One day, she might have to expand her business, Ivey thought. Maybe take on another vet so she could have more time off. But for now, she enjoyed keeping things small. She knew everyone in Sunset, knew their pets and how they fared.
The only upside to being so swamped was that she had zero time to dwell on her failed relationship...
No. She hadn’t failed.
She’d reevaluated.
Knowing Hope waited for her, Ivey went to her office, grabbed her purse—and found she had a dozen missed calls and text messages.
All from Geoff.
With a small wince, she scrolled through the texts. They seemed to come an hour apart, lodged in and around phone calls.
Hey babe just wondering how you are
I called but you didn’t pick up. Busy?
Seriously, did he have no idea what hours she worked?
No reason to ignore me. That’s a bitch move.
Ivey’s eyes narrowed.
I might stop by your place after work.
I won’t be there, you jerk. And don’t you dare disturb my cat!
I think we should talk about this. Call me.
That one was from ten minutes ago.
She didn’t want to talk to him—they’d said it all Friday night and even if she’d been inclined toward second thoughts, he’d helped cement her decision with the ugly way he’d tried to blame her for everything.
So instead of calling, she texted back, Busy tonight. Then, so he wouldn’t accuse her of having a date, she added, I’m with Hope.
As soon as she sent it, she wanted to kick her own butt. She didn’t owe him explanations. So she added, Besides it’s over. Then she fought the urge to type Sorry.
God, being a nice person was a handicap when it came to ending things. Ivey shoved the phone into her purse and met Hope at the back door. Everyone else had already left.
“Are we running late?”
“By only a few minutes,” Hope said. “I called and he said it’s fine. He and his son just finished dinner.”
Together, keeping an eye on the stormy sky, they headed to their respective cars in the empty lot.
“So he has a son?”
“I guess.” Hope stepped around a puddle. “I don’t really know much about him, but if the guesthouse looks as good on the inside as it does the outside, it’s worth every penny of what he’s asking for it.”
“Then let’s hope it is.”
* * *
Corbin Meyer looked at his son—still a shocker, that one—and wished he could figure him out. Justin was tall for his age, long and lanky with chronically messy brown hair that resisted any sort of style, blue eyes full of resentment and distrust, and enough excess energy to power a locomotive.
Determining how to expend that energy in a constructive way would be a trick. A move had been in order, but Justin made no bones about his disgruntlement.
He probably wanted his mother back. In his heart, Corbin knew it was better that she’d bailed on the kid.
Justin wanted to keep his friends, too, but they were in his old neighborhood near southern Ohio. Not an area Corbin would settle in.
Justin definitely wanted his familiar life back, but Corbin hoped, with time, he would grow to love his new life more. Kids were adaptable, right?
Like he had a freaking clue.
Hands in his pockets, Corbin leaned in the doorway to his son’s room and cleared his throat. “Knock, knock.”
Justin didn’t look up.
“The rain’s stopped. I have someone coming by to look at the rental property in a few minutes. You need to go with me when I show it to her.”
“Why?” Still without eye contact.
The words because I said so tried to break free, but Corbin remembered how he disliked that answer as a kid, so he swallowed it and tried for something more reasonable. “Because you’re ten, and I’ll feel better having you with me.”
He got the eye contact finally, and it seared him. “Why?”
Sighing, Corbin came in to stand closer. “You don’t like that we moved. I get that. Change is tough.”
Justin snorted.
“Does that mean you agree or disagree?”
He shrugged.
“So you think I’m too stupid to understand?”
Wariness flattened Justin’s mouth. “Didn’t say that.”
“Good. Because I’m far from dumb. And you’re far from dumb, too, so I know you understand. Neither of us had much choice with the move, but we’re here now and I for one am looking forward to our future.”
Justin mumbled something he couldn’t catch. And maybe he didn’t want to know anyway. “I figured there were a few things we could do to try to make this adjustment easier. First, before I get back to work, I figured we’d buy some bikes.”
Glancing up, Justin asked, “Bikes?”
“One for me, one for you. Here in Sunset, there are plenty of winding roads for us to ride on. I like staying fit and you’re obviously a strong kid. We could ride around and explore things. What do you think?”
“I don’t know how to ride a bike.”
Corbin’s heart broke just a little, but hopefully he hid it. “So we’ll practice here on the property first, where no one will see us. Hell... I mean, heck.” Cursing was a problem now, and Corbin struggled with it daily. “I haven’t ridden in years, so we can both get the hang of it again, then we’ll tackle the town.”
Banking his enthusiasm, Justin asked, “Okay?”
“We’ll buy some floats, too, and get you a life preserver so we can do some swimming. I’m told the lake water is still a little cold, but we can take it, don’t you think?”
Interest sparked in his eyes. “Yeah.”
“I need a promise from you first though. No going near the lake unless I’m with you.”
That got his chin up. “Why?”
The kid did love that word. “Because I just got you and I damn well don’t want to lose you, that’s why.” The urge to reach out and ruffle his hair was strong, but Corbin had already learned not to. Justin pulled away every single time. “In fact, any time you’re in the lake, you’ll wear a life vest.”
“Whose rule is that?”
Taking the question as interest instead of resistance, Corbin went to the end of the bed and sat. It was a new twin bed, for a small new addition to his family.