A few minutes later, Valeria walks through the door holding Miso’s carrier, and she sets her down gently on the exam table.
“This little lady is ready to go home,” Valeria says, chuckling as Miso lets out a perfectly timed, indignant meow.
Camila reaches out and opens her carrier slightly to scratch Miso behind the ears, and she immediately starts purring, kneading in her carrier. Valeria leans against the counter, watching them with a soft smile.
“She’s lucky to have you,” she says.
Camila smiles sheepishly. “Yeah ... I think we’ll be good for each other. I just moved here, so it’s nice not having the house all to myself.”
“Oh, where did you move from?” Valeria tilts her head.
“Chicago.”
“Ah, I love Chicago. My girlfriend and I go at least once a year. It’s my absolute favorite city.”
Camila’s chest swells when she learns Valeria is queer, only to feel a slight sting of disappointment when she realizes she has a girlfriend. It isn’t exactly surprising. Valeria issweet, beautiful, the kind of person who probably draws people in without trying.
Camila has only seen her twice, and she feels a pull toward her, which, in truth, makes her feel a little ridiculous, but it’s there all the same. It’s weird—she’s never felt that before. It’s likely just gratitude for everything she’s done for Miso.
“Yeah, I miss it already.”
“Well, I hope you get to go back soon, and welcome to Washington.”
“I actually grew up here,” Camila says, the words tumbling out before she thinks about them. Almost immediately, she cringes to herself, wondering why she offered that up.
Valeria smiles, small and warm. “Oh, welcome home. Are you happy to be back?”
“Yeah,” Camila says automatically, but it tastes wrong. Happy is the last word she’d use. Still, she’s not about to tell this stranger that. No matter how familiar she feels. Like a friend Camila somehow forgot she had?
“Good, I’m glad. Do you have any other questions or concerns about Miso?”
Camila shakes her head, pushing the thought of her mother out of the way.
“No, thank you,” she says, but there’s the faintest wish for another line, another something, to keep the conversation with Valeria going.
Valeria nods. “I’ll see you both in a few days.” She bends down to peek into Miso’s carrier. “Bye, Miso, I’ll see you soon.”
Miso meows, and they both laugh.
“Thanks again,” Camila says, and Valeria winks before disappearinginto the back room.
Camila’s heart flutters at the gesture, and she can’t stop the grin that spreads across her face.
When she steps out of the exam room, Camila schedules Miso’s follow-up for a few days from now and drives the hour back home. Throughout the ride, her thoughts drift back to Valeria.
There’s an easy pull to talk to her, be her friend, and get to know her better. It would be nice if she could make a friend in a new city. It might make her feel less alone.
CHAPTER FOUR
VALERIA
It’s been two weeks since Valeria last talked to Brooke. After they argued over her taking a last-minute patient, Brooke never called back. Something that shouldn’t shock Valeria, but it does all the same. She knows better by now, but she can’t stop hoping things might somehow be different.
Since the cabin, this has become the sad rhythm of their relationship: they fight, and Brooke disappears. Sometimes for days, sometimes for weeks or months. At first, it tore Valeria apart, but the more it’s happened, the more numb she’s become to it. The first few days still sting, but after several pass without a word, the pain dissolves into a dull acceptance. It’s there that Valeria realizes how fucked-up this all is. Because when Brooke inevitably reappears, Valeria is so starved for her love and attention that she bends herself into whatever shape Brooke wants just to prove Brooke made the right decision in coming back.
She knows it’s toxic, knows she should end it, but she’s only ever gotten as far as thinking aboutit, never actually doing it, and part of her wonders if she’ll ever be strong enough to follow through.
“Earth to Val.” Alejandra waves her hand in front of Valeria’s face, lips pursed.
