Page 43 of As They Are (Strawberry Springs #2)

HENRY

Strawberry Springs Neighborhood Watch

Jade Clark : @Jackie Anne , why did I see about ten raccoons scurry behind your house?

Comments:

Mollie Wilson : Uh-oh. She’s been caught.

Jade Clark : Caught with what?

Mollie Wilson : She told me she’s building an army.

Jade Clark : Of RACCOONS??

Tammy Jane : Well, at least they’re not in my trash.

Marjorie Brown: Have you taught ’em tricks?

“Honestly, Theo, I’d say you’re in perfect health,” I told the patient in front of me. “Other than the knee pain, of course.”

He rubbed his knee with a sigh. Theo had moved in before I did, but was one of my first patients.

Usually, men in their thirties avoided doctors, still thinking they were invincible.

But Theo came to his yearly visits like clockwork.

I didn’t know much about his past, but he was a nice enough guy.

He mainly kept to himself, though Marjorie seemed to like him, judging by how much she tagged him in things in the Facebook group.

“I knew I shouldn’t have helped Hugh with his carpet issue,” he grumbled.

“He can be demanding, but it should heal. Just rest for a bit.”

“Thanks.” He glanced at the door before looking back at me. “How long is Wren gonna be in town?”

I nearly dropped my clipboard. “Why do you ask?”

“I wanted to ask her about something. I saw what she was doing with the library and wondered if she was doing anything after.”

“What kind of things?” I hadn’t heard of Theo ever dating anyone, but it would be my luck that he would be interested in the most gorgeous woman in town.

“A project,” he immediately said. “Not anything else. I don’t make moves on other people’s partners. Or ... anyone, really.”

“Oh.” I let out a breath of relief. “Wren will be in Nashville after filming ends, but I’m sure you could convince her to take a job here.”

“It might be a few months. I need more money saved up.”

She would be gone in a few months, but if I had her back for a project ... I’d get more time with her. Even if it was as just friends.

“You should still ask. Since she’s so close with Mollie, I’m sure she’ll visit.”

“She’s close with you too, right?” he asked.

“Oh, uh, yeah. Of course.” I laughed awkwardly. If Theo thought anything of it, he didn’t say anything.

“I’ll have to ask her once all of the cameras are gone. Thanks, Doc.”

We wrapped up the appointment after that, and I took a breath of relief as I walked to the door to lock it.

Before I could, however, Tammy walked in.

“Hey, Doc. Got a minute?”

“Yeah, I do. Is something wrong?”

“Not with me. Just wanted to chat.”

That was ... concerning. I gestured to one of the waiting room chairs and sat next to her. “What’s on your mind?”

“You and Wren.”

I blinked. “We are?”

“Yeah. You guys are serious, right? Are you going with her when she goes back to Nashville or ...?” She trailed off.

My shoulders tensed. In all of our planning, we hadn’t talked much about the end. I didn’t want to think too hard about what life would be like without her. “I’m sure we’ll figure it out.”

Tammy wasn’t convinced. “You two are serious enough to be on camera and you’re fine with saying you’ll ‘figure it out?’ Who are you, and what have you done with Henry Connor?”

“I’m trying to be more relaxed with this one.”

She raised an eyebrow. “You have a woman like Wren and you’re choosing to be relaxed?”

“Yes?”

“She’s the kind of woman that you go on one date with and start planning the wedding. What the hell are you doing?”

I wasn’t sure I could tense any more, but I did. “I’m not doing anything, just keeping it ... chill.”

The words sounded wrong coming out of my mouth.

She narrowed her eyes. “Something’s fishy here.”

“Nothing is fishy! In fact, I make sure nothing ever smells like fish. I use a lemon-scented cleaner and?—”

“Henry,” she said slowly. “You know I’m not gonna be fooled.”

“Could you try to be?”

“No.” Her voice was flat. “Listen, if it were anyone else, I’d let it go, but this is Wren. So, I’m figuring things out. I came here hoping I would find out some info on you and her, something that would tell me if you could get her to stay, but this is off. You two are off.”

“Do you always do this much digging?”

“For her I do.” She crossed her arms. “Now, spill.”

There was something about the way she looked at me that reminded me of my mother when she would catch me reading at two in the morning. I knew I couldn’t keep lying.

“Wren and I aren’t dating.”

“What?”

“We’re pretending to ... so she doesn’t have to be with Jude.”

Tammy looked like she was trying to remember all of the numbers of pi. “I don’t ... But you look?—”

“She’s a good actor.”

“And you?”

“I’m ... not acting as much, but I’m making sure I don’t get attached.” It was hard to admit, but somehow also easy to. I didn’t realize how much I needed to talk about this until Tammy forced it out of me.

“Is this why no one ever sees her at your house?”

I reared back. “People are keeping track of that?”

“Kerry is. Not closely, but your house makes more sense. It’s closer to her work. So, she’s never there?”

I rubbed my face. “That’s one of the ways I’m managing, yes.”

“I can’t believe it. You’re lying to us all. You even had me fooled . ” She let out a laugh and then paused. “Wait a second, you’re in denial and it’s been months. I won the damn bet!”

“Tammy, you can’t let this get out.”

“You mean I know I won and I can’t even get the money out of it?” She threw her hands in the air. “You’re a cruel man.”

“Sorry, but it was needed. You saw her the first day of filming. She was miserable.”

“And what did you get in return?” she asked. “One doesn’t just do all of this for nothing.”

“I didn’t ask for anything. I just wanted to help. She’s the one who made sure she did things in return.”

“Sexual things?”

“What?” My cheeks felt hot. “No! I mean, not directly in return. But that’s beside the point.”

“Don’t tell me you’re using her for?—”

“Tammy, no . I would never.”

She eyed me. “You’re right. You wouldn’t. But I’m still worried about her. About you both, at this point.”

“We’ll be fine.”

“Even when it’s done? You’re just gonna let her leave?”

I slumped. “I guess so.”

“You’re not happy with that, are you?”

“Not really, no. But it’s the plan.”

Tammy frowned. “Why don’t you just ask her out? See if she’ll come back when she’s done with her projects.”

“She’s famous in Nashville.”

“And now she’s famous here.”

I still shook my head. “She doesn’t feel that way about me.”

She let out a barking laugh. “Yeah, right . What, do you think I’m old and stupid? That girl definitely likes you.”

“I’m sure in some ways she does,” I said, thinking about the sex, “but in others not so much.”

“Have you asked her?”

“Well, no.”

“Then, how could you possibly know?”

“I—okay, maybe you have a point.”

“I have all the points, and then some. So, are you gonna do it?”

Letting out a sigh, I added, “This could go wrong. What if she says no and it gets weird?”

“So, you’re scared? Are you gonna let a little fear stop you from getting a girl like Wren ?”

When she put it like that, it felt simple. I wasn’t the kind of guy who let fear stop me. If I did, I wouldn’t have gone to medical school or moved here.

“You are . . . alarmingly convincing.”

“It’s a talent of mine. One of many.”

“I’m glad Wren has you.”

“And I wanna keep her. So you better do your part, Doc.” She pointed at me. “She belongs here. She just doesn’t know it yet.”