Page 12 of Between Us

I meet a few of the employees along the way, and we stop so he can introduce me to each one. Including Julie, the head vet technician, who has been working with Dr. Miller since the clinic opened almost two decades ago. And Dr. Michael Fisher, the veterinarian who specializes in aquatic animals.

“It felt prophetic, you know?” he jokes easily, his smile is partly hidden under his thick, gray mustache.

Dr. Miller—er, Tim as he’s continued to insist on—just rolls his eyes as if he’s heard the same line a million times.

We continue walking, making our way through what seems to be a big loop. My suspicions are confirmed when we get to a different set of double doors and we come out in the lobby, but on the opposite side of where we started.

“That’s about it. I know it can be overwhelming at first.” That’s to put it nicely. From my research, I knew it was a large facility, even if it’s smaller than other vet hospitals. But it’s set up in a way that makes it much bigger inside than it looks from out here. There are multiple exam rooms when you first walk in, as well as ORs, long-term and short-term kennels, bathing areas, an outdoor space, and even a small hydrotherapy station. “But you’ll get the hang of it. And there’s always people around to ask if you’re looking for something.”

“Okay,” I agree. “I’m sure it’ll be fine after some time…”

I trail off when my gaze moves back to the front desk. We were in the back for close to an hour and a half, so I didn’t expect to see Olivia here anymore.

But I never expected to see a vaguely familiar face.

There’s no recollection ofwhereI know her from. I’d assume classes if Dr. Miller hadn’t mentioned I was the only veterinary student working for him right now.

Her silky raven black hair is loose, falling around her shoulders. She keeps pushing one piece behind her ear as she stands and looks down at the computer. But once again, the same strand falls into her face, and I try—Ireallytry—not to stare at her long, thin neck that’s stretched taut with the phone between her other shoulder and ear.

“Oh good, you can meet my daughter.” My head turns toward Dr. Miller, but he’s already stepping toward the desk.

She’s still on the phone, except when she notices her dad, a smile starts to tug on her full pink lips, bringing attention to the perfect cupid’s bow. The smiling quickly stops when her eyes move to me.

That same mouth falls into a small, shockedO. She looks almost as confused as I feel. The way her eyes slightly widen, and the color that paints her cheeks, makes me wonder if she recognizes me too.

When my eyes move up her face, meeting her gray ones, it clicks.

Chapter Five

Adrian

Thegirlwhoraninto me at the grocery store.

Like I’m in a daze, I walk toward Dr. Miller and stop on the other side of the desk.

Her eyes bounce between her dad and I a couple of times before she focuses back on the computer and her call. “Yes…Yes, Polly,” she says a little more aggressively. Her dad laughs under his breath as he flips through a chart sitting next to Blake. “Okay… Yes, okay. See yo—ugh,” she scoffs, pulling the phone away from her face to stare down at it. “See you in hell, you old hag,” she mutters and drops the phone on the stand.

Nowmyeyes widen and move to her dad’s expression. But he doesn’t look the least bit concerned about her customer service skills, even though he lightly scolds, “Be nice, Blake.”

“Me?” she asks incredulously. She opens her mouth to defend herself, but she seems to remember I’m standing here too. Her lips clamp together, and she stares at her dad.

Setting the chart down, his eyes shift to me and says, “This is my daughter, Blake. She’s a lot nicer than you’d guess at this moment.” My eyes slide to her, and she’s giving me a look I can’t quite explain. Her expression is blank, but she won’t look away either. Shedoesroll her eyes at her dad’s words, and I’m not sure how true they are either… or that I mind the thought. So I don’t fight the smile that breaks out.

“And I don’t condone or accept rude behavior toward the patients. Blake and Polly just… have their own relationship,” he concludes with a smile.

“It’s anenemyship,” she insists. We both look at her for a second in silence. With a quick side-eye thrown my way, she looks back to Dr. Miller and says, “It’s a real word. I looked it up.”

I laugh lightly and watch as her cheeks grow warmer just as they were starting to fade to her normal complexion. “What?” she asks, finally looking me in the eyes.

Andfuck, they’re even more captivating when she’s looking right at you—almost like seeing straight into your soul.

“I love the commitment to the bit,” I cheekily retort and slip my hands in my pockets.

She purses her lips, making me think she’s fighting her own grin. “It’s true hatred. So I scheduled her for a day I’m off,” she says and swings her gaze back to her dad.

He doesn’t look the least bit perturbed by it. Honestly, from first impression, he seems like one of the chillest men I’ve probably ever met.

“Mick’s running late,” Tim tells us. Turning toward me, he says, “His daughter has some health problems, so sometimes he may be a few minutes late if you’re ever working the shift before him. Though, with your school schedule, that shouldn’t be much of a problem.”

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