Page 13 of Happily Evan After

BEAU: Exactly. They lose patients too.

ME: I wasn’t talking about that.

ME: She essentially gets to cuddle dogs and cats all day. Aside from the hard parts, that shit should make you smile.

ROMEO: Haven’t seen you smiling around all the dogs.

FLYNN: He’s not wrong.

LIAM: You’ve been in a bad mood, Kid. If you can’t deal with the lady doctor, we can transfer that role to someone else.

LIAM: Romeo could do it.

ROMEO: Romeo is busy trying to get the piece of shit second-hand van we bought up and running.

LIAM: Minor details.

ME: I can work with her.

ME: I am a professional!

ME: She’s the grumpy, mean one.

Maybe what I need to do is just go down to her office and introduce myself. Once she’s met me in person, I’m sure she’ll relax and feel more comfortable with my skills.

And as if Dane—essentially my boss—is reading my mind, he sends me a private text.

DANE: What’s going on, Kid? It’s not like you to not be able to get along with someone.

DANE: It just makes the most sense for you to be the one to handle the most pressing canine medical needs.

ME: I’ve got it. I’m going to go meet her.

ME: Everyone likes me. Surely, I can convince the old bat to trust me a little.

DANE: I don’t think she’s as old as you’re imagining.

ME: Whatever. I can charm her.

ME: I’ve got this, Dane. Promise.

DANE: Be sure that you do. The logistics of getting Marley out to the sanctuary every time we need vaccinations sounds like a nightmare.

DANE: And I don’t even want to think about bringing them all to her.

DANE: Especially with our van in and out of the shop as much as it has been.

ME: I can ask Abel to buy us a new one. It would be a tax write-off for him.

DANE: We don’t need your movie star brother to buy us anything. Besides, if that’s all it took, remember my sister-in-law is Jess Munoz.

DANE: She probably has more money than your brother.

ME: I’ve seen footage of her sold- out concerts. She probably does have more money.

DANE: So you’ve got this?

ME: Yes. You can count on me.