Heart of a Wolf

I released an exasperated sigh and glanced back over my shoulder at her. Val stood with her arms folded in front of her chest. “Yes, Mom,” I said, drawing out the last word. “But I’m telling you you’re worried about nothing. I’ll be fine.”

“Jeremy will tell me if you’re lying,” she warned, joining me just inside the door so she could hold it open for me once I was ready to go.

“A spy on the inside. Great.” Just what I need, another babysitter.

To be fair, I loved Jerry almost as much as I loved Val.

We’d met after Westgrove hired me as one of their orthopedic surgeons and had been friends ever since. Unlike everyone else inside the hospital, he didn’t coddle me. Well, he did to a point, but it wasn’t anything like how my parents had treated me along with the rest of the world. He and Val knew just how hard I could push myself before it was too much. Of course, I could do without all the fretting and looks of concern coming from Val.

“You’ll do as he says,” Val said, oblivious to my thoughts.

I half-expected her to bop me on the nose again. Instead, she touched my arm as though I might break. “Please. You know I worry.”

“You always do.” I smiled and kissed her forehead, hovering a moment more when she stiffened from my touch.

“I’ll call you as soon as I get in and then again at lunch.

Okay?”

“Worrying is my job,” she said, taking me in her arms. At this rate, I was going to be late for my first day back at work.

I let her do it anyway.

“I’m not broken, Val.” Not anymore.

She pulled back enough to meet my gaze. “If I don’t look after you, who will?”

The few dates I’d had never ended well. Everyone treated me like glass, and as soon as my folks heard I was getting too

energetic, they put an end to that as well. College came soon after that.

I was so busy with my studies and doctor appointments, I didn’t have time for much else. My parents begged me to stay home and avoid school altogether, but Val had my back. She helped me through it and even joined me in a handful of classes before going off and studying to be a veterinarian instead.

I smiled at the memory and took her hands in mine. “You know I love you, but you need to let it go. The surgery went well, I’m fully healed, and I feel great.”

“But your body still has some catching up to do,” she reminded me.

“You want me to sprint up and down the steps?”

“No, but I know you do. Just pace you

rself, okay?”

“If I go any slower, I’m going to be late for work.”

She sighed, pulled me into her arms for one last hug, then saw me out. I was halfway down the hall when the apartment door clicked. A second later, she opened it and rushed after me, the keys on her belt loop slapping against her leg.

“Wait.” She rushed down the hallway, then handed me the same brown paper bag I’d left on the end table. “Don’t forget your lunch.”

“I wouldn’t say I forgot—”

“They know your diet, Jo. No red meats.”

I offered her a partial shrug and did my best to keep from wrinkling my nose. “It was worth a shot.”

She glared at me and folded her arms in front of her chest.

“Have a great day.”