Page 32 of Hold Me Instead
“There’s been turnover, some new people. It’s a really capable team. One of the techs taught me their software this morning, but I’d bet she knows as much as Maura. Everyone’s really on top of things.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Just ask the question you really want to know.”
“Okay. How are things between you and the woman taking over things?”
Complicated.“She doesn’t want me there.”
“Right. And the scowl on your face?”
Zachary felt the tension in his jaw, tried to relax his face, and realized he had no idea how. “Look, I can admit I haven’t been…my best self around her.”
Jordan smacked the table, throwing his head back with a laugh. As the cheerful noise finally faded, he wiped under his eyes dramatically. “Wow, thanks for that. I needed it.”
“You know, I’m really starting to wonder why we’re still friends, considering you seem to have such a low opinion of me.”
Jordan gave him a light punch to the shoulder. “Listen. For as long as I’ve known you, you’ve wanted to be a vet. Talked my ear off about how you couldn’t wait to have your own patients, to work alongside your dad.”
Zachary swallowed the memory.
“You’ve always been passionate. Even when you talked about things you’d do differently, it was obvious you just wanted to keep things progressing.”
He shrugged. “Why wouldn’t we want to do that?”
Jordan nodded slowly. “When you started working with Anna’s dad…I don’t know…The way you talked about it changed.”
Zachary considered that. “I was learning their way of doing things. Just like when I did my rotation.”
“No, that’s not what I mean. I heard less about animals and more about image, I guess. What they expected of you.”
“That can’t be right.”
Jordan held up his hands. “Yeah, what do I know? You go off and work for a man whose practice has received national attention. A place that poured a shit ton of money into an expensive clinic and weirdly elaborate parties for their wealthy clients. Then you come home to your dad’s small practice, where people from all around the city bring their pets because they know they’ll get true mom-and-pop care. You’re barreling in as if you haven’t been in an entirely different world for more than half a decade.” He leaned closer. “I know you. You don’t do anything half-assed. That certainly includes your job. But at this point, what’s familiar is what you’ve been doing lately, not what you grew up learning.”
Zachary was quiet. Was that how things had been? Is that what people saw when they looked at him?
“You guys used to be friends, right?”
Zachary nodded.
“Yeah. You’ll come back to us.” Jordan gestured a stout taster in salute to Zachary. “There’s hope for you two yet.”
Chapter 9
Charlie
Dappledlightfellonthe smiling face of the tan pit bull mix, tongue spilling from his mouth as he patiently obeyed the command to sit.
“Got it. Okay! Such a good boy, Humphrey,” Amber cooed over the sturdy dog as she held her camera, its thick strap across her body. The dog gleefully danced in circles.
Charlie grinned. “He’s a fan of yours.”
“Gah, he’s so cute.” Amber squatted and scratched the pup under his chin. She laughed as he slowly sank to the ground—careful not to disrupt the affection—and exposed his belly for more scratches. “You’re an awesome guy, aren’t you? I wish you could live in my apartment, but my landlord would flip.”
“When’s your lease up?”
Amber rolled her eyes at Charlie. “You’re ridiculous.” She took a beat as she looked back at the dog, then said, “January.”
