Over the Line by Elise Faber

Author:Elise Faber [Faber, Elise]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Elise Faber

Twenty-Nine

Nova

“I don’t think this is broken,” the kindly old vet says long minutes later, stethoscope draped around his shoulders. He’s given Steve an extremely gentle and thorough exam. “But I’ll splint it anyway, and you should make sure he takes it easy.”

Steve huffs out a sigh, slumping into the blankets, much more comfortable now that Jer—the kindly vet with the shock of white hair—had given him an injection for his pain.

“I don’t think that will be a problem,” I say softly, as the snores start to come.

Jer smiles. “Not for today, anyway. I’ll leave you some oral pain medicine and small supply of tranquilizers, just in case, but have Lake call me if anything seems off with him and I’ll come right back out.” He pulls out some supplies, starts expertly wrapping up Steve’s leg, and doing it in such a way that my little pupper doesn’t so much as miss a snore. “And then,” he says, “once we’re dug out a little bit, come into the clinic for an X-ray.”

“Okay,” I say softly, eyes stinging.

Because Steve is okay.

Because this man dropped everything to come help me.

Because Lake made the call in the first place.

And because…my sister is still sitting inside the front door, her gaze on me.

Pleading, even from a distance. Calculating, even from a distance.

My stomach churns, and not in a good way. I’ve always known she was selfish—it’s hard not to be when we grew up as we did. The urge to hoard anything that feels good, any love and care and kindness shown to us. It’s…a ravenous beast that’s never satisfied, always wanting more and more and more.

She always wants more.

I…I just find my more by hitting the road and searching out—

Snore!

Something I haven’t figured out yet.

I tear my gaze from my sister, turn back to my pup and the vet, and help Jer pack up, thanking him as we move toward the door.

He smiles, nods toward the brooding hockey player shooting arrows from his eyes toward my ex and my sister. “Thank Lake,” he says. “I’ll never turn down free tickets to the Sierra. In fact”—he looks around—“you don’t have a cat I can help? Or a guinea pig? A bearded dragon?” He waggles his brows. “Then I can really turn the screws on Lake.”

For the first time since George showed up, I feel like smiling. “No,” I say. “I just have the one pet.”

“Thank God,” Ashley mutters and I glare at her then focus on the scene outside the large window behind my sister, see George standing by a large black SUV with flashing lights on top.

George, who hurt my pet.

George, who hurt me.

“Damn,” Jer says lightly.

I focus back on him, try to think of something to say, and settle on, “I think you might be able to trade tickets for a couch.”

Jer’s mouth twitches and he taps his temple. “I like the way you think.”

“Can I help you carry your stuff out?”

He shakes his head. “I’m fine. Stay in here where it’s warm.”

I

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