Page 43 of Doc Showmance
Ian asked, “You sure there wasn’t some level of playing to the cameras?”
My spine stiffened. I fisted my hand to keep from slapping him. Instead, I gritted out, “I wasnotpeacocking. I saved a dog’s life from that incompetent jerk. You’re implying your standards are so low you’d do surgery without a catheter or fluids or external heat? That you’d go in without even looking at the ultrasound to know it was the liver and not the spleen?”
He blinked at me and flattened his lips.That.That right there was the irritated are-you-stupid look he used to throw me in school. It cranked my defensiveness up to warp nine.
I said, “I don’t remember that scene with our staring fest going on for that long. That means you re-shot it to give them more, or there was a hell of a lot more happening on your side than mine. I was thinking how much I wished you gone. It sure as hell wasn’t what they made it into.”
“It was the music they added. They also put some sort of filter on it.” He covered his face. “Hell, I don’t remember it like that. We didn’t re-shoot anything. What they’ve done with it… Yeah, the audience is going to eat this up. That aside, this is going to become unreal for you. You get that, don’t you?”
“What do you mean?”
“The badass vet business. That was better than an episode of a fictional drama TV show. Vets are going to rally behind you for standing up for good medicine and doing something incredible. People are going to go nuts about possibly something between us. They’ll be trolling you, and judgy. I’m worried about this.” He compressed his lips. “I’ve been swarmed by my own fans. They can be flattering but also suffocating. Some want a piece of you and will take it however they can. I’m also worried about myself now that people know I’m planted in one location. Are you on social media much?”
“No.” I waved my hand dismissively. “I’m just another vet just doing my job. I’m sorry your adoring hoard is too much for you to handle.”
“The editors did a great job with that episode. They’re going to PR the hell out of this. Even I admit it’s TV gold. You’re about to become somebody to the point you’ll have to decide what you’re going to do with that. Are you going to duck your head in the sand and hide? Are you going to take this as an opportunity to push what’s needed to improve pet care and be the person other vets aspire to be?”
“I’m no one’s hero. I have a big mouth. I speak my mind, and I’m not afraid to get dirty when needed.”
“Amber, that’s way more than most vets have the balls to do. You’re not ordinary. Neither am I. It’s why we’re spectacular on TV.”
“There’s the ego I remember. Glad to know it wasn’t bruised by not being the main star.” I sighed and shook my head. “I’m not a spokesperson. I don’t even look good on TV.”
“Yes, you do. I’m not saying this to stroke your ego but, trust me, you’re photogenic.”
“Not like you.”
He clasped his chin and tapped his lips with a finger before replying. “I do look good.” He flexed his biceps. “It’s not like these come without work. Are we going to argue over who looks better? You plan to pick me apart to find some flaws?”
“You don’t have any, of course,” I grumped. Arguing was better than facing the rising anxiety over what that episode meant for my life. “When the hell do you have time to work out?”
“I get up at five a.m. Either I go for a run or do some lifting.”
“’Course you do. People watch the show for Kovac. He’s a kook. Not me.” I realized the entire roomful of visitors was silent. I whispered to Ian, “They’re all staring at us and straining to listen in like they’re getting a secret episode of the show right here.”
“We do give a good show.” Ian stepped to the doorway and asked of the room. “Before today, did anyone watch the show to see Kovac? Anyone who’s not one of Amber’s siblings?”
Wade shook his head.
Bruno’s law school friend said, “I’ve never seen it, but I wouldn’t have watched it for him. He’s old and weird. Now, Amber, you’re unpredictable. I’m going to watch old episodes if you’re that exciting all the time. That was amazing.”
“I’m not like that all the time.” I stared at the ceiling.
“Yes, she is,” Bruno piped up. “There was this time she was putting down this dog owned by a lady with like triple X sized boobs who wouldn’t let go of her dog. Amber had to smash her head against the boobs just to get close to the dog. It was hilarious.”
“That’s not fair, Bruno. The lady was distraught. She believed the dog to be the reincarnated soul of a son she lost when he was a teenager. I didn’t have the heart to ask her to let go for long enough to let me get near the catheter. So I worked around her.”
Wade asked, “So what’s the real deal with you and Ian?”
I looked at Ian helplessly and turned to face away from the TV area so no one good at lip reading could see. I whispered, “How do we do this? Does this mean we have to be in character here, too?”
He turned too and whispered back, “I think we do. Gossip can’t get out about us not being a thing.”
“I don’t want to have to pretend to like you all the time.”
“As if I want to pretend?” He rubbed the back of his neck.
“Why are you doing this?” I countered. “I’m here to keep my residency. I can sit the board exam next spring.”And you said I was too chicken of what’s between us.
