Jay nodded. “If you’re open to it, I’d like to try.”
CHAPTER 44
The drive home seemed quicker than the drive there. I was deep in thought the entire time, thinking about what Jay had said about reporting Dr. Pike to the dental board. If the board believed me, there was a chance his license could be suspended, and possible criminal charges could follow. I didn’t know how far it would go, but reporting him to the board seemed like a good place to start. The tricky part was finding more people to report him as well, so it wasn’t just me.
Jay said he’d help me. I didn’t know exactly how, but I knew he had more resources than I did.
So I was consumed the entire drive home, to say the least. I was trying to think of people who may have also crossed paths with Dr. Pike in the past. I’d only worked at the clinic for a few months though, so I had limited contacts.
By the time we pulled up to the house, I was surprised by how fast the time had gone, and I was actually exhausted.
The trip, though short, had been rather eventful. All the emotions and interactions had me feeling drained, and I honestly just wanted to take a bath and go to sleep.
“Do we need to pick up Luna?” I asked Jay.
“Margaret said she’d just bring her by in the morning. She loves babysitting her, so she always waits till the last second to give her back.”
I gave a little laugh, but even I could tell it was half-hearted.
The house was quiet and a little chilly when we got inside. It was getting closer to winter every day, and up in the mountains, it was even more apparent.
“I’ll get a fire going,” Jay said, setting his things by the door. “Do you need help getting your things upstairs?”
“No, I got it.”
There was a brief moment of awkward silence, and then he turned. But before he could walk away, I blurted out, “Thank you.”
“For what?” he asked, turning back to face me.
“For standing up for me. For helping me get through that trip. Just for, you know, everything,” I finished lamely.
His gaze softened, and he smiled. “Of course, Amapolita.Thanks for coming with me.”
I felt a weird desire to say more, but I told myself I really needed to stop rambling. He was still my boss. Still my neighbor.
Some things had blurred a tad while on the trip, but we were home now. So it was back to business.
I took my suitcase and, with a slight nod of my head, started toward my apartment above the garage.
The little place was starting to feel like home, and I let out a sigh of relief when I finally got inside and was able to fall onto my bed.
“Finally,” I said aloud to the slanted ceiling.
I rolled over and grabbed my phone, finding new messages from the Flossy Posse.
MACEY: You home yet from the CE conference???
HOPE: Just got back, actually.
TYLER: We should meet up at the Velvet Anchor.
MACEY: I agree. I have so much I need to tell you guys!
HOPE: Tomorrow sounds great. Let’s do it.
TYLER: Was the conference fun?
HOPE: As fun as CE can be.
