Page 77 of The Quirky Vet

But I'm confident he'll enjoy what I have planned. I'll do whatever it takes to make sure everything goes smoothly.

Including the extra special surprise I'm going to need his parents help with to pull off.

14

Fitz

"So," Muir says once we reach his grandfather's house after a busy day at the clinic. "I did something."

"O-kay."

I suspected he was up to something. He's been acting strange these past few days, and since he's such a bad liar, every time I bring it up, he replies withEverything's fine, or if I ask him what he's up to, he saysNothing, three octaves higher than usual, like his balls have been sucked into his body.

He clears his throat. "Now, before I tell you what I did, I want you to know it's from a good place."

"O-kay."

"And if you hate it, that's fine, too. I won't be upset or offended. This isn't about me. Today is all about you."

It is my birthday, so yeah, I guess he's right.

Like he always does on this day, Muir's been treading carefully. He picked me up before our shift and handed me a birthday card with a donation to my favourite wildlife rescue organisation. It's become a nice ritual and a touching gesture since I don't want any presents.

He was extra nice at work, making sure I had a cup of piping hot coffee waiting for me in the staff lounge between my morning appointments and then tea and freshly baked scones from Mrs. Mangle's bakery for my short gaps in the arvo.

But every time I asked him what he was up to after work, his cheeks went pink.Nothing.

Yeah. Right.

Nothing my furry arse.

He threads his fingers through mine and says tentatively, "I know your birthday is a tough day for you, but today isn't just any birthday. It's a milestone." He pauses. "You're officially old."

I chuckle. "Yep. I am."

He shifts gears, and from the first word he utters,it's clear he's not joking around anymore. "I know losing Lleyton was unimaginably traumatic. And it makes complete sense that today isn't a day you might feel like celebrating."

"O-kay?"

"So…" Muir rakes a hand through his hair, his nerves clearly visible. "I wanted to do something special for you, because turning thirty is a big deal, while also honouring Lleyton."

"You're speaking in riddles, mate." I hear what sounds like a laugh from inside the house followed by a round of shushing. I turn to face Muir. "What have you done?"

"I threw you abest ofsurprise birthday party, a kind of all-in-one thing to give you a little taste of what they're like. And for Lleyton, well, check out the walls once we head inside. And if you hate it all, and it's too much, just tell me, and I'll make everyone disappear. And it's the winter solstice, officially the longest night of the year, so I'm throwing that in there, too. Oh, and act surprised." He nods to himself. "Yeah. Exactly how you look now. Make that same face when the front door opens." He finally takes a breath. "Are you mad?"

"I'm not mad." I glance at the front door, then shift my gaze back to Muir, his teeth spearing into his bottom lip. He's put a lot of thought into this, I can tell, and I'm touched. But it's also one of the hardest days of the year for me, so I'm all over the place.

I look at the front door then back at Muir. "I'll be honest, I don't know how I feel. But it's not mad."

"Are you sure? Because it's one hundred percent okay if you are. I did such a good job of hiding it that you're probably thrown for a loop."

"You did an absolutely shit job of hiding it because I had a hunch you were up to something, but I'm really okay."

"Really?"

"Yes?"

"Reallyreally?"