Page 25 of Christmas Shelter

"Are you okay, Aida?"

Aida nods.

"It's just that after spending so much time traveling and setting up the company, having casual sex and not dating anyone, I've reached the point where I want to share withsomeone, I don't know," Aida shrugs, "go on dates and all that."

Patricia smiles, pleased. Aida, fed up with her boss, left her job and decided to start her own company. From there, she spent quite a while focused on achieving her goal. She had to make many trips, close deals, seek financing, and meanwhile, she stayed single, sleeping with practically every woman she could because, in her own words, she needed to drain stress somehow. During that time, she refused to engage in a more formal relationship, and despite Patricia's advice, the girl had decided to continue with that life that the vet certainly finds empty.

"About time," Patricia says, clapping.

Aida rolls her eyes; it's not that big of a deal.

"Well, tell me. What's wrong?"

"How do you know something's wrong?" Patricia asks, settling into the couch.

"Patricia, I know you too well. I know there's something you want to tell me," Aida answers with certainty.

Patricia breathes and releases the air slowly.

"I want to ask Carlota to spend New Year's Eve together, but I don't know how to do it or even if I should. I don't want her to feel overwhelmed and think I'm too intense," she says in a rush, flustered.

Aida stretches her lips into a big smile.

"You don't know how happy I am for you," she says and takes the vet's hand affectionately. "I thought you'd never get over me."

Their loud laughter makes Coco lift his head and look at them suspiciously.

"Well, I think you can just tell her directly," Aida says, changing her mind when she sees the horrified look on the vet's face, "or not."

"It just seems too rushed, and I don't want her to think I'm too intense," repeats the canine cardiologist.

"You could drop hints when you talk to her, mention that you and Coco will be spending the night alone at home," suggests Aida, not too sure because she would just ask directly.

Patricia's eyes light up.

"Yes, I can even tell her that this year will be the first time I'm not spending it with my family and that I'm not sure what to do," adds Patricia, who thinks it's a brilliant plan, "and if I don't see results, I'll say poor Coco is a bit sad."

Aida looks at her, thinking she's never seen her ex-girlfriend like this, nervous and inventing a dramatic story just to get the girl she's seeing to spend New Year's Eve with her.

"Well, I think it's perfect," Patricia continues and stands up from the couch, "come on, Coco, we have a plan to execute."

Patricia says goodbye to Aida, promising they'll see each other when she returns from her family home in the first days of the new year. The vet wastes no time and heads to her apartment, polishing the plan she has devised to invite Carlota over.

As soon as she showers, serves Coco's dinner, and pours herself a glass of wine, she calls Carlota as they've been doing since they returned from Gibraltar.

"Fortunately, we haven't had any new arrivals at the shelter, I couldn't stop by earlier, I've had so much work at the clinic that I couldn't keep up," Carlota tells her, letting out an exhausted sigh. "And you?"

"Same here, we haven't stopped working, we've had a wave of patients because many people are going on trips and want to confirm everything's okay with their pets," Patricia answers, gathering strength to execute her magnificent plan.

"What days," Carlota says. "By the way, Patri, I was thinking of asking if you'd like to spend New Year's Eve together at your place or mine. Since it's Coco's first after the adoption, we could do something special, but with the storm coming back to Salamanca, I think it's better to stay at the shelter. There are four dogs and a cat without foster homes, and I don't want to leave them alone. What do you think about having our New Year's celebration there?"

Patricia falls silent. After spending those days overthinking and today crafting a plan with Aida, Carlota goes and proposes it so spontaneously and directly. She feels foolish and understands why her ex-girlfriend suggested she just invite her over without all the drama. Seconds pass, and as the cardiologist remains silent, Carlota blushes, thinking she's overstepped.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to overwhelm you. Just that since we'd both mentioned we didn't have plans for New Year's Eve, I thought..."

"Yes I want, we want," she corrects herself, looking at Coco. "I think it's a good idea, I wanted to ask you too, but I didn't know how."

Carlota smiles.

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