he waiting room."
Ellie takes a step forward before Crew stops her with a hand on her shoulder. He squeezes it. "Have fun tonight, Bean." Then he crouches and extends his closed fist to Jonas who goes in for a hearty fist bump. "I'll bring you some pretzels this week, Joe."
"Those chocolate covered ones?"
He messes Jonas's blonde hair before he stands upright. "An entire bag just for you."
With that Ellie scoops her son's hand back into her own and they head into the clinic leaving me alone with the man I've thought about all day.
***
"It's the circus," I mutter after seeing a taxi top display for the big top as a cab waits at the red light on the street in front of the clinic. "We're going to the circus."
"I'm glad she didn't get me a ticket." He steps closer to me. "I'm not a fan."
I'm not either but I remember four or five months ago when tickets to a fundraising circus in Brooklyn went on sale. Jonas was on board immediately, and since May had no interest in going, he invited me personally during a phone call. My heart melted and I agreed straightaway.
"I take it you forgot about your plans with them tonight," he goes on. "I'm disappointed, Ad. We need to talk."
We do but I have to admit that I'm grateful for the reprieve. I haven't had a chance to take a breath since I was called in late last night. Dr. Hunt had to perform emergency surgery on a Bassett Hound that was struck by a car. I assisted and by the time we were done, the clinic was opening for the day.
I could have left early but I need the overtime so I stuck it out.
"I know," I say quietly. "We'll talk, Crew. It just can't be tonight."
His jaw tightens. "I don't want to put this off. This is important. I can stop by your place once you're home."
I'm too tired for this. I have to think through what I want to say before we have a discussion of this magnitude. I want to salvage our friendship. That's my main goal at this point.
I turn toward him and shrug. "I don't know what time it will be over. I think we should agree to talk tomorrow night."
"I have plans tomorrow night," he says curtly. "I can make it at lunch if that works."
Although I want to ask about his plans, I don't. This is the very reason why last night should never have happened. My emotions will get tangled in knots if we take things any farther. The idea of him with another woman is already tugging on my last nerve. I can't imagine hanging out casually at Ellie and Nolan's place with him after we've fucked and decided to try to be just friends again. It won't work.
"I can't do lunch." I look over when the clinic door opens and Jonas bounces out with Ellie right behind him. "We're having a going away party at noon tomorrow for one of the lab techs. It's her last day."
I don't know why I explain that to him. He didn't elaborate on his plans.
"Are you ready to go?" Ellie wraps her arm around my shoulder. "Someone is super excited to have some popcorn."
"I'll call you tomorrow, Ad," Crew says with a sigh. "I hope the three of you have a blast."
"We will," Jonas answers for all of us. "See you later, Crew."
"Later," he responds without looking at Jonas.
I still feel his eyes on me as we start off down the block to the car and driver waiting for Ellie and Jonas. I want to turn back, but I don't. I'm scared that if I do, he won't see his best friend. He'll see just another conquest and that's not who I am.
Chapter 17
Adley
I was roused out of bed just before one o'clock by the clinic's answering service again. This time it was a cat that had gotten itself into a sewing kit. It wasn't pretty.
The woman who owns the cat was frantic by the time I met her at the clinic. Dr. Hunt arrived shortly after I did and once again, we took care of the emergency side-by-side.
"Did you get any sleep at all, Adley?" He walks into the exam room that I'm prepping for his next patient. "Not to be rude, but you look like you haven't slept in a week-and-a-half."