Page 10 of The Backup Groom

“I’m not buying it. Come on, show me.”

She turned her phone toward me. “Do you likey-likey?”

“Wow.” I nodded for far too long and way too slowly. “Like a fine wine . . .”

Stella cut to the chase. “Call him.”

I jerked my head back. “What? Now?”

“Yes. Now.”

I hesitated, unable to come up with a reason not to.

Stella was more than happy to supply me with a little motivation. “Fine. I hope you enjoy working here for the rest of your life. Stuck with Huck the Schmuck. Imagine the horror.”

With absolute perfect timing, Huck passed by the conference room, giving me the stink eye.

I blew out a breath. “Fine.” I picked up my phone from the table, then looked up at Stella. “Oh, wait. I don’t have Ryan in my contacts anymore.”

“Way ahead of you . . .” She showed me her phone with a picture of Ryan looking so handsome, wearing a white doctor’s jacket on a website that said Ryan’s Vets and Pets.

“He did it,” I said, a warm feeling passing through my body, since Ryan had always wanted to work with animals. “That is wonderful. Good for him.”

At least one of us had a fulfilling job.

Ryan was even better looking than the last time I had seen him; sure, he had a few wrinkles and a few grays, which was to be expected. They made him look more distinguished. That gleam in his eyes seemed to say that all was right in his world.

And why wouldn’t it be? What we had was years ago.

People were expected to get on with their lives.

Stella scrolled to the contact page on the website and showed me his business phone number. “Make the call.”

“I guess I’m really doing this,” I mumbled.

“You sure are. And you deserve all the good things coming your way.”

I actually believed her, then dialed his veterinary office.

Like someone had flicked a switch, my heartbeat raced.

“Ryan’s Vets and Pet,” a chipper female voice answered. “This is Abigail.”

“Hey there,” I said. “May I please speak to Ryan Scott?”

“May I ask who’s calling?”

“Amber Norris . . . an old friend.”

“Let me check and see if he’s available. Hold on a second.”

“Of course.” I turned to Stella and shook my head in disbelief. “I can’t believe I said I was an old friend. Hopefully, she doesn’t repeat that to him.”

Stella shrugged. “Better than saying you’re an old secret admirer.”

“True.” I let out a nervous giggle. “He’s probably busy with—”

“Amber,” Ryan said. “Oh, wow—what a surprise.”