He leans back in the chair, crossing his ankle over his knee. "That was quick."
He's wrong. It took too long. I've loved her as a friend for close to two years. I've loved her as more for months. "She feels the same way."
"No surprise there." He blinks." Ellie called it a year after you two met. It was the day you set up that date between Adley and Kade."
"Ellie called it back then?" I'm shocked. The last few weeks I've hesitated to talk about Ad around Ellie. I know how protective she is of her best friend. Ellie loves me, but I never believed she would see me as someone who is good for Adley.
"She did. She said you'd end up together. I didn't agree."
I can’t help but laugh to myself. "You didn't see it written in the stars?"
He slides forward to rest his palm on the edge of my desk. "I've been by your side for years, Crew. We both know she's as far from your type as there is."
He's right. I know it. "It's easy to have a type when you don't know what you're looking for. I never had to put any thought into it. It was all about convenience then. Now it's different."
"You are in love." He raises both hands in the air. "If I were a betting man, I would have lost big. I never pegged you as the type to settle for one woman."
"It's not settling when the most amazing woman on the planet is in love with you. She loves me, Nolan. Me. How the fuck did that happen?"
"You're not half bad." He smiles. "You're going to be good together."
I push back from my desk. "I'm working half a day today. I'm going to drop by the clinic and surprise Ad, and then I'll spend the afternoon with my mom."
"Take all the time you need." He rounds my desk and waits for me to stand before he tugs me into a hug. "I'm sorry again, Crew. I know it was a shitshow with you and Eli, but the pain has to be there still."
It is. The day spent with Ad and the last ten minutes with Nolan hasn't lessened it. Time will do that, I hope. I have to let go of my father and the dream that will never come true.
"You know where to find me, pal." He moves to walk out of my office. "Say hi to Ad for me. Tell her we're happy that you came to your senses."
"You're an ass." I shake my head as he leaves. "Tell the kids I miss them."
***
"Hey." I feel a tap on my shoulder just before my hand lands on the handle to the door that leads into Premier Pet Care. "It's like a fucking reunion here today."
I turn around. The guy staring at me is at least a few years younger than me, shaggy blond hair, brown eyes, completely unfamiliar to me. "Who the hell are you?"
"You're Crew Benton." He shoves a fist into my shoulder in some sophomoric college ritualistic greeting.
I slap his hand away and smooth my suit jacket. "I know who I am. Who the fuck are you?"
He holds one hand in front of him palm down, while the other flies in the air like he's taking an oath. "I solemnly swear not to reveal anything about the club or the identities of any of its members."
"Are you high? Drunk? What the fuck is your problem?"
I step to the side and hold open the door when a woman with a dog on a leash exits the clinic.
She gives me a tilt of her chin in appreciation. I toss her back a smile.
"Take off." I move a step closer to the guy who thinks he knows me. He doesn't. It comes with owning a club. Every asshole who you offer a free drink to thinks you're his best friend. It's called marketing, but this kid wouldn't know a good business plan if it bit him in the ass.
"You're here to see her too, aren't you? Did you find her because she's Hale's babe? That's how I found her."
The hair on the back of my neck stands up. Rage races up my spine. "What the fuck did you just say?"
"Adley works here." He drums his fingers over the window that offers a bird's eye view of the street from the reception desk. "I got her name from the tagged posts online. I brought my neighbor's dog down two days ago for some bullshit check up to make sure it was her."
"Step back," I growl. "Move over there."