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I couldn’t blame her if she was, but a conversation would’ve been nice. Maybe it was a sign for me to stop asking her to talk and just give up like I had intended to before my stubborn heart got in the way. She was my employee, and I was her boss. There was no need whatsoever for us to talk outside of work. Not anymore, anyway.

I spent the evening on the couch with Archie, watching some award-winning science fiction film, but by the time I got to bed, I couldn’t even remember the plot. I had made such a mess of everything. If only I knew how to put the pieces of my life back together.

After a restless night of sleep, I woke up feeling nervous about the fundraiser. I’d see Olive today, as I had every day over the past week, only this time there wouldn’t be a treatment table or reception desk between us.

I clipped Archie’s leash on to go for a run. Out on the street, the thudding sound of my feet hitting the concrete made me relax. I ran two miles, then stopped for a quick break to catch my breath and hydrate myself and Archie.

“Yoo-hoo,” someone called out. “Doctor Grant!”

Melissa waved at me as she ran toward me. She was wearing a pink jogging outfit with a matching headband. Her hair was pulled into a ponytail, and her sneakers looked brand new out of the box.

“Hi, Melissa.”

“What’s up, Doc?” she asked before breaking out in laughter. “Get it? Because you’re running and you’re a doctor?”

I managed a weak smile. “I’m good, thanks. Archie and I were just about to continue our run, but I’ll probably see you at the fundraiser?”

“Wait.” She started running in place, pushing out her breath in short intervals. “Mind if I join you? Jogging together is so much more fun than alone.”

I shrugged. “Sure.”

Maybe Melissa’s constant stream of words would distract me from thinking about Olive and our missed chance at something more.

“Did you have a rough night?” she asked as we started jogging. “I mean, you’re hot as a burning stove, but you look kind of terrible. Exhausted, maybe? Oh, I know, you had another emergency at the clinic, right?”

I nodded. “Yeah, something like that.”

Melissa started a spiel about hardworking people, and I felt thankful for her enthusiasm. The less I had to talk, the better.

About one mile into our run, she stopped and put her hands on her knees.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

She smiled. “I need to catch my breath.” She panted loudly. “I’ll be fine.”

“If this pace is too much for you, please don’t push yourself to keep up with it.”

She waved my remark away, still panting like crazy. “I can keep up with your pace, Doctor Grant. I have, uh, arrived where I wanted to be.”

I looked around the area we had stopped in. There was nothing but green hills around us. No houses, no shops, no nothing.

“Are you sure?”

She stuck her thumb in the air. “Absolutely.”

I glanced at my Fitbit. “I should get back. The fundraiser starts in a couple of hours, and I need to shower first.”

She shot me a dreamy look. “And then we can finally go on a date.”

“Excuse me?”

She smiled at me. “You know, after I win a date with you in the silent auction.”

“You’re confident about winning,” I said with a laugh.

Melissa stepped closer, her eyelashes fluttering. “Let’s say I’m used to getting what tickles my fancy.”

Oh, wow. Was she trying to flirt with me?