Page 87 of Not Mine to Rescue

“Are you still going to be a vet?” I asked, knowing that a close call like this might scare the shit out of her. It would do that to me.

“Absolutely.”

I studied her. She looked different. Almost older. Definitely more like a real human than the little cherub angel-face she’d always been. “Being a vet looks good on you.”

“Thanks. Doc says I’m welcome to assist any time.”

“Wasn’t he the same one who lectured you about making dietary decisions?”

“Yup. Now he likes me.”

“I hope that’s just like, not anything else.”

“Don’t worry, big brother, he’s married.”

That didn’t stop some people. Speaking of… I’d forgotten about Honor. “I forgot something. I need make a call. He’s going to be out for a while, right?”

“To who?”

I shot my sister a look that said, you should know who.

“How is she doing?”

That was a loaded question. “The condom broke.”

“What!?”

Luckily, she’d kept her voice down to a harsh whisper. “You heard me.”

“Holy shit. What are you going to do?” Her eyes bored into me.

I shrugged. “It’s not up to me, is it?”

“Bro.” She tilted her head as if I should know what she wanted to say.

“What?”

Her face went through a series of emotions. “A baby? I’d be an aunt. And you…whoa. That’s huge.”

Yeah, huge. And also not guaranteed. It was stupid how everyone just thought it was a done deal when it really wasn’t. “When Dumb Ass wakes up, I’m going to make sure he’s comfortable, then I’ll stop by the CVS and grab a Plan B. I can drop it off for her.”

Lemon’s mouth dropped open. It worked for a moment. “You’re not even going to try are you?”

“Lemon. I’m a fuck up. She wouldn’t want a kid with me—Ow!”

The sting radiated beyond where she slapped my skull.

“That hurt.” I rubbed at my poor head.

“Good. You could try asking her first.”

“She doesn’t want kids.” I picked at a loose string on my jeans.

“How do you know that?”

I stood up, paced to the cages along the wall, and turned to glare at her. “She’s lost two babies already. Okay? I don’t want to put her through that again. It’s just… easier this way.”

“For who? You?”