I snort. “Nice try at flattery, Dylan, but you don’t even know me.”
“That’s what you think, Ava Brown, but you’re wrong. I know exactly who you are.” His voice sends a shiver up my spine. “You’re the top student in our year, you spend most of your afternoons in the library, and your favorite food is the pho from the student union. Does that sound right?”
I glance away from the syllabus and into the handsome face of the man sitting next to me. He flashes me a Cheshire cat smile. His brown eyes sparkle with mirth. I swallow hard. Dylan Conti. Of all the people I could possibly be paired with, it had to be him.
“It does.” My voice quivers.
“Good, because just like you, I don’t just want an A in this class. I want us to be number one. I’m prepared to do whatever it takes to get it.”
From the starting gate, we were both on the same page. I was afraid Dylan would be one of those guys who slacked off and couldn’t pull his weight on a project. But each step of the way, he proved me wrong. He spent more time in the library thanI did that semester. And he always came to class prepared, with a fresh set of ideas on how to run our assigned experiments. We spent so much time together that by the end of the term, we’d become good friends.
“Ava, what are your plans tonight to celebrate the end of finals? Are you heading to Joe’s party?”
“No, I didn’t think I was invited. We’re not really friends,” I say slowly. “I was planning to relax and binge-watchProject CatwalkorThe British Baking Championship.” I stare at the ground. “I actually don’t really know anyone in our cohort very well. Except for you.”
“Well, it’s time that changes. You have such a bright personality. Everybody deserves to see it shine.”
I giggle to myself. It’s such a lame pun, but somehow the way Dylan says it makes it sound sexy.
“Joe invited everyone in the class over to his place. That includes you. If you want to go, I’ll even pick you up. I know how much you hate driving in the snow.”
I hesitate. This is so far out of my comfort zone.
“I know how intimidating it can be to hang out in a room full of strangers, but I promise, the other vet students in our year aren’t that bad,” he says.
I take a deep breath. I promised myself vet school wouldn’t be a repeat of my undergrad years, where I lived like a hermit. Dylan’sright. The other students in our cohort wouldn’t be here if they weren’t as motivated and driven. My throat goes dry. “Okay, I’ll go.”
He flashes me the cheeky smile I’ve come to know well. “I’ll pick you up at six.”
Attending Joe’s end-of-finals celebration wasn’t the frat party I had pictured in my head. There were no kegs or hot, stuffy rooms full of twenty-year-olds dancing to loud, blasting music. It was a potluck in a dining room filled with adults who enjoyed stimulating conversations. But I never would’ve known that if it hadn’t been for Dylan’s urging.
As I return to the present, I wonder how I could have been so blinded by him. I always thought his flattery and flirting were signs he had a crush on me. But I guess I should’ve picked up on the fact that he always gravitated toward women who looked like Victoria’s Secret Angels. Not women like me who dress for comfort and wear their hair in a long braid, with baggy blue scrubs and tennis shoes. “Maybe I should’ve tried harder. A little makeup wouldn’t have hurt,” I mutter.
Daphne’s head snaps in my direction. “Ava, did I hear you blaming yourself?”
“No,” I say quickly. Heat rushes to my cheeks.
“Good. Because you’re perfect just the way you are.”
I snort. “I should record you saying that for future use.”
“If you want, but I’m happy to repeat it.” Daphne shrugs. “Anyway, you know what I think would help you take your mind off things?”
“What? A blind date with one of your friends?” I joke.
“No.” She rolls her eyes. “You’re not anywhere close to being ready to date anyone right now. What you need is a vacation. When was the last time you took one?”
“That depends on your definition of vacation.” I pick up my water glass and take a long sip.
“I’m not talking about taking a day off here and there. I mean a solid two weeks off where you escape all your troubles and go off the grid.No phone. No working. No men. Just you and your surroundings.”
“Daph, I can’t. I’m the only vet on staff.” My body tenses. “If I took a vacation, it would mean closing down the practice for two weeks.” Not to mention the financial implications.
“Aren’t you also the owner?” she challenges. “Didn’t you tell me last month you’d managed to buy out Dylan’s half of the partnership?”
“I did. But that means I’m under a lot of pressure and have a lot more responsibilities than I used to.”
“All I’m hearing are excuses. If you’re the boss, you call the shots. Hire a temp, pick a date next month, and go. Your receptionist can handle running all the other stuff.”
