Page 16 of Here and Now
“That’s rich coming from you,” I toss back.
Everett’s life is his business and taking care of his mom. She suffered an injury years ago that flipped his entire life around, but Everett didn’t blink and stepped up.
“I’ll have you know, I played six games of Scrabble yesterday with my mother and won them all,” he informs me.
“Yes, a life that every man dreams of. When was the last time you got laid?”
He shrugs. “Real men don’t kiss and tell.”
“Funny, I don’t see any other real men around but myself.”
“Dickhead. Hey, listen, Lachlan changed the time of practice because Rose has cheer. They sent a text.”
“I didn’t see it. I left my phone in the car.”
“You could at least get one of those watches that tells you when someone is looking for you.”
I shrug. “I could, but then I’d know when you were trying to reach me.”
Everett flips me off. “All right, princess, I’m going out to check on a pregnant cow. Want to meet me after?”
“Sure, let’s meet at Prose & Perk,” I suggest, knowing exactly why I want to go there.
“What?” Everett asks with confusion. “Why there?”
“We can get a drink before,” I say as though it should be fairly obvious. I don’t know when Everett doesn’t have a cup of coffee in his hand.
“Yes, well, I know why I would get that, but you don’t even drink coffee!”
No, but . . . I like the barista.
“I’m aware of that, thank you, jackass. I need to carb up and Hazel has . . .” I search for something I’ve seen that will make me not look like it’s because I just want to see Penelope. Then I remember she just got new snacks in. “. . . protein bars and granola.”
He scoffs. “Right, that’s what you’re looking for?”
Fuck. He knows something isn’t right, but I refuse to admit defeat. “Obviously.”
They know that I fucking hate coffee and only go to Prose & Perk in the morning for tea and breakfast.
He shakes his head. “Whatever. Meet me there at four.”
“Sounds good.”
Everett is the town vet, and I swear, no one works harder than him. We’re mainly a horse farm area, but we have a few farms in the area that have a variety of animals. He usually spends two days a week going to the surrounding area, and the others he’s at his office in town.
I make the ten-minute drive back home, toss my keys in the bowl by the front door, and hop in the shower.
Once I’m done and dressed, I check my phone and notice I have seven missed calls, all work related, and a shit ton of text messages.
I’m sure it’s the freaking group chat.
Lachlan
I need to move the practice tonight back two hours.
Everett
And we all live to accommodate you.
