Page 45 of Perfect Imperfections

“Calm down, Libby.” Cam’s footsteps echoed on the hard floor as she came back into the room with a wriggling squawking bird in her arms. “It’s just Dr. S. You like him, remember? He just wants to make sure you’re in tip-top shape, silly bird.”

Her friend’s voice barely registered in her brain as she reread those last three words.

“Hey, Ellie, can you…why is she grinning like a fool?”

“I’d say she got a very important message from an admirer,” Stephan continued the conversation without ever glancing up from his examinations.

“Ohmigod! It’s him! He texted you. What did he say?”

Cam eased up to Ellie’s side, head tilting over her shoulder to glance at her phone. With her friend’s tall stature, it wasn’t hard for Cam to see the messages, but Ellie was feeling shy sharing the details of last night. She pulled the cell close to her chest. Pressing the breathtaking words to her heart.

Libby—still tucked securely in Cam’s arms—pecked at Ellie’s shoulder, the bird making her agitation known. Ellie understood. She didn’t particularly like going to the doctor either, but it was necessary to give each animal a full health exam to ensure they were in optimal health. She reached out, stroking the upset bird on her neck, trying her best to soothe the sweet animal.

“He’s just thanking me for yesterday.”

“Which part of yesterday?” Dark eyebrows wagged.

“Cam!” She liked Stephan, but she didn’t want her personal life aired out for the whole zoo to see. This thing with Sullivan was new. She didn’t want to jinx it.

“Trust me, Ellie,” Stephan said as he handed off Bubbles to Cam, taking the next penguin from her arms. “I may be an old married fart, but I wasn’t always in love with Rob. I’ve had my wild days. Nothing you can say will shock me.”

“It’s nothing.” She reached over to place her hands on Libby. She was a squirmer. Hated to have her vitals checked. “There’s just this guy and…it’s new. Ya know?”

He smiled, squeezing her shoulder reassuringly. “New is always fun and a little scary.”

He had that right. She felt like a hundred peacocks were doing their mating dance in her stomach. Feathers unfurled and tickling her from all ends. The thought of Sullivan made her heart race and her palms sweat. When she was with him, all she wanted to do was touch him and when she wasn’t with him, it seemed like he was always on her mind. Maybe not right up front, but always there, somewhere. It was consuming, and that terrified her.

But no matter how scared she was, the pull outweighed the fear. For once in her life, she found herself so drawn to something, to someone, that the nasty voice in her head telling her everything would go wrong, and it would all be her fault, was softer, quieter. Make no mistake, it was still there, but she found it easier to ignore.

“I love new,” Cam sighed.

Ellie’s phone pinged again, and she glanced down.

Sullivan: Sorry if this is too cheesy but…

And then he texted a gif of a toad in the mud with the words I toadally dig you flashing above it.

“Holy shit, he’s into your animal puns.” Cam leaned over her shoulder, glancing at her phone. “You two are perfect for each other.”

She scoffed, but a piece of her heart couldn’t help but agree. For once, she shoved the negative thoughts in her mind into a tiny box and closed them tight. For now, for one moment, she would allow herself to enjoy this. To be happy.

She sent back a gif of a seal with the words That’s the sealiest thing I’ve ever heard.

He quickly responded.

Sullivan: Can I call you tonight?

Ellie: You better.

Then she flipped her phone to silent and slipped it back into her pocket. Tonight! He was calling her tonight. For the first time since she’d started this job, she was looking forward to the end of the day.

CHAPTER 16

Sullivan sat at the desk in his office on Monday morning with a big grin on his face. He wasn’t particularly fond of Mondays, but he had a lot to be grateful for. A job that he loved, a kid he loved even more. A slightly annoying younger brother who he loved despite wanting to strangle at times. A roof over his head, money in the bank. But none of those were the reason for the curl of his lips on this sunny Monday morning.

No, the current cause of his sunshiny mood had nothing to do with any of those things and everything to do with the woman he was currently texting.

Ellie: I forgot to tell you last night that Cam wanted you to tell Charlotte she says hello.

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