Page 97 of As They Are
Jade Clark:You’re kidding, right? Please tell me you’re kidding.
I feltWren before I saw her. Instead of giving me my usual wave, she crashed into me the second she saw me. I had to keep what was in my hand pulled away so it wouldn’t get crushed.
“Hey, buttercup.” The pet name slipped out, but I told myself it was because I was wearing the mic. “What’s going on?”
“I just need this,” she said, her face pressed into my shirt.
I stayed still, letting her have whatever time she needed. I looked around and saw Jude watching us, and I hoped for his sake that he hadn’t been the one to do this.
“Okay,” she said, pulling back. “I’m good.”
“Are you sure?”
“Good enough. I can’t really talk about it under the best friend code, so don’t ask too many questions, but I just got a shock. That’s all. What’s in your hand?”
I was content to figure out what had upset her, but she was already trying to peer behind me to see what I was hiding.
“This is a morning glory. They just started blooming.” I delicately put it in her hair. “I thought you might like it.”
“Is there a florist in town that I don’t know about?” she asked. “You always find the best flowers.”
“No florist. I grow them myself.”
I tilted her head to kiss her. I wanted to talk to her all day, but she pulled away and turned. “They told me to keep it short today since we have a load of work to do. At least I can keep you with me.” She gestured to her hair.
“I understand,” I said. “Have fun and don’t work yourself too hard.”
“No promises,” she said before she walked over to Jude to do whatever she had to for the day. After checking my watch, I needed to get to the clinic.
But as I turned, I saw Jude reach out to touch Wren’s shoulder. She moved away, eyes narrowed at him, but the action alone made my fists tighten. As far as I knew, she wanted nothing to do with him.
Why was he trying it now?
I was tempted to stay and make sure he didn’t try anything like that again, but work called.
The sight weighed heavily on my mind until eight, when the door opened, and I was shocked to see Hugh walking in.
Hugh was one of the oldest people in town, and he avoided me like the plague. He didn’t need to, considering all of the things I knew about him.
“Tammy won’t give me any coffee until I come in here,” he grumbled. “Damn woman always getting in my business.”
I crossed my arms. “Does she have a reason to be worried?”
“I stepped on a rusty nail a week ago.”
“Wha—Hugh!You have to come in when things like this happen, especially considering your age. Come to the back right now. We’ll check it out.”
“Can I get coffee first?”
“Will it make you let me do my job without complaining?”
“Maybe.”
I let out a sigh. “Get a cup, but then we’re talking about this rusty nail and why you’re avoiding coming to get treatment.”
It was lunch before I got a breather. Hugh’s unscheduled appointment put me behind for the day and I had to rush through every visit to stay on time.
I was tempted to close the clinic, but as I walked up to the door, I saw one of the PAs running to me.
