Page 22 of We Can Stay
“They don’t call you that to your face, Sebastian. That’s the point.”
“I actually did have a date tonight. I was looking forward to it too, but I’m going to have to cancel.”
“You did? With whom? You finally found someone you’re interested in there?” Genuine surprise and curiosity are clear in his voice.
“I met someone here earlier this week. She brought in a kitten she found and asked for advice. She’s a yarn dyer and works from home, and she’s really sweet.”
“Sounds like you’re smitten, brother. What’s her name?”
“She goes by Flick, but her name is Felicity. And yes, I suppose I am. She’s different and refreshing.” A smile lights my face as I think of our evening at her place. That kiss…
“Definitely sounds like she’s got you hooked. You should find a way to go out with her. You could definitely use a break.”
This time, I can’t keep back my sigh. “I know. There’s too much happening here tonight, so it’s just not possible.”
“You work too hard, Sebastian,” my brother replies, a slight reprimand in his tone.
“Ben,” I say, annoyed at how disappointed in me he sounds. Does he seriously not see that my hands are tied? “There’s no one to take over. One of my techs is out of town, another is sick. My junior vets?—”
“I know, man. I’m not trying to give you a hard time.”
I rub my brow. Did I just imagine his harsh tone? Maybe I’m more burned out than I’ve suspected.
“I’m sure she’ll understand needing a rain check,” Ben goes on. “What were you planning on doing tonight?”
“Uh, I hadn’t quite figured that out.” I move my pen holder to the corner of the desk, step back and study it, then move it back to where I had it. It needs to be closer to reach.
“When Stephanie and I first met, I had this whole plan. Fancy dinner. Sunset at a rooftop bar. Then I got called to go back to the zoo for an ewe in labor.” He chuckles, and even though I’ve heard the story before, he obviously loves telling it, so I don’t interrupt.
“We ended up sitting in the barn all night,” he says, “sharing hot chocolate and telling stories while we waited for the twins tocome. It was an unconventional date, but hey. It worked. Been married for seven years now.”
“In that case, do you have any pregnant sheep you can loan me?”
“We have an alpaca.”
“Is it pregnant?”
“It’s ornery.”
I snort. “No, thanks. I’ll pass.”
While Ben and I both worked at our parents’ petting zoo through high school, he never left. He currently runs the whole operation, with our dad having taken a back seat a few years ago.
“When are you coming back to the mainland?” Ben asks. “I’ve tried playing Catan by myself, and it’s just not the same.”
His request is another blow to my heart—or is it my fragile ego? Wherever guilt has a seat, that’s what’s harmed.
Ben and I used to have a habit of getting together at a brewery in Portsmouth every weekend and playing our favorite board games. Even after I opened my practice on Pine Island, I still made time for it. But then came the emergency clinic on the mainland, and now I’m also scrambling to get my animal sanctuary off the ground.
With everything on my plate and only twenty-four hours in the day, it seems there just isn’t enough time to go around. Especially with cats eating socks and birds getting caught in nets.
“Soon,” I say.
There’s a knock on my office door, signaling the arrival of probably another cat that had laundry for dinner. Or another dog with an infected toenail. Or another ferret with worms.Sigh. I really do need a break.
“I need to go,” I tell Ben. “Tell Mom and Dad I say hi.”
Hanging up, I pocket my phone and head for the door. Usually, I thrive during busy days like this. It feels good to behelping animals, to be making a real difference in the world. And typically, I don’t have anything else on my schedule anyway, so it’s not like there’s any reason for me to rush out the door.
