Dev was still here. Charlie hadn’t counted on that. And she hated how much she wished he’d leave—and how much her heart craved him staying.
Two days. Two days since she’d kissed his cheek and told him she wouldn’t question every request for the rest of her life.
The rest of my life.
Tears clouded her eyes as she cleaned Nima’s run. The little bobcat would never return to the wild. Hyperthyroidism meant a life of captivity. A life of never quite being free.
That was a reason to choke up. But it wasn’t the reason for her tears.
Her heart had thought Dev might stay. Might be the partner she needed forever. Instead…
Instead, he’d gotten mad that she hadn’t told him about Jared. About the real reason behind the need for the keypad.
And he’s right.
That was the part of the issue that bugged her most. If she hadn’t spent her whole life watching the judgment flow in others’ eyes, maybe she would have told him. Though painting Dev with the same brush as others wasn’t fair, either. This would all be easier to deal with if he wasn’t still here.
“Nima’s added three pounds. She’s officially crested the ten-pound mark.” Dev’s voice was bright. Like the last few days didn’t bother him at all.
Maybe they didn’t. No. Charlie didn’t believe that.
She bit the inside of her cheek, forcing herself to focus on that pain instead of the one ripping through her heart. “That’s great news. Given her disease, putting on weight and keeping it on will be difficult.”
Dev’s brown eyes held hers, the little bobcat in his hands. A picture-perfect moment. Or it would be if there wasn’t so much pain in her soul. “You should celebrate each milestone.”
From we to you in just two days.
“Yep.” That one syllable was a knife sliding through her throat.
“Charlie—”
His voice seemed to crack. Or maybe it was simply wishful thinking on her part. Hoping he might feel as torn apart as she did. When he didn’t continue, she pulled at the back of her neck. Should she ask what he wanted or find a way to extricate herself from the situation?
“I know I promised to stay for six months.”
Here it was. The moment she was dreading. She couldn’t stand here. Couldn’t listen. She just couldn’t. “It’s fine, Dev. You can go. I understand. I do. I appreciate everything. You’ve been the best…” Her throat closed, but she forced herself to continue. “You were the best partner. If you find yourself in my part of Arizona again, stop in.”
It will break my heart, but please stop in.
At least she cut the rambling off before those words exited.
“You need another vet. You can’t do this all on your own.”
“I’ll make do. I always have.” The smile on her face wasn’t real, but she kept it plastered on until she was in her office. He was leaving. That made sense. She’d find a way to put her life back together again.
Though she wasn’t sure her heart would ever be whole again.
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