Page 11 of The Quirky Vet
"Directions to the nearest divorce lawyer."
Chapel lady laughs at Muir's sarcasm.
"Thanks. I think we're good," I tell her before we turn around and leave.
It's late morning on a beautiful day so the street is jam-packed with tourists and noise. So much noise. Ugh, and sunlight.
The hangover refuses to piss off, a headache squeezing my skull.
"Need to find shelter," Muir grumbles, as if reading my mind, shading his eyes from the sun even though he's wearing glasses.
"Agreed. Let's go back to the hotel, close the curtains, and turn the air con all the way down."
He smiles. "Sounds like heaven."
We're back in my chilly, dark hotel room, sitting on the couch, wrapped in blankets, phones in hands.
"I think that American lady was right," I say, looking up at Muir, who's gone for full cocoon coverage with his blanket pulled over his head. "This all seems legit."
Muir hit up the old Googs, while I've been going through the official Gold Coast tourism website to dig up more about this cross-promo thing.
He turns to face me, a few curls pressed to his forehead by the weight of the blanket. "Yeah, it does."
He blows out a breath, and I can tell he's not cool with this, and not just because it's looking like it could turn out to be our most serious shenanigan yet. There's something else going on.
I hoist my legs onto the couch and hunch over them. "Are you okay with all of this?"
He angles his body away and stares straight ahead. "Sure."
He isn't.
Whenever he's uncomfortable, he avoids eye contact. Classic Muir move.
"We'll get it sorted once we get back home," I assure him.
"I know."
"Is there anything else on your mind? Something you want to talk about?"
"No."
He's still not looking at me.
A few beats pass.
I can read Muir better than anyone else in the world, and Iknowthere's something he's not telling me. But it was a rough night, and we're both hungover. Completely understand if he needs a bit of time and space to get things sorted in his head.
"What do you feel like doing?" I ask.
We were supposed to spend a few more days here celebrating our engagements, but since that's not happening… Personally, I'd be happy to pack up and go home, but if Muir wants to hang out at the beach or go visit Seaworld or any of the other amusement parks, I guess I'd be down with that.
"Honestly?" He swings his head, and his gaze meets mine. "I just want to crawl into my own bed and stay there for a few days."
I let out a relieved breath. "Same, mate." It was hard as chook nuts to wrangle a few days off from Linus, and I don't intend on wasting them. "Let's pack our stuff and head to the airport."
"Sounds like a plan. Oh, shit. Wait."
"What is it?"