Right now, he seems more like a droid than a human because he’s completely emotionless around me. While he’s an asshole ninety-nine percent of the time, it almost pains me to admit that I actually miss him when he’s not around.
I try to focus on the tasks at hand and do a few more annual exams and vaccinations. Regardless of how busy I stay, I still find myself lost in thought, wondering where the hell he is and what he’s doing.
Two hours before close, Connor waltzes in with his signature scowl, wearing jeans and a tight T-shirt that shows off his biceps. I swallow hard when I see his tattoos, and my cheeks heat at how sexy he looks. I have a burning desire to trace the tribal design on his arm with my finger. Every time I catch a glimpse of his ink, I grow more curious about him, the real him, the Connor who’s kept locked away. It just seems so unlike him to have so much ink, considering he’s so uptight.
When I get a break between patients, I go into his office and find him leaning over his desk.
I clear my throat to get his attention so we can discuss business stuff. His eyes finally meet mine, and something brews behind them, though I can’t tell if it’s lust or rage. I have a hard time telling the difference anymore.
“Can I help you?” he asks.
“Actually, yes. First of all, thank you very much for informing me I’d be handling all of the appointments alone today.”
His brow perks up, but it’s not with amusement, and it annoys me even more that I find it sexy as hell. “Were you not able to handle everything?”
“Of course I was,” I respond without hesitation. He goes back to his paperwork.
“That’s why I didn’t tell you. I knew you’d be okay,” he says unapologetically.
I groan. “Well thanks for the heads-up. Anyway...” I shift the conversation to what else I wanted to discuss. “I need Friday, May thirteenth off.”
He finally stops what he’s doing. “Why?”
“Personal reasons,” I snap, giving him as much information as he gave me.
“Not good enough,” he retorts. “Now, I’ll ask again. Why do you need off?”
I grow more frustrated with each passing second, and my body heats from the inside out. “I already told you. It’s all you need to know.”
I stand strong in my decision to keep it to myself. Though I really do need off for Ethan and Kenzie’s graduation. If I missed it because of work, they’d be extremely unhappy with me.
He glares at me, unpleased that I’m pushing back. It’s a yes or no decision, and if he doesn’t allow it, perhaps I’ll send Grandma to change his mind.
“Fine,” he barks, and I almost smile at his annoyance. When the conversation is clearly over, I go to the break room to calm down. I grab a bottle of water and suck it down like I’m on fire. He tends to do that to me.
Once my heart rate finally steadies, I overhear him talking. I move closer to the doorway when I realize he’s on the phone.
“Hey, sweetie,” he says, his voice a lot cheerier than I’ve ever heard.
He laughs, and it sounds foreign coming from him. “I know, sweetheart. Me too.”
It’s obvious from his tone that he’s smiling. I hear footsteps, and my adrenaline spikes as I take a step back, not wanting to get caught. His office door shuts, and his voice isn’t as loud, but I can still make out what he’s saying.
“Of course we’ll do it again. Can’t wait to see you again. I love you. Okay, baby. Bye.”
A lump forms in my throat at the realization he was with a woman today, one he loves. There’s no other explanation on how happy and chipper he sounded. I leave the break room when Connor opens his door, and he pretends I’m not even here.
After I’m done cleaning up for the day, I help Trina stock the patient rooms.
“You did an awesome job stepping in and helping when things got crazy,” I say. Connor’s not known to hand out compliments, so it’s the least I can do.
“Thanks, Elle. That means a lot,” she says with a big grin. Once we’re done, we grab our stuff, and I speak loud enough for Connor to hear me say goodbye to everyone. He’s been holed up in his office since he arrived. After our not-so-lovely interaction earlier, I’ve avoided him.
Exhaustion hits me on the drive home, so I decide to go to school in the morning. Waking up at four will suck, but I’m too tired to be on the road.
When I enter the house, the lights are off, and I know both of my parents are at work. A note scribbled in mom’s handwriting is on the counter to let me know leftovers are in the fridge. I take out the spaghetti and warm it up, then eat it while checking my phone.