“I’m in the car. Can you drop me a pin?”
“I can. How long have you been out searching?”
“Since four.”
“That’s no way to spend Christmas Eve.”
“I think Monty had it worse.”
My phone chimes.
“Okay, I got your pin. I’ll be there in the next thirty minutes.”
“I’ll see you then.”
We disconnect, and the knot in my stomach loosens. It’s going to be okay. I’ll get Monty back, head home, and forget the last couple of hours happened.
AS I PULL UP TO THE white, two-story home with the gray and black stone accents on the bottom, I whistle. How much does a vet make yearly? Pulling into the driveway behind a forest green truck, I put the car into park.
He works on animals for a living, and he rescued a dog from the snow. So, he can’t be entirely awful, right? My mind flashes to Preston, and I cringe. What looks good on paper doesn’t always translate well into real life. I pat my purse reassuringly, thinking of the pepper spray I keep on hand. I’ll go in, thank him, and abscond with my dog. Simple.
Exiting the car, I rush up the walk, grateful for the porch that blocks the wind as I ring the doorbell and wait. The door swings open, and my jaw drops.
“It’s you,” we say at the same time. The insanely attractive, green-eyed man with brownish blond hair that falls artfully across his brow who saved me earlier is standing in front of me with Monty against his chest.
“Faye?” he whispers.
I nod dumbly. The man has caught me in two of the most embarrassing situations of my life. Can I please melt into a metallic puddle like Alex Max and disappear?
“James?”
“Yeah. Wow. What are the odds?”
“Very low.”
“Please, come in out of the cold.”
“Oh, it’s okay. I’ll just—” The baby chooses to sit on my bladder, and my choice is taken away. “Do you have a bathroom?”
His eyebrows fly up.
“The baby seems to think my bladder is a bounce house, so ...”
“Oh. Yeah. Sorry. It’s just down the hall, second door on the right.” He waves me in, directing me like an air traffic controller with sticks.
“Thank you.” Quickly stripping off my boots, I step out onto the carpet and beat a hasty retreat to the restroom. I can already tell I’m going to have my hands full with the little girl inside of my belly. “You had to choose now to woman handle Mom’s bladder? I was trying to make a smooth getaway, little girl.” I rub the bulge fondly as I step into the bathroom and close the door behind me.
After handling my business, I wash my hands and admire his cleanliness. From what I’ve seen, his house is more than neat. It’s orderly and spotless. He is a doctor, though. Still, his room could be a gross disaster. This is just the area he’d expect others to see. My experience with Preston has left me wary of others. That’s one of the things I hate most about our break up. I can heal my heart, but I can’t change my new perceptions.
I step into the hallway. The sound of metal on metal makes me jump. I cry out, and the baby jerks inside of me. Grabbing my stomach, I try to calm my racing heart.
“Faye.” James is by my side, gently gripping my arm.
“I’m sorry. W-We were both startled.” I place a hand over my heart.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
I nod.