guy that I’m not even sure I really like, seems pretty crappy. A hot guy should not trump poor, sweet helpless animals. Although my libido doesn’t seem to agree. There is a completely shameless hussy inside of me that doesn’t care at all about the helpless strays at the shelter. I shake my head and open the driver’s side door of my car.
“I can’t. They really need all the help they can get. But wait, you could come with me. We could use the extra set of hands.” I smile pleadingly, hoping that he’ll come. Lusting after him isn’t so bad if he’s using those muscles to help out charity, right?
“I’m not really an animal person.”
“How can you not be an animal person? Animals give love so freely and they don’t hurt anyone. Not like people. Come on. This can be our do-over. What do you say?” I find myself holding my breath waiting for his answer.
I want this do-over just as much as he appears to. I can’t ask him more about his relationship with Mr. Marshall without making him defensive. But maybe I can find out how he feels about the rest of his family. Maybe that will give me a clue as to why he’s so against the idea of reconciling with his dad.
“Okay, you’ve convinced me.” Tank walks around the car and gets in the passenger seat. “There won’t be any interruptions this time.”
C HAPTER E IGHT
T ANK
“So where is this place we’re going?” I’m prepared for the next hour or so to be pure torture. But if dealing with a bunch of pitiful creatures makes Emma more likely to give me another chance then I’ll do it.
“Near the community college. Back when I was in school, one of the guys in my biology class, Brett, mentioned that they needed volunteers. He’s studying to be a veterinarian, too. If I hadn’t had to drop out, we’d probably be in vet school together.”
“Everyone’s life takes a different path. I’m not sure why. Hell, I have absolutely no answers. But your path isn’t wrong, Emma. It’s yours and you’ll make it meaningful and right. Don’t compare yourself to others.”
“You’re completely right. I just need a reminder of that some days.” Emma smiles over at me before turning into the parking lot in front of a small white building.
“The owner, Dr. Kenya Marsh, is really appreciative of all volunteers. This place is exactly what I want to do after I finish school. I want to offer veterinarian services to people who can’t afford it. Dr. Marsh has an open clinic one Saturday per month so that everyone can make sure their animals get preventative care.”
We climb out of the car and I follow her into the white building. Emma bypasses the front desk and walks down the hall. I follow since she seems to know where she’s going. We enter a room in the back, filled with metal cages. It smells like pee.
Christ, I must really like this girl.
“Hi Brett. How are the babies, today?” Emma asks as she shrugs out of her coat. She hangs it on a peg behind the door so I do the same.
A young man with dark, tightly curled hair turns around. In his arms are two black and white kittens. “Great, I’m just getting some playtime in with Thing 1 and Thing 2.”
Emma accepts one of the kittens and holds it gently in her palms. “Hello, Uno. Did you miss me? I missed you.”
Brett shakes his head. “She can always tell them apart. I don’t know how she does that.”
I watch in amazement as Emma lights up. How wrong I was to think that she never smiles. Obviously I’m just not the right audience. She is wearing the biggest, most beautiful smile right now. When she turns to me, her face bent so she can rub her cheek against the kitten’s soft fur, my heart gives an extra thump.
“You are so beautiful.”
“Huh? Did you say something, Tank?
“Uh, they’re beautiful. The kittens.”
She smiles her agreement and then sits right on the floor and allows the kittens to crawl all over her lap. Brett moves around the room, opening a
“I can’t. They really need all the help they can get. But wait, you could come with me. We could use the extra set of hands.” I smile pleadingly, hoping that he’ll come. Lusting after him isn’t so bad if he’s using those muscles to help out charity, right?
“I’m not really an animal person.”
“How can you not be an animal person? Animals give love so freely and they don’t hurt anyone. Not like people. Come on. This can be our do-over. What do you say?” I find myself holding my breath waiting for his answer.
I want this do-over just as much as he appears to. I can’t ask him more about his relationship with Mr. Marshall without making him defensive. But maybe I can find out how he feels about the rest of his family. Maybe that will give me a clue as to why he’s so against the idea of reconciling with his dad.
“Okay, you’ve convinced me.” Tank walks around the car and gets in the passenger seat. “There won’t be any interruptions this time.”
C HAPTER E IGHT
T ANK
“So where is this place we’re going?” I’m prepared for the next hour or so to be pure torture. But if dealing with a bunch of pitiful creatures makes Emma more likely to give me another chance then I’ll do it.
“Near the community college. Back when I was in school, one of the guys in my biology class, Brett, mentioned that they needed volunteers. He’s studying to be a veterinarian, too. If I hadn’t had to drop out, we’d probably be in vet school together.”
“Everyone’s life takes a different path. I’m not sure why. Hell, I have absolutely no answers. But your path isn’t wrong, Emma. It’s yours and you’ll make it meaningful and right. Don’t compare yourself to others.”
“You’re completely right. I just need a reminder of that some days.” Emma smiles over at me before turning into the parking lot in front of a small white building.
“The owner, Dr. Kenya Marsh, is really appreciative of all volunteers. This place is exactly what I want to do after I finish school. I want to offer veterinarian services to people who can’t afford it. Dr. Marsh has an open clinic one Saturday per month so that everyone can make sure their animals get preventative care.”
We climb out of the car and I follow her into the white building. Emma bypasses the front desk and walks down the hall. I follow since she seems to know where she’s going. We enter a room in the back, filled with metal cages. It smells like pee.
Christ, I must really like this girl.
“Hi Brett. How are the babies, today?” Emma asks as she shrugs out of her coat. She hangs it on a peg behind the door so I do the same.
A young man with dark, tightly curled hair turns around. In his arms are two black and white kittens. “Great, I’m just getting some playtime in with Thing 1 and Thing 2.”
Emma accepts one of the kittens and holds it gently in her palms. “Hello, Uno. Did you miss me? I missed you.”
Brett shakes his head. “She can always tell them apart. I don’t know how she does that.”
I watch in amazement as Emma lights up. How wrong I was to think that she never smiles. Obviously I’m just not the right audience. She is wearing the biggest, most beautiful smile right now. When she turns to me, her face bent so she can rub her cheek against the kitten’s soft fur, my heart gives an extra thump.
“You are so beautiful.”
“Huh? Did you say something, Tank?
“Uh, they’re beautiful. The kittens.”
She smiles her agreement and then sits right on the floor and allows the kittens to crawl all over her lap. Brett moves around the room, opening a
Similar Books
