Chapter 38: Chapter 38

AVERY

As Monday dawns, I contemplate taking my first personal day. But honestly, I could probably use the distraction. My thoughts are a whirlwind as I get ready, replaying the events of the weekend.

~It started off so well…and ended so poorly. I had Reed, and then I lost him. He was never mine to begin with, was he?~

I arrive at the clinic to find Dr. Collins waiting for me, a proud smile on his face. I hang up my long coat, watching him cautiously.

~Did he hire someone as vet assistant?~

“Good morning, Avery. I have something I’d like to discuss with you over lunch today.”

My heart sinks as I return his smile and nod. I slump into my chair as he heads to the back and our first patient comes in.

~Dreams are dumb~, I think as I check in the terrier and his owner.

***

Dr. Collins reappears around one, shedding his lab coat and donning his regular one. “You ready?”

~As ready as I’ll ever be.~

I quickly put on my coat and scarf before meeting him at the door. The air is chillier than it has been lately, hints of the season’s first snowfall on the breeze.

“I thought we could have lunch with the ducks. What do you think?” asks Dr. Collins as we head toward the park.

~The last time I was near the ducks, I was with Reed. When does this pain ease? Will it ever?~

“That sounds lovely,” I reply, falling into step beside him.

Soon, we’re walking under the iron archway into the park, which is bustling with activity as usual. There’s a group doing yoga, posing with goats on their backs, and musicians playing for tips dot the walkways. Farther down, some artists are painting beneath the vibrant trees.

I smile. City dwellers always seem to make the most of the best spot in town while they can.

Dr. Collins guides us to a bench in front of the shimmering duck pond and sits down. He doesn’t waste any time getting to the point.

“As you know, the clinic has been growing like crazy, and I’ve been handling a lot. But it’s getting to be a bit much for one person,” he says.

I brace myself for yet another bit of bad news, waiting for my other dream to die on the wind.

“You’ve been instrumental in the clinic’s success, and I wanted to express my deepest appreciation,” he continues. “Which is why I want to offer you the position as my vet assistant.”

~Wait…what?~

“I know you’ve been looking for an apprenticeship and a way to cover those last few classes, so you’d be getting a raise and a chance for some hands-on training.” He turns to me with a hopeful expression. “What do you say? Are you up for the challenge?”

My jaw drops open, but I quickly shut it. A smile spreads across my face.

“Yes!” I exclaim, throwing my arms around his neck. I quickly back off. “Oh my god! I’m sorry, Dr. Collins! I’m just so excited! I’ve wanted this since I started at the clinic, but I wasn’t sure how to ask, or if you’d even consider me. I promise I’ll be the best assistant you’ve ever had!”

He laughs. “I have no doubt you will, Avery. And please, now that we’re colleagues, call me Matt.”

I nod. “Absolutely, Matt.”

We laugh and finish our lunch. When we head back to the clinic, I feel lighter.

~Something is finally choosing me, and even if it’s not my dream guy, it’s my dream career. I can live with that. ~

***

Later that night, I’m locking up the clinic when a woman’s voice stops me.

“Are you Avery Morris?”

Recognition washes over me. I don’t even need to turn around to know that it’s her. The woman from the gala. I can smell her perfume, an expensive blend of jasmine and an unidentifiable spice.

With a sigh, I turn to face her, putting the clinic keys in my pocket.

“Yes, I’m Avery Morris. You’re the woman from the gala, right? In the navy-and-gold dress? I remember seeing you in the restroom.”

She forces a smile onto her perfect pink lips. “Yes, I’m Harper. You were Reed Everett’s date that night, right?”

“It wasn’t a date,” I clarify. “We’re just friends.”

~We~ were ~just friends.~

“Reed has never brought a plus-one to any of our formal events,” she states like it’s a well-known fact. “He always flies solo.”

“You seem to know him pretty well.”

“I do. We’ve been working together for a while. We were in the same focus group for a few weeks and spent some time together,” she elaborates, unknowingly twisting the knife in my chest a little deeper. “Not the way I wanted, but I got to know him better.”

~I don’t want to know what that means.~

“So, what did you want from me?” I ask, my patience wearing thin.

“I asked Reed to the gala,” she admits, her eyes narrowing as I stare at her, shock rushing through me.

~That can’t be right. If she’d asked him to the gala, he would have gone with her, not me. She’s the girl. His dream girl.~

“I don’t understand.”

“I asked him to be my date, and he said no. Then I saw him kiss you that night. I was jealous at first, but the way you two were all over each other? Friends don’t do that. Reed Everett certainly doesn’t do that.” Her smile softens. “I’ve never seen him look at anyone like he looked at you.”

“You’ve got it all wrong. It wasn’t real. He kissed me to make you jealous,” I admit, a shiver running through me at the memory of his touch.

~Right? He just did it to make her jealous. She has to be the one. There was no one else there to witness that kiss.~

“Me?” she scoffs.

“It had to be you. I saw you in the bathroom right before that. I thought you followed me out and saw us together, and that’s when he decided to put on a show.”

“Reed isn’t interested in me, Avery,” she insists.

I shake my head.

“That’s impossible! He asked me to help him get his dream girl…and…i-it has to be you!” I stammer, a cold feeling rushing through me.

“Avery, I’ve asked him out multiple times. Believe me, I’ve tried to get Reed. I even offered a no-strings-attached fling just so I could be with him once. But he turns me down every time.” She shakes her head and steps forward, putting a kind hand on my shoulder. “~You’re~ his dream girl.”

***

I arrive at Reed’s apartment building and quickly dial his number on the intercom to be let in.

“Yo,” he answers.

“It’s Avery. Can I come up?”

“Of course,” he replies quickly.

The door buzzes. I let myself in and rush to the elevator. I’m not nervous by the time I knock on his door. I’m too focused on getting the truth.

~I just want to know. That’s all. I just want to know who this dream girl is once and for all.~

He opens the door on the second knock, a towel wrapped around his waist and his dark hair still wet.

“Avery…I thought you didn’t want to see me anymore,” he says, a hint of anxiety in his voice. “Do you want to come in?”

My gaze traces the water droplets dripping down the contours of his bare torso, my traitorous tongue slipping out to wet my lips. His scent envelops me, clouding my mind. All I can think about is touching his body and kissing his lips.

~Does he have to be so damn attractive? It’s not fair.~

“Sorry. I just got back from the gym when you buzzed.” He rubs the back of his neck. “What’s up?”

“Who did you see right before you kissed me at the gala?” I demand.

“What?”

“Was it the girl from your work who’s been trying to ask you out? Harper?”

His eyes widen. “What? No. I didn’t see anyone.”

“Don’t lie to me, Reed! I saw her in the bathroom right before you kissed me that night. She tracked me down outside of the clinic tonight and told me how much she likes you, but you keep rejecting her. Why? Isn’t she the dream girl? She’s who you saw and wanted to make jealous.”

“Avery, I didn’t see anyone but you,” he says, his voice dropping to a whisper.

“You didn’t?”

“No,” he admits.

My mind races as I try to process his words.

~He didn’t see the girl from the bathroom. He didn’t want to make anyone jealous. So, why did he kiss me?~

“I don’t get it. If you didn’t see anyone then why did you… Why would you…”

He steps forward and silences me, pressing his mouth to mine before I can find the right words and pulling me tight against his wet body. Just like that, every thought in my head evaporates.

My fingers curl into his damp hair, pulling him closer until I feel his desire press against my belly. My heart races and my blood heats up.

~I will never get enough of this man. No amount of time will ever be enough.~

“Wait,” I whisper, pushing him back as I remember why I came here.

“No,” Reed murmurs, driving me back and trapping me against the wall.

“Reed,” I try again, whispering his name against his lips.

“No, Avery,” he growls. “There was no one else. There never has been anyone else. Only you. You’re my dream girl. You’ve always been.”

He cups my face, pressing his lips to mine and holding me in place with his body.

~What? Me? It’s always been me?~

“What the fuck is going on here?!”

Josh’s enraged voice shatters through our embrace. We spring apart, turning to find him standing in the hall, outrage on his face.