Page 16 of Fight for You

I pace back and forth in the small confines of my office, every step echoing my racing heartbeat. My mind races with thoughts of what this expansion might mean for my clinic, for the animals I devote my life to helping.

Dammit.I lean against the wall, feeling the cool plaster against my fevered skin. The weight of this discovery bears down on me like a vise, tightening its grip upon my chest with each passing second.I need to do something, but what?

The intercom on my desk phones screeches.Sir, there is someone here to see you.

“Leo?” Brylee's voice filters through the door. “Have you heard about this commercial center?”

“Come in,” I call, straightening up as she enters the room. Her vibrant green eyes are wide with worry, her chestnut hair framing her face like an untamed halo. “I just read about it in the paper. Why didn’t you say anything last night? This affects both of us. Hell, it affects the whole town.”

She sets her purse down. “I didn’t want to ruin our night. Can you blame me?”

I understand why she kept it from me, but now we need to come up with a plan. I didn’t vote for our current Mayor… she seems more worried about taking over our town and changing it to be the next commercial stop in. Lawson Ridge is meant to be enjoyed as a small town.

“What's wrong? You look...upset.” She reaches out, resting a gentle hand on my arm.

“We have to fight against this expansion. Except I don't know if I can,” I admit, running a hand through my short dark hair. “I have the clinic, my clients, the animals to think about. What if fighting against this is the wrong move? What if it does more harm than good? Our mayor can be a little vindictive.”

Brylee steps closer. “You've always done what's best for this community. It's scary, but sometimes we must stand up for what we believe in. Protect the community.”

I let out a slow breath, considering her words. She is right, but fear clawed at the edges of my resolve. It is so much easierto maintain the status quo, but I can't stand by and watch as my life's work crumbles before me.

“You're right. Commercial greed shouldn’t burden the businesses that have been here.”

Brylee smiles, squeezing my arm in support. “We'll face this together. We won't let her destroy everything we hold dear.”

“The paper said the next meeting is tonight. How are we going to build a case that fast?”

“Would you be surprised if I said I’ve already started.”

As we plan the course of action, I become more and more invested in our shared cause. I must protect the clinic, the animals, and the community. But along the way, I am also driven by my growing feelings for Brylee and the desire to protect her and our future together.

After hours of strategizing and gathering support from local business owners, we find ourselves at the town hall for a crucial community meeting. The air hums with an electric energy as concerned residents fills the room, eager to voice their opinions and hear what others said.

“Remember, we need to stay calm and composed when we present our case,” Brylee whispers to me as we take the seats near the front of the room. “It won't do us any good to lose our tempers or let emotions get the best of us.”

I nod, taking a deep breath to steady myself. The thought of losing everything I have worked so hard for made my blood boil.

“Evening, everyone,” Mayor Collins says. “There are many concerns regarding the proposed commercial center, and I want to assure you all that your voices will be heard.”

As the discussion progresses, I speak up more than I planned with the potential negative effects of the development on local businesses. My heart races as I speak, but Brylee's encouraging gaze from across the room grounds me and fuels my determination. “The construction of this commercial centerthreatens not only my veterinary clinic but also the very soul of our town. We've worked hard to build a close-knit community here in Lawson Ridge, and we won't let it be sacrificed for short-term profit.”

A murmur of agreement ripples through the crowd, and the impact my words are having are evident. “That will conclude our meeting tonight. We will post our next scheduled meeting on the town’s bulletin.”

Brylee meets me in the aisle, and we walk outside, hand in hand. It might not be the best outcome yet, but I will keep fighting until the mayor concedes.

“Great job. I knew you had it in you.”

The days following the town meeting are a whirlwind of activity. We work tirelessly, organizing protests, gathering like-minded supporters, and spreading our message throughout Lawson Ridge. The more time we spend together, the easier it becomes to anticipate each other's thoughts and ideas.

“Hey, I picked up some more flyers from the printer.” Brylee enters the clinic, her arms laden with stacks of paper. "I thought we could distribute them this afternoon."

"Perfect timing." I look up from treating a small kitten with an injured paw. "I was just finishing up with Mr. Whiskers here."

As I carefully wrap the kitten's paw in a soft bandage. "Give me a few minutes. I’m almost done."

“Absolutely.”

She stands there, watching me. It shouldn’t make me nervous, but it does. We haven’t really talked about us, since the last night we slept together, but I am going to be patient. Withall this going on, most of our time outside of work is focused on stopping this.

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