I hear a chuckle off to my right, and I look over to see my oldest friend staring at me with a knowing smirk.
“What?” I level him with a look. He laughs and holds up his hands.
“It’s nothing.” He scrubs his hand across his jaw before continuing, “I just haven’t seen that look on your face in a long time. Not since…” Monty trails off, a knowing look crossing his face.
“Don’t. It’s nothing like that. She’s just a girl who came into the clinic today. I helped her dog by getting some porcupine quills out of his face.”
I hear the hiss come from his voice. “Shit, that poor dog. That must have hurt.” He shakes his head and takes a swig of his beer.
“Yeah, the whole appointment was different. I mean I’ve dealt with quills before. This isn’t my first rodeo, you know? But I took it on as an extra, so I skipped lunch to make sure I didn’t fall behind.”
“Ah yes, a hangry Xavier isn’t something you want to mess with. I feel sorry for any poor fucker who had to deal with you.” Monty chuckles, and he reaches over to try and grab one of my fries.
“Fuck off these are mine!” I move my plate away from his grabby hands before he can get to it. I proceed to grab a fry and put it in my mouth. What can I say? Sometimes I can be a little feral when I haven’t eaten, and I don’t like to share my food.
I hear a guffaw from my friend before he says, “Right right.Joey doesn’t share food. How could I forget.” He gets a smirk fromme from quoting one of my favorite TV shows, before I dig back into my food, finishing off the remainder that’s left.
“So was this girl a poor victim of the dreaded hangry bear?”
I grumble, “maybe. A little bit. But I was also an autopilot just trying to survive. Although it was kind of funny. When I came into the room, I was looking at his charts, just trying to familiarise myself a bit more with the dog. Just as I lifted my head I had to toss my tablet onto the counter to catch this woman who was toppling over her dog and heading toward the ground. I was able to catch her but not before she got a handful of my cock on her way down.”
Monty tilts his head back and bellows a laugh as he takes in the story. “You’re joking,” with a serious look given to him he laughs even more. He’s keeled over, wiping his eyes from the tears that are falling from his eyes. I roll my eyes, I go to take a drink and realise that it’s gone. Signalling to the bartender that we’ll both have another, the bartender is quick to give me a refill. I turn to face Monty and pin him with a look.
“Why don’t you ask her out?”
I half spit, half choke on my drink. I begin coughing to get the burn of whiskey out of my throat before I look at him. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me. Ask her out.”
“No, thanks.”
“Mhmm, and why not?”
“Because I don’t need a girlfriend. I can’t sacrifice the time I have to allot to someone else. I have the clinic that I pour my blood, sweat, and tears into. We’re so close to the renovations starting, I can taste it. Once those start then I really won’t have time for anyone else.” I feel like a goddamn broken record. What is it with everyone trying to set me up lately? I huff and shake my head before downing the rest of my drink and slamming it on the bar top. “I mean, between you and my mother, I swear.”
Monty examines me for a moment before humming and saying, “Well I mean. You ask her out, take her on a date or two. And your mom will get off your back for a bit at least.”
I sit there for a minute contemplating what he’s saying. I mean, he’s got a point. If I ask her out and take her out once or twice it will give me enough leverage to shut my mother up. Then when it inevitably ends, which it will, I can chalk it up to just not working out and she’ll back off for a while longer. It would give me enough time to potentially get through the renovations at the clinic before she starts bugging me again.
I tilt my head to the side, then point at my friend thoughtfully. “You do have a good point there, Monty.” Just as I finish that sentence, I hear the sweet as honey voice behind me ordering a drink at the bar. Monty pats my shoulder before signalling to the bartender that he wants to square up his tab. With that, I know he’s going to quietly sneak out and let me do what I need to do. What Iwantto do. Do I want to do this? No. Yes. Maybe.
Fuck, just get it together and ask her out for Christ’s sakes.
I swivel myself around in the direction of the voice that may very well haunt me. I take a moment to get a closer look at her, I was in such a haze at the clinic that I barely paid attention. Getting closer, I can see her luscious lips. They’re just waiting to be bit.Woah, where did that come from?Before I think anymore into it, I clear my throat to hopefully catch her attention.
“So, have you fallen into any other guys' laps recently? Or was it just me?” I see her back straighten before she turns her head toward me and glares.Shit. That sounded dickish.
“Shit, sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. I just said the first thing that came to my brain. It’s been a long day.” I rub my hand at the back of my neck and give her a sheepish smile.
She stares at me for a minute, before her eyes begin to sparkle with mischief and she smirks. “I think that’s very daring to ask a lady before even offering her a drink to lessen the blow of her embarrassment today.”
I chuckle, “Well we couldn’t have that. What are you drinking?”
She hums, pressing her pointer finger to her chin and taps it in thought, “Vodka, soda and lime please!” I signal thebartender, who comes up and I order our drinks. When we both have fresh drinks in front of us, I wave my hand at the open bar seat beside me. “Sit.”
Her eyes widen slightly and she quickly sits. I notice the tint of pink on her cheeks as she focuses on her drink instead of making eye contact. Well that won’t do. I take my forefinger and place it under her chin, bringing her gaze up to mine. I notice the breathless gasp that comes from her mouth before my eyes bounce back and forth between her own. She’s got the most hypnotising emerald eyes. “I wanted to start off by saying sorry.” I start.
Her nose wrinkled with confusion. “What do you mean you’re sorry? If anything, I should be apologising to you. I mean, I copped a feel before I even had a chance to introduce myself. It’s Harper, by the way. In case you forgot, which I understand if you did. I’m only one measly pet owner in your busy day of work.” Her hand flies to my bicep, eliciting sparks along my skin. “Oh my God, which reminds me again, I'm so sorry about that. I don’t even know what I was thinking. I totally forgot Winnie was at my feet when I stood up to shake your hand. God, I still can’t believe I did that. I mean you’re YOU Mr. Gorgeous Vet.” she says, waving her hands between us. “Saving all the animals, then there’s little ol’ me. Well, not little. Far from that, I mean, I try and –” I chuckle, and decide at that point to put her out of her misery.
