Page 84 of The Baby Dragon Cafe
An assistant was walking by just as Saphira reached for the doorknob, and he said, “Excuse me, are you meant to be here?”
Saphira stopped, a cold feeling creeping through her. “Yes, um … my dragon is just in this room.” She cleared her throat.
The assistant checked the file on the door, looking up at her. “Sterling?” he asked. She nodded. “Can I see your ID?”
Saphira was taken aback. She reached to her side, then realized that she hadn’t brought her purse with her, so she had neither her regular identification, nor her Drakkon identification.
“Sorry, I don’t have it on me,” she said, and the assistant frowned. Anxiety spread through her. She didn’t want to miss being there for Sparky while he got his shots. “I was just in there—I only stepped out for a second!” Her voice was high.
“I’m sorry, we’re pretty strict about that kind of thing,” the assistant said, face blank.
Saphira was so embarrassed, she had no idea what to say or what to do. She stood there, frozen, heart hammering. Time felt as if it was standing still.
A second later, the door opened, and Aiden stepped out, coming to her side. “Hey, where did you go?” he asked, brows furrowed. “They’re about to start.”
Saphira’s lower lip trembled, and a dark expressionimmediately crossed his face. “What’s wrong?” he asked, hands light at her elbows.
“Is she supposed to be here?” the assistant asked Aiden. Aiden looked at the assistant, seeming suddenly to understand why Saphira was upset.
“Yes,” he snapped. Aiden looked pissed off. “Obviously.”
“Oh.” The assistant swallowed nervously, sheepish. “I’m sorry about that.”
Aiden frowned. With his hand on Saphira’s lower back, he led her back into the room, but not before glaring at the assistant one more time for good measure.
Saphira hardly noticed; she felt so humiliated.
“I’m sorry you had to deal with that,” Aiden said to her, voice low.
“It’s not your fault,” she whispered. Saphira forced a smile, but it didn’t quite land.
“Ready?” the veterinarian asked. Saphira nodded, but Sparky was unsettled, fidgeting on the cot. Lavinia came to Saphira’s side.
“Saph, you okay?” Lavinia asked. “Sparky’s picking up on whatever you’re feeling, so try and put on a brave face, okay?”
But that only succeeded in making Saphira feel even worse. The room was suddenly too small; she couldn’t breathe.
“Hey,” Aiden said, coming to stand in front of her, until all she saw was him. He put his hands on her shoulders. “Breathe,” he instructed, voice gentle.
He cradled her face in his hands, thumbs rubbing against her cheeks.
“You have every right to be here,” he said. “Look—Sparky’s looking to you.”
He let go of her face, stepping aside so she could see, and he was right. Sparky was watching Saphira carefully, as if waiting for her to tell him it would be okay.
Saphira took a deep breath. Subconsciously, she reached for Aiden’s hand, and he entwined their fingers. When he squeezed her hand, she felt centered … calm.
Saphira gave Sparky a smile, and this time, it was genuine. Sparky relaxed, no longer fussing.
“He’s ready now,” Saphira said to the veterinarian, stepping forward. He nodded, then began administering the shots.
Sparky cried out at the first shot, and Aiden told him, “You’re so brave! You’re doing so well!”
Then Aiden turned around to see that Saphira was crying, too, her eyes welled up with tears. “Oh no,” he said, lips twitching. “You’re so brave, you’re doing so well!” he told her, looking amused.
She pouted. “It’s not funny,” she cried, and he hugged her. Saphira buried her nose against his chest as he stroked her hair.
“I know, sweetheart, I know.”
