Page 16 of The Quirky Vet

"It was…fine. We clarified a few things."

"Oh yeah?"

That's Gramps's way of askingwhat sort of thingswithout having to actually say the words.

Fuck it. What have I got to lose? I sure as shit can't tell Fitz what she said, Wilby's plate is full with wedding plans, Linus is swamped with running the clinic, and I don't know Ryde well enough yet to confide in him.

I look across the table into the familiar blue eyes of possibly the only person in my life who loves me unconditionally. Despite his prickly demeanour, he's actually an old softie and not the least bit judgemental.

I blow out a breath through my nose. "Maisey told me the reason she couldn't marry me is because she thinks I'm in love with someone else."

Gramps frowns, his eyes narrowing. He clearly doesn't like hearing I might have cheated on her. "Who?"

"I'm not in a relationship with anyone else," I clarify. "But she reckons…Fitz."

"Oh."

I avert my gaze, feeling hot and breathing heavily. It's one thing to have heard her say it and another thing to say it out loud myself. It shifts it from being words down a phone line, or thoughts clanging around in the back of my head, to something real.

Gramps is silent. Uncharacteristically so. He's probably in shock. I bite the bullet, suck in a breath, and look his way.

I'm met with a grin.

Not just any grin, though.

The biggest, smuggest, shit-eatingest grin I've ever seen.

"Are you having another stroke?" I ask.

He erupts into a deep, rusty laugh. "No, mate. No, I'm not."

I have no idea what's wrong with him. I thought he'd at least show some surprise when his straight grandson said his now ex-girlfriend is claiming he's in love with his also straight best friend. That's quite the bomb to drop over a Tuesday night dinner.

He eyes me with amusement.

"Well, are you going to say anything or just keep grinning at me like a creepy older fucker?"

"What do you want me to say?"

"How about a reaction to Maisey's comment?"

He shrugs a shoulder. "I've always thought she's a smart, very observant young lady."

My temples start to pulse. "What does that mean?"

"Are you being stupid on purpose? It's pretty bloody obvious you and Fitz have a…special connection."

"Well, yeah. We do. We're best friends."

Gramps lowers his head, all joking gone, replaced by a serious look on his face. "Is that all?"

"I…" Heat crawls along my skin, and I don't know where to look.

"Would you like for there to be something more?" he presses.

I focus on what's left of my dinner on my plate and shrug. "Dunno."

A beat passes.