Page 23 of The Quirky Vet

I want to feel all the things, get so caught up in someone they become my entire world. I want that big love.

I've never had that with anyone I've dated…probably because that shit never happens in real life. So I need to get my head out of my arse and wake up because this is the real world, not some romcom.

Although…if Wilby can find it, why not me?

Muir enters the lounge, freezing for a split second when he notices me on the couch. I don't know why he seems surprised to see me.

He heads over to the kettle. "Hi."

"Hey."

There's an awkward tension between us that's never been there before. He hasn't been able to shake off what happened atthe Goldie, and I think I know what's bugging him. In the sober light of day, he's realised the colossal mess we've gotten ourselves into.

Getting married is a big deal. All of Scuttlebutt is pitching in to help Wilby and Col with their wedding. Friends and family are flying in from all over the country, from all over the world. Marriage means something.

And here we are, two dumb-arse dinguses who went out, got shitfaced, and can't even remember tying the knot.

To each other.

Not the girlfriends we'd unsuccessfully proposed to.

To top it all off, we can't breathe a word of this to our friends since we don't want to steal the thunder from Wilby and Col leading up to their big day.

At least no one's picked up on the weirdness.

"What's up, Muir? You're acting weird," Linus says, flicking the newspaper in half and resting it on his lap.

Okay. Shit. They've noticed.

"Nothing. I'm fine." Muir busies himself making a cuppa, which gives him an excuse to not look at Linus directly. Good thing, too. Muir's a shit liar, and Linus would clock it right away.

Knowing this, Wilby gets off the couch, strides over, and positions himself right next to Muir.

"You've been acting differently since you came back." He casts his gaze over at me. "You both have. And I think I know what's going on."

Muir's shoulders tense. "You do?"

Wilby grins like an idiot. "I do. And I couldn't be happier."

"Really?" I say.

My eyes flick to Muir. There's no way he would've said anything. It was his idea to keep this quiet. So what the fuck is Wilby going on about?

"Yes, really. You got strippers."

Linus sputters, spraying tea everywhere. "What?"

"For the joint bucks' night tomorrow night," Wilby explains.

"Mate, we didn't get you strippers," I tell him.

"You sure?"

I nod. "I am. We're all in a group chat, remember? Col made it very clear: no strippers. He wanted something quintessentially Aussie, so we're having a campfire at my place."

"Wait. That's not a cover?"

I roll my eyes. "It's not a cover."