Page 34 of Situationship
But there wouldn’t be a next time. Not with him on notice until they both left for college.
MALE FRIENDSIKNOW?
SO THERE MIGHT BE A GUY
AND NO YOU DON’T KNOW HIM.
WHERE DID YOU MEET?
. . .
Colin watched his “device” as a long, conspiring silence ensued. The three dots made a fast and furious disappearing act, which worked for him since his patient load was double-booked and they were short one vet.
His hot coffee a lost cause, Colin walked to the front desk, where Barb was effortlessly juggling the phone, printer, and receiving incoming patients. She looked up and smiled. “Your brother wants to get together for lunch.”
Colin had planned on scarfing down a sub sandwich at his desk so the backlog of patients didn’t get any worse. “Can you call him back and tell him I’m busy today?”
“Can’t. He’s in your office.”
“And you’re just telling me now?”
“Kim called first,” she said, referring to Ethan’s wife. “She told me not to tell you until Ethan was here.”
His phone pinged again. And again.
“Shit.” Colin pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a breath. He was overworked, over dependable, and over being over. “Tell Ethan he can wait.” He looked at his screen. Maddie broke her earlier record with four rapid-fire texts.
CANIHAVE THE CAR THEN?
OKAY. WHAT ABOUT NEXT WEEK?
HELLO?
DAD!?! WHY ARE YOU IGNORING ME?
I’M NOT IGNORING YOU.
I’M AT WORK.
OH. RIGHT. SORRY.
SO ABOUT THE CAR?
WHAT PART OF AT WORK DID YOU MISS?
He’d just lowered his cell when the reception phone rang.
“If that’s Maddie, tell her, one more question about the car, and she’s grounded for the rest of the foreseeable future.”
“And have her stink-eyeing me? Pass.” Barb answered the phone. “Jackson and Son Pacific Cove Animal Clinic. How can I help you?”
Every time he heard the “and Son” part, he felt a fiery ball of rage over what Ronald Senior’s son had done to the practice. It made Colin question his decision to pass up the chance to buy the practice from his mentor.
Barb covered the mouthpiece. “Not Maddie.”
“Thank God.”
“It’s Nancy from the Coffeekat. She has a litter of kittens that need to be vaccinated.”
