Page 89 of The Quirky Vet
Because I love you.
I come so close to saying it, but no, this isn't the right time. I don't know what I expect the right moment to feel like, but a Thursday afternoon at the clinic ain't it.
"Just felt like it."
"Cool." He kisses me on the lips. "I felt likethat."
I ride a kiss high throughout the entire procedure, from the moment I begin drilling into the damaged tooth all the way until the end, when I'm sealing the empty space between the border collie's teeth to prevent future pain or infection.
It's crazy how a simple hallway kiss—or two—can have such a big effect on me. But that's the thing about being with Muir, wedon't need to do anything big or exciting for the moment to make me feel alive.
Once I'm done in the theatre, I wander into the staff lounge, but it's empty. Since I've got some time to kill, I decide to pay Linus a little visit.
"Knock knock," I say, not waiting for him to reply as I step into his office.
He doesn't move from his desk. He's staring at his phone like… Oh, shit. I hope he hasn't received bad news.
"Linus," I say firmly.
He snaps his head up and fumbles with his phone, nearly dropping it before snagging it mid-fall.
"Oh, hey, Fitz. What's up?"
"What's up? What's up with you? You look rattled."
He glares at his phone for a moment longer, then quickly tosses it into the drawer and slams it shut with a sharp thud. "No, no. I'm fine."
"Really?" I take a seat. "'Cause you're giving off the vibe of someone who just got a message they didn't like." I study his face, his flushed cheeks, his rapid breathing, his eyes looking anywhere but at me. "Or…" I sit up taller. "You got a message you really liked?"
He drops his head into his hands. "Ryde and I have been texting each other."
"Why do I get the feeling you're not talking about the types of texts you send me about schedules and catching up for a drink after work?"
"No. Our texts are…different."
I contain my smirk. He's clearly struggling. "Would these messages happen to contain a visual element?"
He releases a long, unsteady breath, as though trying to calm himself. "If you'd asked me five minutes ago, I would've said no."
"But now?"
His gaze drifts to the top drawer then back to me. "Now it's a yes."
"So Ryde sexted you."
He nods.
"And you're freaking out because you're worried you're going to have to GoogleHow to take a dick picbecause you're so old you've never taken one before?"
"Do I need to remind you I am still your boss?" he asks with a grin.
"Look. I know the situation is complicated…"
"That's putting it mildly."
"But there's obviously an attraction between you guys. Why not explore it? Know for certain one way or the other and get yourself out of this weird limbo you're in?"
He perks up a little. "Speaking from experience, are we?"