Page 116 of Hero Unbound
Theo was off talking to some other people, so she sat down on a stool at the bar next to Lincoln. Of all Theo’s friends, she knew him least. He wasn’t much of a people person.
And then it hit her. “You did this, didn’t you?”
He looked at her, one eyebrow raised. “Gathered a bunch of people and forced myself to interact with them?”
“No. Hacked into the vet board system earlier today, discovered I’d passed the exam and let everyone know so they could plan this.”
She saluted herself with the Tokyo Tea in her hand, thrilled she’d figured it out.
Lincoln smiled a little as he leaned back against the bar. “Make no mistake, I could’ve done that in about five seconds’ time. But I didn’t.”
“Really?” She lowered her glass.
“I’m trying not to hack unless it’s absolutely necessary.”
His face looked so pained at that, she had to laugh a little. “I can’t figure out how they knew I passed and got this shindig together. The whole helitack crew is even here. Somebody had to have had insider information!”
“They didn’t need insider info.”
Eva turned as Theo came up and wrapped an arm around her. “To get something like this together? It takes time.”
“They knew you were flying back today after taking the exam.”
“I get that. But how did they know I’d passed?”
“Because they knewyou, Evie. They knew that all you needed was a chance, and if given one, you’d succeed. They believed in you.”
“Yep,” Lincoln said. “I mean, I offered to build you a digital ID with veterinarian credentials that no one would ever question back when Theo said he would hire you to work with the LT animals even without your retaking the exam.”
She spun her head back and forth to look at both men before finally stopping on Theo. “You were willing to do that?”
Theo shrugged. “Of course. I don’t need to see a diploma with your name on it to know how talented you are with animals. If you didn’t want to retake the exam, you still could’ve had a job here for as long as you wanted it.”
She set her glass on the bar and wrapped her arms around Theo’s waist.
“That’s my cue to leave,” Lincoln muttered. “Even I can decipher that one. Catch you guys later. Congrats, Eva.”
They both gave Lincoln a little wave but didn’t break eye contact with each other.
“I can’t believe you were willing to do that.”
Theo cupped her cheeks. “I love you, Evie. I always want you to have choices. I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure that’s true.”
“I’ve already made my most important choice.”
“I know. Getting your degree opens all sorts of doors for you. Although you know I want you to utilize that degree here in Oak Creek.”
“Oh, I plan on it.” She went up on her tiptoes so she could press her lips against his. “But that’s not my most important choice.Youare my most important choice, Theo Lindstrom. I love you and choose you. Always.”
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