Page 4 of SEAL of Valor

Ash whirls on him. “You know what? You can stick my employment right up your—” she breaks off. “Nose,” she adds.

It’s almost enough to make me laugh. “Don’t quit on my behalf, Ash,” I tell her. “Please, I’ll be fine.”

“Yeah, well, so will I. And I won’t work here another second with this jerkhole.”

“Think about what you’re doing, Ms. Montero,” Phil warns.

“I am.” She marches right past him and grabs her purse, then helps me with my bag. With her arm around my waist, I manage to make it down the hall toward the exit.

“I really am sorry it turned out this way, Reese. I care about you.”

“Oh no he didn’t.” Ash takes a deep breath, drops the bags, then turns around and marches straight for Phil.

“Ash, it’s not worth it.”

She comes to a stop, glaring up at him. “You are trash, Phil. I think it. Reese thinks it, she’s just too nice to admit it. But there’s not a single person here who actually likes working for you. And I, for one, cannot wait to make a whole lot of phone calls the moment we leave here. Other employees, clients…they’re all going to know just who you really are. Have fun begging people to keep bringing their fur babies here.”

He glares at her, cheeks beet red.

She spins on her heel and marches right back around. After retrieving our bags, she shoves the door open, and we step out into the parking lot.

I can barely see, but the farther away I get, the easier it becomes.

“You really shouldn’t have quit, Ash.”

“Psh, it’s not a big deal. Besides, now that I don’t work with him, maybe I’ll give Jeremiah a call.” She winks at me. Then her smile fades. “Sweetie, are you going to be okay?”

I take a deep breath. “I’ll survive. I can’t believe he fired me. He said I had complaints, Ash. I don’t have any complaints, do I?”

“Not a single one, dollface.” She reaches up and wipes my cheek. “You wanna grab some food?”

“Nah. I think I need some time. Maybe Monday? I imagine we’ll both be free for lunch.” I try to laugh, but it comes out as a strangled sob.

“I’m free.” She smiles. “Maybe it’s time for you to open that practice you’ve been talking about? You know, when God closes one door⁠—”

“I know. We’ll see.” I take another deep breath, my mind becoming clearer the longer we stand out here. “Thanks for the support.”

“Anytime. You’re the only reason I stayed there, anyway. I meant what I said. Phil sucks.”

Laughing, I open the door to my car and toss my purse inside. “This hurts, though. I love my patients.”

“I know you do. Look, go home and relax. Then go on your amazing date with Mr. Swoony, okay?”

I smile. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Probably be miserable.” She winks. “Love you, girl.”

“I love you, too.” I pull her in for a hug, then climb into my Sorento while Ash heads down for her Jeep Wrangler. Fired.

Phil actually fired me.

As I turn on my car, I watch him walk out of the back entrance and head over toward a dark grey SUV parked near the back of the parking lot. The window opens partially, so I can’t confirm who’s inside, though I imagine it’s his new girlfriend.

Did she tell him he had to fire me?

And why do I even care?

Ash is right; this is an opportunity if I let it be. Maybe it is time to open up my own clinic. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do but kept putting off because it would mean putting down actual roots here in Charleston.