Page 42 of Eyes Like a Hurricane

Before I can respond, Paisley gasps. “Oh my gooses, you slept with him?! Was it amazing? Well, duh. Of course, it was amazing. Look at him.”

Regaining my voice, I loudly whisper, “No, not exactly. I've slept next to him, in a bed and on a couch. But I haven't slept, slept with him. Yet. I mean, he kisses like his lips were made for mine. I've awoken in his arms the last two mornings. Do you believe in soulmates, Pais?”

Ever the romantic, I hear her sigh. “Oh, yeah, of course, there is a bee for every tulip.”

“Did you really just make a birds and the bees reference?” I groan.

“Well, you know what I mean. I honestly think there is a perfect match for every person out there. I’m starting to think mine is backpacking in Indonesia right now or something. It would explain why I haven’t met him yet,” she laments.

“You and Trent looked pretty cute together. Both of you have gorgeous russet locks,” I tease.

She titters, “Well, he was H-O-T, but the grumpiest McGrumperson I ever did meet. You would think me asking him to dance was a death threat to him. I mean, he came to a bar with his friends, on a night with live music. He was amazing on the dance floor, but his brows were in a permanent scowl, and he only knows how to grumble. There weren’t more than two words in each of his sentences.”

“Well, you can carry out conversations for multiple people with your dimples and bright smile,” I say.

I know she is sticking her tongue out at me, even though I can’t see it. She replies, “Yeah, I know. I just want someone who wants to be with me, you know? Is that how Lachlan has been the last few days?”

I realize I have walked past my car as thoughts of Lachlan fill my mind. Quickly turning around, I get back to my vehicle and hop in the driver’s seat. When the Bluetooth connects, I respond. “Yeah, everything about him feels like it was meant to be. I don’t know how to describe it. I was actually thinking about that last night. I just feel like I’m destined to be by his side, and the idea of not being near him feels, I don’t know, unsettling?”

Looking behind me, I back up and pull out of my parking spot, making my way a couple blocks away to my clinic parking lot.

I can’t see Paisley, but I can feel her nodding in response through the phone. She is the type who talks with her hands and moves her body in response, even though the person on the other end of the phone can’t see her.

Before she responds, I ask, “Are you coming up to go dancing at Glaciers again on Sunday? Karaoke is Wednesday, but I’m not much for singing. I know it’ll be hard for you all to come here on a weekday.”

She scoffs. “Did you really ask that? I think Leo has already picked out his and Kieran’s outfits. I have a feeling he'll try to get them to coordinate. I don’t know how Kieran manages to get out of it at the last minute without sending Leo into a downward spiral. I swear they are like Will and Jack, and I’m Grace.”

I growl, “If you call me Karen, I will hang up this phone.”

She cackles, and I hear her hand smack the table in front of her. “No, don’t worry. I don’t think a real-life version of Karen’s character would fit into our lives. You are more like Ellen? No, that's not right. How about we both be a version of Grace with Will and Jack. She has so much personality that there's plenty of her to go around. I know! I will be working Grace, and you can be home Grace.”

Shaking my head, I jokingly tease, “Yeah, okay. I’m channeling my inner Grace as I tell you I love you like a mole. It may be ugly, but it’s very permanent.”

Paisley bursts into laughter. “Well, you certainly have Karen’s sarcasm.”

“I’m not Karen! Grace said a line like that to Will,” I grumble.

No one wants to be Karen—or at least no one in our friend group does. Maybe Karens get that way with age and we just need to wait a few more decades before a Karen enters our tight-knit group of friends.

Paisley chuckles and replies, “Don’t worry, we are forever the two halves that make a whole Grace. Hey, hun, I see Leo’s car pulling up. We have an appointment off-site in ten minutes, so I’m gonna have to let you go. Can we call you later?”

“Not a problem,” I assure her. “Tell Leo to give me a call later tonight. I want to catch up with Kieran and him. You have my blessing to fill him in on our conversation, since I know you plan to anyway.”

“Toodles, Ais,” she says and sends kisses into the phone. Then the line goes silent.

I shut off my car. I'd been sitting in the front of the clinic, waiting for the call to end, before going into the office. Luckily, I didn’t have to divulge too many details about Lachlan.

There's this part of me that wants to shout from the rooftop every little detail. Then there's the other part of me who wants to keep every aspect of our new relationship secret and special. I fear revealing too much, too soon, will ruin the magical bubble we are currently occupying together.

I unlock the front door and realize I’m the first one here. Even after my chat with Ava and the long talk I had with Paisley in my parking lot, it’s still only 8:40 a.m. I slowly turn in thespace and see the floors are in wonderful condition. From what I can tell, they appear to have been recently replaced. If I had to guess, they're a porcelain tile with epoxy grout. They will make it easy to clean in case of messes. I love the dove gray color someone chose. I think it will make dirt less noticeable since our furry friends will probably be tracking in a mountain-full once the rain and snow come.

The art on the walls is a little bland for my taste. It looks like Doc MacAllen went around taking photos of fields and barns with an older model cellphone, then sent them to print at the local drugstore. The resolution seems low, making the photographs appear grainy. Topaz Falls is so beautiful, but these photos don’t do it justice. I can’t wait to take my own. With the color of the floors, I’m picturing barnwood gray frames and photos of Glacier National Park.

On my next hike, I can take photos of Finn and Chloe hiking and swimming. It will bring in the animal aspect, with the beautiful backdrop.

There is a silhouette of a barn behind the receptionist's desk, but once again, it’s poor quality and blurry. I hope Lachlan will let me take a photo of his horses in the pasture, or the next time we go up to Topaz Ridge, I would love to snap a photo of Hurricane and Thunder standing together.

I’m so lost in thought and brainstorming photoshoot ideas that I don’t hear the door open. I feel a tap on my right shoulder and gasp so loudly I would give Cam fromModern Familya run for his money. Wheeling around, my hands go to my chest as I suck in deep breaths. Britt is standing there with a smug look on her face, tapping her toe.

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