Page 16 of Love Unforgettable
Chapter 6
Lexie
I pull up to Trevor’s office, absolutely hating that he is going to be my vet, because it means I have to deal with him when my pets need medical attention which always leaves me feeling vulnerable and emotional. At the same time, I’m grateful that he was here today. Turns out Doc Richardson was in surgery, so if not for Trevor, it would have been hours before they could have tended to Sasha.
Trevor saves the fucking day again.
I head inside and see the man himself passing through the hallway. He beckons me forward. “Lex, follow me.”
“Hey, Anna,” he says to the receptionist, “bring me the chart on Sasha, please? Room four.”
I follow him down the hall into room four. Anna brings the chart into the room, turns back out and shuts the door behind her.
“We’ve got her sedated and situated, the techs are running the x-rays now. We won’t know anything for sure until they come back. My main concern is what we can’t readily see.”
I feel the tears well up in my eyes. I have been rescuing injured and needy pets most of my adult life and always those with pre-existing issues. Even so, it never gets any easier to accept their vulnerability and mortality.
He reaches out to me, but I back away before he can touch me. I can’t handle his sympathy right now. And I especially can’t handle his touch. If he touches me I will absolutely lose it. He gives me a sad smile.
“This will take about fifteen to twenty minutes,” he tells me. “You can wait in here or in the waiting room, wherever you feel most comfortable.”
“Here,” I tell him. He nods and leaves the room. I sink to the ground clutching her leash to my chest. Then I laugh at myself, I don’t know why I brought her leash when she can’t even walk right now. I’m sitting with my back against the wall and my knees up, I rest my forearms on my knees and bang my forehead against my arms. It hurts, but sometimes the physical pain is easier than the emotional pain. Most of my pain today centers around Sasha, but, if I am honest with myself, I know that a lot of my pain also centers around Trevor knowing that he wants me back but being too afraid to do anything about it.
I hear a soft knock on the door before it opens. It’s Anna carrying a cup of coffee. “Lexie? Doctor Vaughn asked me to bring you a cup of coffee. He said that you liked it with cream and honey. I hope that I put the right amounts of each in it.” She hands it to me tentatively. I stop myself from laughing at the Dr. Vaughn reference. I keep forgetting that Trevor is an animal doctor now.
I smile at her as I take the cup. “Thank you so much, Anna, I really appreciate it.” I take a small sip. “It’s perfect.”
She smiles and slowly backs out of the room, closing the door behind her. I haven’t risen from the ground, so I set the cup on the floor beside me. It pisses me off that Trevor not only thinks of me, knowing I’m upset and would appreciate coffee, but also remembers exactly how I like it. The thoughtfulness makes me angry.
“Jerk,” I say to the empty room. Which makes me feel a little bit better.
I look at the clock on my phone. It’s been five minutes since the last time I looked. Which makes it ten minutes since Trevor left. I check my email, send a text to my tasting room manager with a list of things to do today, then text Remi and Kat.
Me: Hey. I’m at the vet with Sasha. She got pummeled by a fucking horse that was eating all my grapes. Dr. Trevor is treating us. Gah!
Kat: Treating ‘us’, huh? How’s that treatment going?????
Kat: I meant that as a sexual innuendo, in case you didn’t get it.
Me: I got it.
Remi: You okay, Lex? I’m just leaving the hospital, I can swing by and wait with you. Chance is driving me nuts.
Me: No, I’m good. You rest.
Kat: So, for real, you okay?
Me: I just get confused. He confuses me. How can I still want him when he’s hurt me so much?
Kat: Lexie-loon, I wish I could answer that for you.
Remi: It’s because women are stupid.
Me: Thanks.
Remi: All women. Not just you. I’m stupid. I quit my job in a huff, declared my love to a man who prostituted me, was held hostage by his psycho ex, and am now running off to get said man a fucking cheeseburger because I have nothing better to do with my time.
Kat: How many times I gotta say it, woman? He prostituted himself. Not you.
