Page 54 of Untamed

“I haven’t seen you all freaking week!” Evie exclaims as she walks in the back door. “Our shifts keep missing, and you refuse to write anything down in a text message. So I am going to go put my shit up, and then you’re gonna tell me all about your weeklong sexcapade.”

I laugh and give her a mock salute. And after doing busy work for an hour while we go over every detail I’m willing to spill about Hayes and me, she’s completely caught up on my love life.

“I told you he was going to show up like that, sweep you off your feet, and y’all would live happily ever after.” She sighs and starts wiping down the counters. “Some people have all the luck.”

“I don’t think we are at the happily ever after yet.” I smile at her. “We still have some stuff to work out.”

“Don’t let that little stuff get in the way of you being happy.” She stops wiping and leans against her hip on the counter. “You were so quiet when you first came here. Granted, so was I,” she says with a laugh. “But, I don’t know, you just seemed sad a lot of the time. But ever since Hayes came back into your life? You’ve been so much happier. Lighter.”

“That’s so corny.” I groan. “I’m like some little kid with a crush.”

“Hey, River?” Dr. Martinez walks out of one of the exam rooms. “Can I chat with you for a minute when you’re done?”

“Yeah, of course.”

“And Evie, would you mind giving that one a nail trim?” She points with her thumb over her shoulder. “I won’t keep River from you for long.”

“No worries!” Evie runs off to the dog in the exam room, and I follow Martinez back to her office.

“Don’t worry,” she says as I sit down in front of her desk. “This isn’t anything bad.”

“Was the anxiety written all over my face?” I ask, laughing a little to push past the nerves.

“I am very accustomed to the feeling of being called into your boss’s office. It’s never a good feeling. But I actually just wanted to ask you about your future, what your plans are.”

“Like, in general or…?”

“I guess, yeah.” She shrugs. “I know you came back to Cane Creek to help your mom, but I wasn’t sure if this was permanent or not.”

I take a deep breath. Good question.

“I would like it to be,” I tell her honestly. “I was a little done with the city anyway, and I love Cane Creek. I’m just trying to figure out a lot of stuff at the moment.”

“I’m glad to hear you want to stay,” she says with a smile. “Do you think this career path is what you’d like to stay on? Or do you see yourself doing something else?”

God, I feel like I’m twenty all over again, sitting in my advisor’s office, trying to pick my major. But now it’s even worse because I’m almost thirty years old, and I should not be having this conversation. I should be past this by now.

“No, I’ve always wanted to work with animals. I don’t want to be a vet,” I tell her, laughing when I think about how much schooling you need for that. “Another four years for that doctorate? No, thank you.”

“Completely understand,” she says, laughing with me. “I love having you here. You’re a hard worker, and you’re great with the animals. So, I wanted to come to you with this first. I’ve been thinking about adding on to the business. I would like to add a self-wash and grooming business next door in the open lot.”

“Oh, wow. That’s a great idea!” We had a lot of the self-wash and grooming businesses in the city, and they were always packed when I’d walk by the one in my neighborhood. I think people like the idea of being able to wash their own dog without clogging their drains.

“I would like you to manage it.”

I can feel my eyes go wide.

“Sorry?”

“I would like you to manage it.” She’s smiling at my shock. “I know it’s not the same job you’re in now, and I know you went to school to be a vet tech, so if you don’t want to do this, that is totally understandable. But it will come with a big pay raise and a lot more freedom to make your own schedule.”

“Oh, my god.”

“Think about it.” She leans back in her chair. “I’ll give you the paperwork on it with your wage, tasks that will be expected of you, and anything else you might want to know about it before you leave. If you have any questions, let me know. Take some time.”

I’m a little more than shocked. This is not something I saw coming, but as I walk out of her office, a wave of relief crashes over me. If this comes with a big enough pay bump, I won’t have to work in the bar anymore. I could help Mom without killing myself in the process. And it would give me another reason to stay in town, live my life here with Hayes.

Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I send Hayes a quick text, telling him I have really big news. I can barely contain my excitement, and I want to tell him everything in a text. But it’s too much, too big to put in a text. So I’m just going to have to wait another couple of hours. Barely a minute goes by before he’s texting me back, telling me to come out for Saturday dinner before my shift at the bar.

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