir and Fitz that has him cracking up.
But on the inside, it feels like someone is squeezing my chest tighter and tighter until I can no longer breathe.
I don't get it.
If this is just a casual thing, why does the loss of it—or at the very least, the temporary postponement of it—weigh so heavily on my heart? Sure, I'll miss the fun we have because seriously, I've never experienced this level of hotness ever before, but it's more than just the sexy times.
I like just hanging out with them both, shooting the shit, making fun of Ryde, and watching as he gets increasingly more confident and starts volleying back with his own jokes and teasing. We have a special vibe when it's just the three of us. It's unlike anything I've ever experienced.
But it's not just the three of us anymore, so I guess I'm just going to have to accept this new reality and adjust my behaviour accordingly.
Ryde
"This is a nightmare," I declare as soon as we close the car doors.
"Don't start just yet," Dario says in the weird, friendly but clipped way he's been speaking since Dad showed up. "Who knows? Maybe your dad can lip read?"
I start the car and wave at Dad and Linus standing on the front porch, as they wave back at us.
"Oh my fucking god." I bang my head against the headrest once they're firmly in my rearview mirror. "Nightmare, nightmare, nightmare."
"I feel bad for Linus. He's got this lumped on him, and he doesn't have anyone to vent to. We at least have each other." Dario's hand lands on my lap. "Is this okay?"
I nod, his touch sending gentle waves of relief through my tensed-up body. "It's just what I need."
"Good. Now relax. We got through that. Everything from here onwards will be easier."
"How do you figure?"
"We survived an unexpected Oakey ambush. From here on out, we'll have time to plan our moves in advance."
"You make it sound like we're in a war zone."
"Uh, no," he says, and I can hear the hint of playfulness in his voice. "A war zone is much less scary."
I chuckle. "God. If Dad ever found out?—"
"He won't. We'll make sure of it. None of the guys at the clinic have cottoned on, have they?"
"No."
"No one in town's any the wiser, are they?"
"No."
