Page 89 of Doc Showmance
“You’re such a drama king,” Amber said. “I simply said I’d rather cut off your balls and choke you with them than date you. You irritated me that much.”
The interviewer sputtered out her drink. Not suave. She brushed droplets off her dark colored dress. “Are you still in hate, or has it changed to in love?”
“What do you think, Amber?” I met her gaze.
She cocked her head. “I’m still not sure about you. Sure, you’re super smart, and you look good on TV, but…”
When the interviewer realized she wasn’t getting anywhere, she asked, “How about we talk about the two of you as veterinarians? I’ve got several Pomeranians. My vet is wonderful, but she’s nothing like either of you. You’re both such badasses. You, Amber, when you’re in surgery. That time when you kicked out Dr. Kovac? I mean, wow. Ian, you with the bird that was trying to eat your hand while you stopped its bleeding? Then the way you bandaged his hand, Amber?” The interviewer put a hand over her heart. “So sweet. Loved it.”
I took another swallow of soda. Too big a swallow. Too much carbonation at once. A burp gathered momentum deep in my belly. It worked its way up my throat. I clamped my mouth shut. The might of this one suggested it’d be loud. Sweat formed on my forehead that I wanted to wipe away but that wouldn’t come off looking good in an interview.
I caught Amber staring at me with her lips compressed against a smile.
When neither of us chimed in because what was there to say, the interviewer said, “There are serious sparks between you two.” She looked directly into the camera. “It’s like static electricity in here. You two are like perfect opposites attract. Sunshine and toughness.”
“Yep, opposites.” Amber giggled. “I assume I’m sunshine, right?”
“I like being the toughness one.” I swallowed multiple times to try to drown the burp that still gathered power.
“It is like trying to break into Fort Knox to get information on this showmance or understand you two.”
The burp’s insistence became too much. I leaned behind Amber to cover the eruption. The explosion burned up my throat in its urgent release. I could’ve sworn I made the hair of her ponytail move.
Amber burst out laughing. She waved her hand in front of her nose. “Seriously, Ian?”
I shot her a glare. “Better than divulging—”
Amber put a hand over my mouth. “Nope. We’re not allowed to tell anything.”
Our interviewer frowned, obviously having missed my burp and not following our conversation. “You went with him to visit his parents for Thanksgiving, didn’t you?”
“That happened,” she said. “Guarantee it didn’t go the way you’d think. I’m not sure what they’ll show about it on TV.”
“Oh my God, you two.” She released a nervous laugh. “Do you like her, Ian?”
“Of course, I do. She’s an incredible person, even if she’s difficult most of the time.”
“And you, Amber?”
“He’s still a dillweed, but every woman here would say he’s a hot one.”
“Are you still filmingVet in the Wild?” she asked me.
We hummed along about my show—not about to mention it was cancelled since my agent said there was talk of resuming filming very soon with a new parent company given my newfound success. I’d do anything to get out from under Marianna’s thumb.
Susan waved to get Amber’s attention from the entryway of the room.
“Excuse me,” she said as she unhooked her microphone and walked away from the interview.
Susan and she talked for a moment.
“He said what?” Amber yelled.
Susan said something I couldn’t hear.
“He better not have messed with my patient.” She marched off.
“Is she coming back?” the interviewer asked.
