Page 12 of Claiming Ours
As if sensing I needed a distraction, Jubie barked and leapt from the exam table, enormous paws slapping to the floor before padding over to the closed door.
I gestured to her with the chart. “I think that’s her saying she’s ready to go home.” Stepping back, I gave Aiden a soft smile.“I’m sure I’ll see you guys around later tonight. Let Miles know if he has questions about Jubie, he can call me.”
Opening the chart, I laid it on the counter and pulled out a pen to write my notes from the procedure, more to have something to do than needing the documentation. My practice wasn’t large, so I remembered everything regarding my patients and their care.
“Just do me a favor, Baylee.” I glanced over my shoulder with an arched brow. “Don’t let your past take away the future you have ahead of you. I’ve stayed in that kind of purgatory before and know it’s hard to find your way out.”
“How did you?” I asked before I could think better of it.
“I followed the light that stumbled into my life.” His gaze went unfocused as he smiled. “And she’s been guiding me and walking beside me ever since.”
I swallowed hard. “Aspen is a lucky woman to have you, Aiden. Both you and Miles.”
He shook his head and ran a hand through his longish hair. “Nah, we’re lucky to have found each other. Just don’t overlook all the people willing to be that guiding light for you, Baylee. We’re here, all of us, day or night. We’re a family, and that’s what families do.”
With a forced smile and nod, I waved them out the door, his words running on a loop in my mind.
Tapping the laptop to bring it to life, I checked the fancy scheduling system that Juno added to the website she built me one night after realizing I didn’t have one. Who knew too many glasses of cheap wine at book club would turn my small practice into something that now covered the more remote towns close to Anchor Bay? My schedule wasn’t booked solid, but more and more new patients and appointments popped up every day.
Noting that Jubie was the last patient despite it only being a little past one in the afternoon, I closed the laptop, tucked itunder my arm, and exited the exam room to pack up for the day. I plopped down into the uncomfortable chair in my office and slid my phone out of the side pocket of my navy scrubs.
Twenty missed calls from a blocked number. My stomach dropped with dread. The strange, unnerving calls started a few months ago, only one a week then, but recently had escalated to dozens a day. If I picked up, the person on the other end of the line didn’t utter a word. The only sound heavy breathing, the caller’s anger almost palpable with each breath.
I didn’t who the calls were from or what the hell it meant. Until I did, I had convinced myself there was no reason to tell Liam or any of the other overprotective men in my life. They would just blow it all out of proportion, especially considering everything going on around Anchor Bay.
I wasn’t worried or scared, not really—more confused and curious. Shaking my head to redirect my thoughts back to my real issues, I cleared the missed calls and few voicemails without listening to them, knowing it would only be the enraged heavy breathing, and slouched back in the chair staring at the now blank screen. Aiden’s words ran on a loop, urging me to take his earlier advice. Something needed to change in my life, because I couldn’t live like this anymore. I wanted to be free, wanted to live.
Saying yes to Liam when he asked me out was that first step; now I just had to keep moving forward and not let my past hold me back.
Mind made up, I opened the messaging app and pulled up the most recent text from Liam.
Me: Hey, you free later?
Liam: For you, always. Everything okay?
How the hell did I answer that? Physically, yes. Emotionally, fuck if I knew.
Apparently, I took too long to respond, because Liam’s next texts came through rapid-fire.
Liam: Answer me, Baylee.
Liam: Are you hurt? Where are you?
Liam: Fuck, please write me back, Little Bit.
My heart clenched at the clear worry in his messages.
Me: Calm down, big guy, I’m fine. Just wanted to see if you were free to talk later.
The little bubble popped up and disappeared several times before the message came through.
Liam: Your place or mine?
Me: Yours.
Me: I’ll get cleaned up after work, then head over. Sound good?
Liam: I’ll make dinner. Chicken or beef?
