Page 30 of Perfect Imperfections

She laughed. No one had ever called her a lifesaver before. Weirdo. Crazy. Odd. Quirky. All those, sure. Lifesaver was new.

She liked it.

“What?” Cam finished washing the last of the feed supplies, drying her hand on a towel and gazing at Ellie with narrowed eyes. “What’s with that giggle?”

“I didn’t giggle.”

“You most certainly did. And you’ve got a big goofy grin on your face.”

“I do not.”

“You do…ohmigod it’s him! Isn’t it? You’re texting Dr. Sexy.”

Dr. Sexy?

“His name is Sullivan and yes, I’m texting him—”

“Holy crap, you're sexting him!” Cam slapped her playfully on the shoulder. “At work, you bad girl, you.”

How in the heck had her friend made that leap? “I’m not sexting him!”

“Yes, you are. Your face is bright red.”

She placed a hand on her cheeks, which were indeed hot. “Only because you brought up sexting. Which we’re not doing. He’s asking me about decorations for Charlotte’s birthday party.”

“Oh,” Cam slumped against the sink. “It’s not sexting, but it’s still something, I guess.”

Honestly, she had no idea what went on in her friend’s mind most days. Sexting at work? Yeah, right. She’d never even sexted someone at home, or ever for that matter. The very idea made her…actually it made her kind of hot. The thought of sending naughty texts to Sullivan in the middle of the day. Getting him all worked up until they could get off work and come together to—

Whoa! Okay, back it up there. Her mind was running away from her again. She wasn’t dating the guy. They were just…friends, she supposed? Yeah, friends. No getting together, no sexting. Just two people who had dinner and were now discussing party decorations. Nothing dirty or naughty.

“He has a kid, and he’s not looking to get married because…”

She hesitated, not wanting to share what Sullivan had told her about his ex-wife. It was personal and heartbreaking. Something she suspected he didn’t want spread about the Sunlight zoo.

“He has his reasons, but he very clearly stated he was not looking for a wife.”

Cam snorted. “Doll-face, I’m not looking to get you wifed. I’m just trying to help you get some action.”

“I like the way my life is just fine.”

“I know you do. And I wasn’t suggesting you change it. I’m just pointing out if a person, any person, makes you smile like that with just the thought of them. Well then, maybe you should try to spend a lot more time with that person. Not with the intention of putting a ring on it. Just for fun.”

More time with Sullivan? She liked the sound of that. He was smart and funny. A good dad, kind, and fair without being a pushover. After what he told her the other night about Charlotte’s mother, she knew he’d faced some pretty hard times, but he didn’t let them drag him down. He did his best for his daughter. How could anyone not like spending time with a person like that?

“Just take it one day at a time and allow yourself to be happy, okay?”

She glanced up at her friend. “I think I can do that.”

Cam winked. “I know you can. Now let’s get a move on. You’re on poop duty while I give everyone their baths.”

“How come I have poop duty?”

Cam grabbed the rubber gloves they used when cleaning the animals’ pens and tossed them. Ellie caught them mid-air, sliding them on as her friend pointed a finger with a smile.

“Because one of us is going home tonight to frozen pizza and a Schitt’s Creek marathon and the other is heading over to Dr. Sexy’s house to save his kid’s birthday. I think the good doctor will be very grateful, once again, and those with the possibility of sex in their future get poop duty. Now let’s go.”

She highly doubted there’d be any sex for her tonight or in the near future, but she couldn’t argue with the fact that her night sounded like a lot more fun than her friend’s. Unable to keep the goofy grin off her face—she didn’t even want to try anymore—Ellie set about to poop duty and after that…who knew what could happen?

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