Page 13 of A Very Grumpy Veterinarian
I’m mad.Pissed, actually.I dreamed about being with Wells, but it was never like this.This isn’t what I want.
He smiles and nods, seemingly oblivious to my anger.“I thought you might like some help.You don’t need to get all stressed out with planning when we can hire someone.I want to make sure you get everything you want on our big day, and Fern can help with that.”
“We.Are.Not.Getting.Married,” I hiss.
“Yes, we are,” he argues, crossing his arms over his chest.
My gaze strays to his biceps, straining against the material of his button-down shirt.
I shake my head, glaring at him as if he tried to distract me on purpose.“Is this a joke to you?Because it’s not funny.”
“What?”He looks confused.
“I’m not marrying someone I’ve never been on a date with, who I don’t even know properly, who would joke or railroad me into something like this,” I snap, tears stinging my eyes.“What?You think because I’m fat and a virgin that I don’t deserve to be romanced?”
“Whoa!Wha?—”
“I deserve to be loved.Properly,” I cut across him.I’m on a roll now as all the hurt pours out of me.“I deserve better than this.”
Tears spill down my cheeks as I turn and flee.
I have to get out of here.I need to leave.I search blindly for my purse, grab it from under the front desk, and stumble toward the front door.
“Pearl?”Kathy calls, clearly worried about me.
I ignore her.I ignore everyone as I escape.
“Pearl!”Wells calls, his voice panicked.
I run, sobbing as Coco pulls up.Ripping open the passenger door, I throw myself inside.
“Go!”I cry.
She slams her foot on the gas.
I look in the rearview mirror as we take off, see Wells standing there through blurry eyes, his hands on his head.He looks so worried, so devastated, but I can’t care about that right now.I need to protect myself and my heart.
I just wish it didn’t seem like it was too late to do either of those things.
SEVEN
Wells
I’m an asshole.
Fuck, I’m such an asshole.
I’ve been beating myself up since Pearl ran out in tears.I was so focused on getting the girl, on making Pearl mine, that I never once stopped to think about what she might have wanted or needed from me.
I need to fix that.I need to make it right between us, but more importantly, I need to give Pearl space and time to calm down.
And I need to make it through work.
Fuck, I can’t.
Her words keep playing over and over in my head.
“What?You think because I’m fat and a virgin that I don’t deserve to be romanced?”
