“I was also going to ask if I could treat you to dinner as my way of saying thank you for all your help, but...” He rubs the back of his neck. “That might not be the most appropriate offer right now.”
“No, it wouldn’t.” All I want to do after this is go home, eat my pint of ice cream, and feel sorry for myself. We walk together down the hallway to exam room two. “You don’t owe me anything. Just promise me that you’ll keep a watchful eye on Robin and try not to let her sneak out.”
“I’ll do my best.”
As I push the door open, I have to blink a few times to make sure I’m in the right room. It looks cleaner than when I arrived. “You mopped, cleaned the sinks, waxed and polished the floors, and did all the laundry?”
“I did.”
“I wish I could hire you.”
He laughs. “If I didn’t already have a full-time job, I’d consider it. Being around animals every day would be a dream come true.”
“Do you have any pets?”
“No.” He shakes his head. “Work used to take me on the road all the time before I settled in Sequoia Valley. I didn’t have a permanent home. But now that things have changed, maybe it’s something I’ll consider.”
“Well, if you decide you’re in a good place to adopt a cat or dog, let me know. I always have leads on animals who are looking for a good home.”
“I promise, Dr. B, you’ll be one of the first calls I make.”
My breathing has become more stable and my voice not as shaky. Fernando may not know it, but talking with him gives me the calm I needed after Dylan ripped through my heart.
Chapter Three
On Saturday, I meet my sister, Daphne, for lunch in the neighboring town of Lake Wakahanra. She’s three years older than me and married, with two energetic kids under five. Physically, we could pass for being twins. We both have shoulder-length light-brown hair, stand about five-foot-five, and got the same icy-blue eyes from our parents.
Personality wise, however, we’re polar opposites. Daphne has always boasted an easy, go-with-the-flow approach to life, while every step I’ve taken has been meticulously researched and carefully calculated. Daph always jokes it’s a required trait to work in a STEM field, which is partially true. Some people are just born organizers, and others are meant to be free spirits.
I’ve spent the last half hour bringing her up to speed on the Dylan fiasco.
“Well, all I can say is good riddance, Ava. I never liked him anyway. He always struck me as self-centered and unaware. And it looks like I was right. I don’t know what you saw in him. He isn’t good enough for you. I hope he has a miserable start to his new life in Denver.” She takes a sip of her tea, laughing into her cup.
“He’s in Fort Collins, but close enough.”
“Whatever.”
“And please don’t bad-mouth him. He’s still my friend.”
“I wish you’d cut ties with him.” She wrinkles her nose. “Friends don’t treat one another like Dylan treats you. I bet he hasn’t even called to apologize for the callous way he broke the news to you.”
“No.”
“And how long has it been?” she asks.
“Three days. But he might be out of cell range or busy driving,” I offer, suppressing a grimace.
“Quit making excuses for the guy. He’s a grown man. You’re probably more worried about him than he is about you. Anyway, the more important thing is that you move on. Don’t waste any more of your brainpower or tears pining over a guy like him.”
That’s easier said than done. I lean back in my chair and stare out the window, watching some of the boats sail past the restaurant on the lake. It’s a beautiful warm fall day. Everyone around us is in a great mood, talking about the upcoming Harvest festival hosted by Sequoia Valley Middle School.
Except for me. All I can think about are past memories of Dylan. It’s as if somebody’s taken a rubber band and keeps snapping it against my wrist, causing flickers of pain. I still remember the first time we met, crystal clear.
“Hi, I’m Dylan.”
“Ava,” I say, not looking away from skimming the course syllabus being handed out.
“I must’ve lucked out to get such a smart and talented woman like you for a lab partner.”
