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Her head pops up, and she looks at Elle, Jillian, and then me. I expect an eye roll, a sigh, some smart-ass comment to come out of her mouth. Instead, she smiles. “I sure am.” She sets her tablet on the counter and walks over to Elle. “And how are you today?”
The girl who brought us in answers, “Elle’s parents aren’t sure if she’s had her shots.”
“I’m the aunt. He’s the parent,” Jillian clarifies. “She doesn’t have a mother. The poor thing went from a box in front of a grocery store to a broken home. She’s very loved and taken care of, though.”
I roll my eyes at my sister, who’s laying it on thick. Clearly, she caught on that I was interested in Cecilia last night.
“I’m guessing she hasn’t had any of her shots yet, but I’d rather draw some blood to test her antibodies to make sure.” She looks at me.
“Yeah, you’re the doctor.” I quirk a brow because just like her finding out I played baseball, I’m just finding out she’s a fucking doctor. “Do whatever she needs done.”
She looks at Cora. “You mind grabbing?—”
“On it,” she says, exiting the room.
“Any other medical advice or tips from the expert you want to share?” I ask.
She picks Elle up and holds her as she turns and looks at me. “We don’t know her age, but I’m guessing eight to ten weeks, based on the fact that neither you nor Hudson mentioned any issue with her eating or drinking. Aside from her regular shots, I always suggest getting a pup fixed before their first heat, and when she’s old enough, to use flea and tick preventative care to keep her healthy.”
“Is there a restroom I can use?” Jillian asks.
“Of course. Right out the door, take a left, and you’ll see the sign.”
“Thanks,” she says, making her exit.
As soon as the door shuts, I chuckle and nod to the degree on her wall. “You said vet tech, and here I am, seeing an Ivy League diploma that says Doctorate in Veterinary Science.”
She simply looks at me.
“You having a problem with me now that you think I’m a dumb jock, not having anything to do with my lack of educat?—”
“Trust me; if I could have played ball and not had to go through all that mental anguish it took to get that paper saying Doctorate, I’d have done that.”
“Undergrad was a bitch. Playing football on top of that, even if it was Ohio State and not an Ivy, was a bit grueling at times.”
Her brows jump up.
“I have a degree, Red. I’m not an idiot.”
Brows drawn in, she shakes her head. “Football?”
“The short version of the long story is, I was good at both. I made the wrong choice because I wanted to play with or against Hudson in the pros one day. I didn’t make it, and he did.”
“That doesn’t explain?—”
“You wanna know me now?” I exhale a frustrated breath.
“Never said I didn’t. I said it wouldn’t be?—”
She stops when the door opens, and Cora and Jillian walk in.
“All right, Elle.” She sets her on the table. “You’re not gonna like me all that much, but sometimes, we have to do things we don’t like to make sure we stay healthy.”
That last part, Sometimes, we have to do things we don’t like to make sure we stay healthy, there’s something in that which deserves at least a fifteen-minute discussion. Not because I don’t get it, but because she doesn’t understand how much I actually do understand it.
10
Sister(s)
