Chapter 40: Chapter 40

AVERY

Matt picks up on my sour mood the next morning though I do my best to hide it. Luckily, he doesn’t pry and just fills me in on our first patient of the day. I listen intently, hoping that immersing myself in work will distract me from my troubles for a bit.

Our patient is a young Dalmatian named Bandit, who unfortunately ate something he shouldn’t have. He has adorable black spots around his eyes and all down his back.

I stand a little taller as we walk back to the operating room. This is my first time assisting in surgery, and I won’t let anything ruin this moment.

“We’re all set in here. Let’s get this show on the road.” Matt props open the swinging door with his hip, adjusting a bandanna around his head. “You ready?”

I am. I’ve been ready for this since the first day I stepped foot in the clinic.

***

The surgery goes smoothly, and once the nitrous gas wears off, our patient slowly awakens, his big, bright-blue eyes opening to see my smiling face.

“Hi there, Bandit. How are you, buddy?”

His long tail begins to wag, his front paws twitching with life. Matt steps out briefly to update the animal’s owner while I stay with the dog for observation. It doesn’t take long before the little guy is ready to reunite with his human.

“Someone is very happy to see you,” I say as I lead him into the lobby where Bandit’s anxious owner is pacing back and forth.

She stops and rushes to her dog’s side, dropping to the floor and showering him with kisses. Bandit returns her affections, his tail wagging furiously as he gives her big, excited puppy smooches right back.

~I swear, I could watch a million pets run to their humans after being patched up and it would never get old.~

After Bandit leaves the clinic, we get three more patients before lunch. I’m shrugging into my jacket and preparing to head out to the park with my lunch when my phone rings.

It’s Josh.

I groan. I don’t feel like talking to him right now. I don’t know if I will be anytime soon. But he doesn’t stop calling.

Fed up with the constant ringing, I yank it out of my pocket and snap, “What, Josh?”

“I don’t know what to say, Avery.” His voice is filled with regret and guilt.

~I don’t care if he feels bad. He should after trying to control my life like that. What made him think he had the right?~

I scoff. “How about I’m sorry, Josh? I mean, are you?”

“Of course I am.”

“Why did you do it?” I ask.

Josh sighs.

“Isn’t he supposed to be your best friend?” I continue. “Why would you do that to him? To me? Why would you actively try to ruin his feelings for me?” I demand, leaning back against the wall.

“You don’t know Reed like I do, Avery,” he says.

“I know Reed a lot more than you think, Josh,” I say, anger warming my voice. “I was there for him when his mom died. I was there when he’d stumble through your bedroom window drunk because he didn’t know how to deal with it. I was there for all those fights at school before you helped him buckle down. I was there for all of it.”

“Avery…I didn’t—”

“Know? Yeah, I know. You worked so hard to keep me out of everything because you were trying to protect me. But I was always there in the background,” I snap. “Reed hasn’t been that person in a long time, Josh.”

“I’m not talking about Reed’s temper. I’m talking about the trail of broken hearts he’s left behind. I didn’t want yours to be one of them. I saw the way he treated girls at school.”

I roll my eyes, hoping he can hear the hypocrisy in what he’s saying. “Your past isn’t all butterflies and rainbows either, Josh.”

“It’s more than that, Avery. Reed purposely used someone just to get back at another fighter once.”

“It’s a dick move, sure, but I know you’ve done similar things, Josh.”

“That was different,” he says indignantly.

“Was it? Cause it doesn’t seem that different.” I sigh. “Listen, Josh, if all you’re going to do is badmouth your best friend, I’m done. I’m at work, and I have to go prepare the exam room for our next patient since I’m the ~vet assistant~ now.”

I don’t even wait for his response. I hang up and put my phone on silent.

REED

My fist connects with the leather in a sharp ~crack~ as Josh walks up. I flick my eyes to him, but I don’t stop dancing around the bag, hands up as I continue to throw punches.

“I’m not in the mood, Josh,” I say, turning the intensity up a notch on my next strike.

“Why didn’t you tell me how you felt about Avery?” he asks.

I groan. “I did. Several times, remember? You always said I wasn’t good enough for her.”

“I didn’t want her to be just another broken heart in your wake. I saw how you ran through girls like it was a game.” He rubs the back of his neck. “Not to mention you were a lit fuse back then. Everything set you off. I didn’t want Avery caught in the crosshairs if you went off the rails.”

I stop, leaning an arm against the bag as I turn to him.

“I don’t disagree with what you did back then. I wasn’t good for anyone, including myself. I was hurt and angry…just not in a good place. But I’m not that guy anymore. I realized a while back I didn’t like who I was becoming.”

I stare down at the ground, shame rushing through me as I think about who I was before. I clear my throat as Josh gives me a questioning glance and takes a few more light jabs at the bag.

“I changed, Josh. I’m a different man now. A better man because of Avery.”

“I know, but I’m still scared for her. It wasn’t that long ago when you were plotting how to get back at that guy you lost the title to.”

“I know.” I sigh. “Using his sister is one of the biggest regrets of my life, Josh. I can’t take back what a shitty thing it was to do, but it was also the moment I realized I didn’t like myself anymore. I looked in the mirror after that and just hated everything I was becoming. So, I retired. I swore off women. I went to therapy.”

I stop and step away from the bag to face Josh. “I wanted to finally be the man Avery deserves. The kind you’d think deserved her.”

“Why didn’t you tell her that? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I was scared. It’s fucking terrifying to put yourself out there like that. I’d rather face anyone in the octagon than admit my feelings to the girl I love. What if she didn’t feel the same way?” I shrug. “I don’t know. This all seemed like a good idea at first, but I realize what a colossal fuck up that was.”

Josh is quiet for a moment, staring at me. He looks away, rubbing a hand along his chin as his eyes return to mine. “You really love her?”

Without hesitation, I answer, “Yeah. I really love her. She’s it for me.”

Josh sighs. “Okay, then I won’t stand in your way anymore.”

I walk over and place my hand on his shoulder. “Thanks, man. It means a lot to have your blessing.”

He rolls his eyes. “Yeah. Yeah. Now, how are you going to un-fuck things with my sister?”

“Not a clue.”