Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 31149 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 156(@200wpm)___ 125(@250wpm)___ 104(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 31149 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 156(@200wpm)___ 125(@250wpm)___ 104(@300wpm)
My head falls back. “Please God, don’t say that again.”
She giggles loudly, and when I look at her, she gives me a tight-lipped smile. “For real, Mot. Start living again. Put yourself out there. So, you had a run of bad girlfriends—”
I bark out a laugh. “A run? I’ve been cheated on four times, while in four serious relationships.”
She cringes and then holds up a hand. “Yes, but all that was when I wasn’t in your life. Do you really think I’d let you date someone who would hurt you?”
I shake my head. “Tess.”
“I want you to find happiness outside of a book, Mot.”
I know deep in my marrow I want the same, but I haven’t had the desire to do so. To find that happiness she speaks of. I feel her eyes on me, and then, to my mercy, she says, “Fine. I’ll leave that alone, but I will not accept the excuse that you’re busy anymore.”
“I’ll be better.”
“You’d better,” she demands before waving me to her. “Come on. Help me break this down.”
I raise an eyebrow. “So I pay for an app, and I have to give you free labor?”
She winks. “What’s family for?”
I just smile at that as Kip barks loudly, as if to say he’s family too. I pat him again and then push up my sleeves to help. She’s right. This is what family is for, and we only have each other.
I took longer than I wanted for my lunch break to help Tessa, but I have no appointments this afternoon so the clinic is quiet when I come through the back door. Tenille, my office manager, turns in her seat and smiles widely as Kip gallops to her. She kisses his nose before he falls into his bed, acting as if he ran here from Lake Placid instead of snoozing in the back seat.
Spoiled-ass dog and, yes, I’m aware I’m the reason.
I lean on the long L-shaped counter behind Tenille. I push her favorite hazelnut latte over toward her, and she makes gimmie hands before picking it up, sighing after she takes a long sip.
“Sorry I took so long.”
She waves me off. “No worries. It’s been quiet, and I was able to get caught up on some insurance stuff without you and Kip bothering me.”
She waggles her brows at me, and I laugh. Tenille was the office manager for Dr. Jacobs, the owner before me, and she reminded me of my grandma, so I begged her to stay. She is a great manager and kicks ass at making sure everything is running smoothly. The nurses love her and so do the patients, so it was a done deal for me.
“How is Tessa?”
I cup the back of my neck. “She gave me shit for not coming around enough. Told me to put down my book and enjoy the world.”
Tenille’s face tells me she agrees as she leans back in her chair. “Dr. Aldridge, I say this with love, but she’s right. You come here, you walk Kip, and you stay in your apartment. You don’t do any of the things young kids do around here.”
I scoff. “I’m not young, Tenille.”
She gives me a look. “You’re only thirty-three. You still have a lot of life to live.”
I look down at the counter. I know everyone is right, but it’s easier just to stay in instead of putting myself out there. If I did ask out my crush and she rejected me, I’d be devastated. And I know that my sister would have a bonfire with her books.
Books I love.
Books that give me hope.
Hope for what, I have no clue. It isn’t as if I’m out here trying to live one of the many love stories I enjoy.
“I hear you.”
She smiles and then makes the squeal that I’m starting to hate. I look out the glass windows at the front of the clinic to see a man carrying a girl in his arms as she holds a lock. Of all the places I could have bought a damn clinic, I chose one across from where people come to hang up and show off their declarations of love.
I don’t care for the lore of Lock Night. I think it’s dumb. Go get a lock and write on it, and “lock in” your love. I mean, come on. It doesn’t even work. I’ve seen plenty of people cutting their locks after a breakup. But…I’ve seen more unlock them in their wedding attire.
Living their love stories.
Trying.
Yet, here I am.
Hating the lore but wishing I were out there.
With a girl and a lock.
“Oh, I love watching this.”
“Yeah,” I mutter, exhaling. I tap on the counter. “Hopefully, we have a quiet afternoon.”
I should have known better than to say that, because not even the last syllable of the word has left my lips before the front door of the clinic whips open. A teenager is standing in the doorway, tears streaming down her face as her brown eyes land on me. “Help! We need a doctor! There is so much blood.”