Page 7 of Pretend You Love Me
“But he’s a veterinarian.” She gestures to the sign.
‘Close enough,” I say, grabbing her arm.
She huffs and lets me lead her inside.
We dodge cat carriers and step over a sleeping basset hound to get to the desk.
“Martha, we’ve got an emergency,” I say, pointing at Ginger who’s still holding my now bloody t-shirt to her head.
“Oh.” Martha hops up from her seat and rushes to the back without another word.
“Does this happen often?” Ginger asks.
I shrug.
Melvin rushes out from the back and takes one look at Ginger and motions us to follow him.
Once we’re back in the examining room, he pats the table for her to sit down.
She just blinks at it a few times. It’s just a cold, metal table.
“This is for dogs,” she says.
“And cats and rabbits and the occasional guinea pig. Hell, I’ve even had an actual pig on it too,” he says. “What’s your point?”
She shakes her head and sits down.
“Sorry, I know it’s cold. Most of my patients have fur.”
“Do you see people often?”
“I’ve delivered a few babies here in town when Paul’s been away.”
Her jaw drops.“Do you know how to deliver babies?”
“Well, I know how to deliver calves and foals. Close enough, right?”
“I don’t think it is,” She’s looking around like she’s entered some sort of parallel universe.
“I’ve watched a lot of YouTube videos,” he winks. Her jaw nearly hits the floor, and I’m enjoying this a little too much.
Once she’s on the examination table, I take my place in the corner of the room, arms crossed over my chest.
“I can see your face is banged up.” Melvin’s examining her cut. “Anything else hurt?”
“My wrist,” she says, holding it out. Damnit, she didn’t tell me about that.
He’s feeling her hand and wrist, and she winces.
“We can do some x-rays to rule out a break, but I’m going to need to stitch you up first.”
“Have you done this before?” Her eyes are wide.
“A million times,” he says, happily.
“On humans?”
“A handful of times,” he says as he gathers his supplies onto a tray.
