Page 124 of Someday You Learn

He cocks his arm back again, but before he can swing, I clock him from the left, sending him crumbling to the ground.

Blood rushes from his nose as he stares up at me. “Fuck you, Parker!”

“Right back at you, Seth.”

Robert hobbles over, standing between us. “You okay?” he asks me as I realize my chest is heaving.

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

“Good.” Turning to Seth, Robert hovers over him. “I think it’s rich that you have the audacity to blame Parker for your termination.”

“He’s lying to you! His relationship with your daughter—”

“Is none of your concern!” Robert bellows as everyone continues to stare at the shitshow unfolding before them.

Cassandra comes up beside me with an ice pack for my hand. “Thank you,” I whisper to her as we continue to watch Robert put Seth in his place.

“You honestly think that I wouldn’t have done my research?” Seth continues to wipe under his nose. “Not only did you threaten Parker and my daughter, but you’ve been stealing from the practice!”

“It’s a lie,” Seth mutters.

“Do you even know what’s the truth anymore, Seth? Now, I suggest you leave my practice before I have you removed by the police.”

Seth scrambles to his feet, but before he gets too far, I reach out and tug him back by his shirt, wrapping my hand around the back of his neck and leaning in toward the side of his face. “And let me make one more point.” My voice drops to a deadly whisper. “If you ever come near Cashlynn again, I will break every bone in your hands so you won’t be able to practice medicine ever again.” I watch his Adam’s apple bob. “Have I made myself clear?”

Seth nods and I release him. The staff watches him scurry toward the front of the practice, where Beth lets him out and locks the door behind him.

“Holy shit,” Cassandra says loud enough for everyone to hear before turning to me. “So does this mean that you’re taking over the practice?”

I take a deep breath, meet the eyes of my boss and future father-in-law—who nods at me to answer the question—and then brace myself for the reactions I’m sure will come. “Well, not exactly…”

***

“So, everyone took the news pretty well then?” Cashlynn strokes my forehead, pushing my hair back as I stare up at her from my position on the couch. My head is in her lap, and she’s upside down from where I’m lying, but this has become our new routine when I get home from work and we catch up on our days.

“Everyone except for Cassandra, yeah.”

“You knew she wasn’t going to like your choice.”

“Yes, but now she has motivation to go back and get her DVM.”

Cashlynn smiles as she strokes my jaw with her index finger. “Are you really sure about this decision, Parker? I mean, a few months ago, you wanted nothing more than to own the practice, and now…”

I push myself up and turn to face her, framing her face in my hands. “Now I have you.” She swallows roughly but keeps her eyes locked on mine. “My job has been such a focus in my life for so long, baby. But if this whole thing has taught me anything, it’s that the right people in your life will help you learn lessons you need to at the right time. You’ve helped me see that there is more to life than work.”

“But—”

“And I’m so fucking glad.” I press my finger to her lips. “Your job from before didn’t fulfill you, right?” She nods against my hand. “Well, the truth is, mine hasn’t fulfilled me in a lot of ways for a very long time. And now, I know why.”

“Why?”

“Because my life was missing you.” Her eyes begin to well with tears. “You’ve helped me see what matters, that there is so much to experience outside of work when you have a partner that makes you feel alive. I want to plan things with you, travel and have lazy days in bed together where we never wear clothes.” Her giggle goes straight to my dick, but I maintain my composure. “I can’t have that if I’m the boss, Cashlynn. I realized I’d rather just be your boss in bed.”

Her laughter rings out. “I guess I can’t argue with that.”

I nuzzle her neck. “You know what fighting with you does to me though, baby. Want me to show you?”

She pushes me away playfully, and then her smile falls. “I just want to make sure this is what you want, Parker. I don’t want you to resent me down the road because you didn’t follow your dreams.”

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