Page 29 of Babydoll

He rises and comes to me, sitting down on the bed next to me. “What then?”

I laugh dryly. “Didn’t want you getting fired for babysitting me.” My damn pride keeps me from saying the words I’m thinking.Because you’re important to me, too.

“It’s part of my job, Lu.”

Right. Now I’m glad I didn’t say those words. I’m just a job after all. Just an employee the company would want taken care of after something traumatic happened in their parking lot. I imagined everything else. The looks, the comfort, the care, it was all created by my near hypothermic brain. It had to be, because who could actually care about someone like me?

I rise from my spot and look around for my purse. Grabbing it, I start for the door.

“Whoa, where’s the fire?”

“Standing date at the gym,” I reply.

“The gym? After the night you had?”

Ire rises in me further and I grit my teeth. Fucking guy thinks just because he helped me yesterday, he gets a say in my life. Screw that.

I look at the clock on the wall and then at him. “Babysitting shift’s over, Jeff.” I try so hard not to notice, but the stab of hurt in his eyes takes my breath away.

“You sure that’s a good idea?” he asks with a frown of concern.

“Skinny-shaming me again?” I snap to hide the discomfort his concern is causing.

He rolls his eyes. “No, saucy pants. You had a rough night though. You’ll likely be exhausted the next few days. You probably shouldn’t be overdoing it.” He raises his hands and I ball mine. “But if you’re that hell-bent, I’ll drive you there myself.”

“I’ll be fine. There’s a bus stop right out front.” And there is, except I used all my change to buy the coffee last night.

“Come on. Let me get you breakfast. I’ll drop you at the gym after. It’s the least I can do.”

My jaw tightens. “Why? Because if you hadn’t locked me in here last night, I’d have been long gone and that guy wouldn’t have messed with my car?”

I put my hands on my hips when he spends what feels like an eternity searching my eyes.

He doesn’t speak but finally breaks our stare.

“Well, don’t bother feeling guilty. It wasn’t worth saving.”

And neither am I.

Hell, pity party for one, anyone?

“And I don’t blame you or the company for what happened.” With that, I leave and don’t look back.

I’m later than usual for work because the walk is long and arduous in the snow, but the vet tech on the graveyard shiftdoesn’t say anything about it, just fills me in on the changes through the night and leaves.

I check on all the patients before the others arrive and then move on to the newborn puppies. I’m bottle feeding them two at a time when my boss, Maggie, walks up.

“How are they?”

“Hungry little buggers,” I say with a genuine smile. Because no matter how shitty my life is, these little brown fluffs are a joy. Maggie reaches out and scoops up one of the sleepy ones I’ve just fed and checks him over.

“Tallulah?”

I look up. The puppy’s head is snuggled under her chin.

“Are you okay?” Her eyes lower to my baggy pink scrubs and she frowns. “If you’re sick or need help, I’m here for you.”

I swallow hard, realizing I’m not holding things together very well at all. My tower of cards won’t hold for much longer.

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