Page 44 of Call it Fate

“Okay, let’s eat and drink!” I called.

We piled up our plates and settled in on the couches and chairs. When I’d picked the furniture for this room, it wasn’t only the guests I had in mind. I wanted a place where my friends could come over and where I could host since my home was too small.

The rest of us chatted about how our work was going and shared a few things about our families, all while killing off the large pitcher of sangria. Cam wasted no time opening one of the bottles of wine I’d put out and poured herself a large glass. My poor cousin. She was such a hard worker but never too busy to help others, same as her twin. I hoped she’d find the help she needed soon.

“So,” Megan began, a sly look on her face as she glanced at me. “There’s a new vet in town.”

“Oh, my gosh,” Teagan said, sitting straight up with an almost dreamy look on her face. “Have you seen him? I’m the one who put together his rental contract and met him to give him the keys. He’s moving in this weekend, and let me tell you,” she used her napkin to pretend to fan herself, “he’s incredibly hot and single.” At Cam’s arched eyebrow, she shrugged. “I asked.”

“Oh, he’s a handsome one, all right. I saw him a couple of days ago,” Megan answered. She tipped her wine glass in my direction. “Ask our girl here about him. She knowsallabout him.”

“Megs, hush,” I scolded.

She widened her eyes with an innocent smile. “Why? Am I wrong?”

Cam looked confused. “What am I missing?” She turned to me. “Are you dating someone? That’s wonderful, honey.”

Megan looked at the rest of the girls while I studiously avoided their eyes and chewed on my lower lip. “Dating, dated… she knows him. And I do mean in the biblical way.”

Teagan choked on her wine and grabbed for a napkin. “What? How? He just got to town.”

“Em?” I looked over at Cam, who was staring back with a concerned expression in her brown eyes.

“It’s Zach. He’s here.”

“What? You’re kidding!” I winced as Cam put her glass down so hard, I was almost surprised the wine stem didn’t snap. “Honey, are you okay? When? How did this happen? Does he know?”

Teagan looked on with a confused face. “Okay, now I thinkI’mmissing something. Do you guys know the new doc?”

I took a deep breath. “He’s Iain’s dad.”

Teagan’s mouth dropped open. “Holy shit. You’re kiddin’! You know, I kept thinkin’ there was something familiar about him, but I couldn’t place it. Now, I get it. Iain is the spittin’ image of him.” Her drawl was more pronounced with her surprise—and maybe the wine.

I took a slug of my drink. “What were the odds, right? After being unable to find him, he suddenly shows up here? Crazy.”

“Or maybe fate? You guys have a second chance,” Megan said with a dreamy look.

“Wait,” Cam said. “How do you feel about all this? Does Iain know? What was Zach’s explanation? We’re pouring a concrete slab tomorrow if you need me to bury a body.” When my eyes popped out at her, she grinned. “Just sayin’.”

I shook my head. “No need to commit any crimes. Once he got over the shock and we finally talked, he’s been very forgiving. More than, actually. Turns out there was a lot of misunderstanding.”

Cam frowned. “Not sure what there is to misunderstand when you see your man’s tongue in another woman’s mouth. Or how he conveniently disappeared weeks later.”

“What?” Teagan exclaimed. “Why are all the cute ones jerks?”

“But he’s not,” I inserted. I filled them in on the details of what really happened. “We’re figuring things out about Iain, that’s all.”

“Does this mean you’re going to get back together?” Teagan asked.

“No. This is about trying to work things out for Iain’s sake.”

“You’re still attracted to him, though, right?”

“I mean, I still think he’s good looking, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to pick up where we left off. Too much water has passed over the dam. We’re just trying to be friends.”

Megan pointed her finger at me. “You’re lying.”

“What? No, I’m not.”

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