the year, the center has to have a full-time veterinarian,” she argued in a maddeningly logical tone. “That’s what the animals need more than anything, so that’s where the money should go.”
“But the staff—”
“Can be found anywhere,” she said, cutting him off gently. “With a dedicated vet and Sierra, the hard stuff will be done by experts, and the general animal care can be handled by volunteers. I appreciate you trying to create a spot for me, Drew, but I’ve run the numbers a hundred different ways, and that’s the only way they work. Even then, it’s a pretty thin line between this place staying open and closing.”
“That’s what the fund-raiser’s all about,” he reminded her.
“Any extra money should go into a reserve fund, for repairs and other big expenses that crop up when you least expect them to. You can only patch the roof on the main building so many times before it has to be replaced.”
“That’s true enough, but you’re great with the animals. When Sierra gets to the end of the semester and is spending most of her time studying, you’ll pretty much be running the place. These guys—” he motioned around the pens filled with youngsters “—can’t wait until finals are over.”
Bekah processed that in silence, looking around her with a pensive expression. When her gaze came back to him, that stony resolve he’d seen before had mellowed considerably. “I hadn’t thought of that. I have to stay until Sierra’s tough classes are finished, anyway, or at least until she figures out I’m the worst tutor in history and fires me.”
“She told me you’re a fantastic tutor, and she doesn’t know how she’d ever have gotten through her midterms without you.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Bekah scoffed, but the satisfied gleam in her eyes said otherwise. “She’s a smart girl, and she would’ve figured out a way to pass those exams all on her own.”
“Passing isn’t enough for her,” Drew commented with a chuckle. “She wants to blow the curve for everyone else.”
“I’ve noticed she can be awfully competitive.”
“Comes from being the middle child,” he explained. “You’re always trying to outdo one of your siblings. When I was younger, I was pretty much the same way.”
Apparently he’d struck a chord with her, and she turned to him with curiosity sparkling in those soft blue eyes. “It’s hard to believe that, since you’re so easygoing now. What changed?”
“Our father died,” he said quietly. “After that, our stupid rivalries didn’t seem to matter anymore.”
He didn’t normally share that kind of detail about himself with anyone, not even his closest friends. He was Drew the Goof, the guy you could depend on for a good laugh when you needed one. His heart didn’t often get dragged down by anything, but when it did, he felt compelled to mask his emotions with a smile.
Because that was who everyone expected him to be. The problem was, as he’d gotten older and life had become more serious, folks expected him to be the way he’d always been. And quite honestly, he’d outgrown the role of class clown years ago.
Bekah, on the other hand, didn’t have those expectations. Because she’d met him so recently, her impression of him was still forming, which meant he had a chance to show her who he truly was beneath the smile he usually wore. But only if they spent enough time together for her to learn what he was really about.
He wasn’t sure why her staying mattered so much to him. But it did, and he figured that if he waited long enough, it would eventually make sense.
“Drew, I’m sorry,” she murmured, reaching out to cover his hand with her own. “I didn’t mean to bring up sad times for you.”
It was the first time she’d intentionally made physical contact with him, and he relished the feel of her soft skin on his. Forcing himself not to stare at their hands, he gave her a lopsided grin. “It’s not all bad. I have
“But the staff—”
“Can be found anywhere,” she said, cutting him off gently. “With a dedicated vet and Sierra, the hard stuff will be done by experts, and the general animal care can be handled by volunteers. I appreciate you trying to create a spot for me, Drew, but I’ve run the numbers a hundred different ways, and that’s the only way they work. Even then, it’s a pretty thin line between this place staying open and closing.”
“That’s what the fund-raiser’s all about,” he reminded her.
“Any extra money should go into a reserve fund, for repairs and other big expenses that crop up when you least expect them to. You can only patch the roof on the main building so many times before it has to be replaced.”
“That’s true enough, but you’re great with the animals. When Sierra gets to the end of the semester and is spending most of her time studying, you’ll pretty much be running the place. These guys—” he motioned around the pens filled with youngsters “—can’t wait until finals are over.”
Bekah processed that in silence, looking around her with a pensive expression. When her gaze came back to him, that stony resolve he’d seen before had mellowed considerably. “I hadn’t thought of that. I have to stay until Sierra’s tough classes are finished, anyway, or at least until she figures out I’m the worst tutor in history and fires me.”
“She told me you’re a fantastic tutor, and she doesn’t know how she’d ever have gotten through her midterms without you.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Bekah scoffed, but the satisfied gleam in her eyes said otherwise. “She’s a smart girl, and she would’ve figured out a way to pass those exams all on her own.”
“Passing isn’t enough for her,” Drew commented with a chuckle. “She wants to blow the curve for everyone else.”
“I’ve noticed she can be awfully competitive.”
“Comes from being the middle child,” he explained. “You’re always trying to outdo one of your siblings. When I was younger, I was pretty much the same way.”
Apparently he’d struck a chord with her, and she turned to him with curiosity sparkling in those soft blue eyes. “It’s hard to believe that, since you’re so easygoing now. What changed?”
“Our father died,” he said quietly. “After that, our stupid rivalries didn’t seem to matter anymore.”
He didn’t normally share that kind of detail about himself with anyone, not even his closest friends. He was Drew the Goof, the guy you could depend on for a good laugh when you needed one. His heart didn’t often get dragged down by anything, but when it did, he felt compelled to mask his emotions with a smile.
Because that was who everyone expected him to be. The problem was, as he’d gotten older and life had become more serious, folks expected him to be the way he’d always been. And quite honestly, he’d outgrown the role of class clown years ago.
Bekah, on the other hand, didn’t have those expectations. Because she’d met him so recently, her impression of him was still forming, which meant he had a chance to show her who he truly was beneath the smile he usually wore. But only if they spent enough time together for her to learn what he was really about.
He wasn’t sure why her staying mattered so much to him. But it did, and he figured that if he waited long enough, it would eventually make sense.
“Drew, I’m sorry,” she murmured, reaching out to cover his hand with her own. “I didn’t mean to bring up sad times for you.”
It was the first time she’d intentionally made physical contact with him, and he relished the feel of her soft skin on his. Forcing himself not to stare at their hands, he gave her a lopsided grin. “It’s not all bad. I have
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