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“Walking dogs a few times a month,” I say. “I was just about to get the volunteer application. To, um, keep things official. As we do.”
“Well, then—why don’t you scurry along and get it?” Dr. Evie says, dismissing me with a wave of her hand.
I may have covered for Eli—and myself—with the volunteer lie. But now I’m going to have to leave Eli alone with her. I shoot him an apologetic look, but his expression is still carefully void of emotion.
Thankfully, I know exactly where the volunteer applications are, and I’m back in record time.
Not a moment too soon, either. Doris is practically burrowing her face into Eli’s armpit, and Dr. Evil looks about ready to toss the dog out of the way to pounce on her prey.
She has one hand, with its French-tipped nails—far too pretty for someone in a hands-on job like hers—on Eli’s arm. He looks about ready to bolt, Doris in hand.
“Got it!” I say. A little too loudly. A little too brightly. “Paperwork.” I wave the single printed sheet for good measure.
Dr. Evie frowns and takes a step back, sliding her hands into her lab coat pockets. I swear, I can see her fists clench. “Oh, good.”
I set the paper on the bench seat and pick up Doris’s leash, holding it out to Eli. “Want to put this on her? First step in training. You just tuck the strap through this metal ring and slip it over her head.”
I demonstrate how to work the simple leash, hoping Dr. Evie will leave. She doesn’t. Which is a shame because Eli and I really didn’t finish our conversation.
At least, it felt very unfinished to me. My brain is now populated by a bright constellation of question marks.
Eli, on the other hand, just seems eager to get away from Dr. Evil. Smart man.
Doris allows Eli to loop the leash around her neck, staring adoringly at him the whole time. He leans close, murmuring something in her ear, and I do my best not to melt into a puddle.
When he carefully sets Doris down, Dr. Evil doesn’t even try to hide her blatant perusal of his body. I only hope I’m hiding how much I’d like to claw her eyes out.
Totally unearned jealousy, but there it is. Or maybe it’ssomewhatearned. Don’t I get some kind of claim based on the pretend marriage proposal? And the fact that I liked him divorced of the knowledge that he’s a hockey player?
“I’m glad we’ll be seeing you again,” Dr. Very Evil says, stepping closer to Eli. “Hopefully soon.”
He barely gives her a nod, then catches my eye and holds out Doris’s leash. “Here you go, Bailey.”
Am I imagining it, or do his fingers linger on mine?
Probably all in my head. At least, based on the way he bolts from the room a moment later, volunteer application in hand.
Dr. Evil glances at me with narrowed eyes the moment the door slams behind him. “Why didn’t you tell me Eli Hopkins was here?”
I swallow, not wanting to admit exactly how often he’s been coming in. If she asks around, she’ll find out pretty quickly. I guess it’s a good thing most of the staff is afraid of her—or more likely sees her as competition—and wouldn’t say a word.
“I had no idea he was a hockey player until you said something.”
She laughs, then stops when she realizes I’m serious. “You didn’t recognize him?”
I shake my head slowly.
“You don’t follow him on TikTok?”
“I’m not on TikTok.”
“Oh, sweet Bailey,” Dr. Evil says with a cluck of her tongue. “You’re soyoung. If you’re not on TikTok, how do you spend all your free time?”
Her patronizing tone grates, but I remind myself I need to stay on her good side if I want a recommendation.
“Working mostly.” I clear my throat. This is a perfect segue. And I’ve got just the tiniest bit of bravery left over from my conversation with Eli. Just enough, it turns out. “I’m actually applying to vet school.”
“Oh.” She blinks as though surprised. “I had no idea.”
