I stood. “I can work on being nice. It’s just being complimentary. That’s not very hard.”

  “No,” he shook his head, “it’s harder.”

  “What?” How could being nicer be more difficult than training and playing on a professional-level hockey team?

  “The reason you are in here is because I had another complaint about you today.”

  “Complaint? I didn’t even realize you had one complaint about me. I thought it was because of the nickname they gave me.”

  “I didn’t want to have to tell you this because you’re an excellent player. You’re one of the best forward centers I’ve ever worked with. But if your teammates constantly complain about you, and you’re getting penalties during games, that becomes an issue I can’t ignore.”

  He let out a deep sigh. “The past two years, complaints about you from the players have increased. Every player gets a complaint here and there. But over the past few years, they have doubled for you. The penalties this past year have increased too. Ever since your mom passed, you haven’t let go. Instead of going through the grieving process, you’ve stopped at anger and have refused to move forward.”

  I was shocked at what was coming out of the coach’s mouth. How could he mention her when he knew what she went through? I missed her, but that had nothing to do with how I was as a player.

  My nostrils flared as I took a step toward his desk. “You don’t know how I feel about my mom… about her death.”

  “Cillian, remember, I was the one who took the call.”

  How could I forget? It was the biggest mistake of my life going to that game.

  “Don’t you think I regret going? You knew it was a mistake, and you let me go anyway.”

  He held up his hands. “There was no talking you out of it. Look, I’m so sorry you weren’t there when your mom passed. But please, stop blaming me, the team, strangers on the street. But most importantly, stop blaming yourself.”

  I ran my fingers through my hair, hating the conversation.

  He wanted me to be nice, and then he brought up my mom.

  “Of course I blame myself. I should have been there for her. I was her only child. All she wanted was to see me before she died.”

  Instead, I was off playing a game in another city because somehow, I believed if I won, if I told my mom I won, that it would be okay. That would make her better. Deep down I knew that couldn’t cure cancer, but I was desperate to make her smile. When I won, her grin always lit up a room.

  God, I missed her.

  I cleared my throat. “I want to be captain.”

  Coach’s head jerked back. “What?”

  “You heard me, Coach. I want to be team captain. I’ve earned it, and I’m the oldest player on the team.”

  “One of the oldest. Jackson is also thirty-two.”

  “Yes, well, once Brian leaves, then typically the oldest player becomes captain.”

  “It’s also voted on, Cillian. The players vote who becomes captain, and what have we been talking about?” He waved around the room. “You’ve had complaints from team members. Do you think they’re really going to vote for you to be team captain? I’m discussing possibly letting you go. You realize the seriousness of this?”

  I did.

  “I still want to be captain. And if I am nice and the players stop complaining about me, then you can’t let me go, right?”

  I held my breath. How could I be considered for team captain if I had no team to play on?

  “Of course. My job is to make sure the Devils are a solid team. It’s not just about skill; it’s about being a family. If you are serious, Cillian, and the players stop complaining, then I won’t let you go. But you have to try.”

  “Whatever it takes. Whatever you think I should do—”

  My phone ringing in my pocket cut me off.

  Coach told everyone no cell phones on the rink. I knew I shouldn’t have my phone in my pocket while I was playing.

  But he made an exception for me. After what happened with my mother, he let me keep the phone on vibrate during practice.

  I lifted it out and saw it was my father.

  “Dad, what’s wrong?” He only ever called me once before in my life—the day my mother died. He couldn’t get ahold of me, so he ended up calling Coach that day. “Are you okay?” I asked, trying to hold back the fear in my voice.

  “Yes, Cillian, I’m fine. But there’s been an accident.”

  “What? What’s going on?”

  It was like my mother all over again. My father could obviously talk, so the accident wasn’t that bad, but he could have had a concussion or internal bleeding. I had to get out of here.

  I covered the phone and turned to Coach. “I have to go. There’s been an accident.”

  He nodded and waved me off.

  I moved quickly into the locker room, thankful most of the guys had dressed and left. It was always too loud to hear a phone call when all the players were around.

  “What happened? Tell me everything.” I tried to balance the phone pressed between my shoulder and neck as I removed my skates.

  “It’s Arizona… He got run over by a car. He’s been in surgery for over an hour now.”

  Chapter nine

  Daisy

  Work had been brutal. Not only was the clinic slammed with back-to-back appointments, but several of our pet owners already knew Andrew and I broke up. One pitfall of living in a small town: gossip.

  It was so busy that I didn’t even have time to chat with Diana, our receptionist, until late in the day.

  “Daisy,” Diana exclaimed as I walked into the waiting room and leaned against her desk. “Glad to see you. How was your weekend?” Her lips turned up into a grin as she twisted a lock of her purple hair around her finger.

  I liked Diana. She was the most positive person I knew. I wondered what positive spin she’d put on my weekend exploits.

  “Just my boyfriend sleeping with Angelica in our bedroom. Then me couch surfing, so my back is ready to give out.”

  Diana’s hair twirling stopped, and her matching purple smile slowly faded as she made an O with her lips. “Is that a joke? If it is, I don’t get it.”

  I frowned. It wasn’t her fault Andrew was a boob. I shouldn’t be snarky, trying to burst her happy little bubble.

  “Sorry. I had an awful weekend. Andrew and I broke up, and Angelica is now sleeping with him. So, there’s that. I’ve been sleeping in a closet at my friend’s place. I thought it was a cute idea on Saturday, but it really isn’t. Sleeping in a closet is not adorable in any way.”

  “I remember when I was young, I’d clean out my closet and set up pillows for a cool space that was just my own. I’m one of seven brothers and sisters. It really was my only private space in that house,” Diana said.

  “Yikes,” I said a little too quickly. “Sorry, I mean, uh…” I was trying to think of a happy spin but really couldn’t come up with anything.

  She waved me off. “No, it wasn’t great. We never had enough food, and the only one of us who never got hand-me-downs to wear was our oldest brother. Yes, even the girls had to wear his clothes. So, one day, I made a space in my closet and pretended I was an only child.” She sighed and gazed off into the distance.

  After a moment, Diana snapped out of her youthful memory. “Were you able to fit a mattress in there?”

  “Lydia had a spare mattress—one of those blow-up things. It just fit, filling the entire space. A bed in a room with no walking space, kind of like sleeping in a deep coffin.” I shook my head. “I thought it would be cozy; that’s why I suggested it.”

  Diana held up her hand and started ticking off her fingers. “Okay, so several points. I’ll come back to the bed in a closet situation later. First point, why are you here?”

  “This is my job. I work here.”

  She tilted her head. “But you said Angelica slept with Andrew. Why would you still be working for a woman who did that?”

  Both Jackson and Lydia had been talking to me all weekend about quitting. Jackson even said he’d pay my rent until I got another job. I, of course, told him no. He needed that money after what Katie did to him in the divorce.

  “I want to be a veterinarian so badly. Where else can I go? Trust me, I thought about it a lot, Diana. But this is my passion. I love working with animals.” I waved around the small waiting room with plastic folding chairs lining the walls, a ficus tree in one corner, and an end table topped with Pet Fancy magazines in the other corner.

  “I understand that, Daisy. I hear what the pet owners say when they’re sitting here in the lobby. They go on and on about you and how you really care about their pets.” She leaned in, lowering her voice. “I think you’re better than Angelica.” Diana sat up straight and continued, “I would not want to work for the woman sleeping with my ex… I just wouldn’t.” She held up her hands. “But that’s just me. I’m not saying you’re a bad person for staying.”

  I frowned. She was judging me, and I knew I deserved it. She was so right—as were Jackson and Lydia. Even yesterday at the coffee shop, I wouldn’t admit it to her, but what Sophia told me made sense.

  Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath before exhaling. I couldn’t believe I walked in here today.

  “You know what, Diana? You’re right. I should quit. I need to walk out that door right this minute.” I pointed to the wooden door separating Fitzlee Street from the clinic. “Even if it means I have to take a job over at that gaudy, exclusive resort, The Blue Spot, with all their spoiled, billionaire guests.”

  I smiled and felt a rush of happiness. Slamming the counter with my palm, I said, “I’ll do it. Yes, they’re billionaires, but I bet a lot of them have pets. They will need somebody to watch their pets as they go about doing their billionaire things. So, I’ll be the most overqualified pet sitter in the world.”

  I swallowed. The idea of leaving felt like a tremendous relief, but ending up as a pet sitter didn’t.

  Diana gave me her usual peppy smile. “That sounds great.”

  As the seconds ticked by and the thought of pet sitting for out-of-touch wealthy people sank in, I doubted myself.

  Suddenly, the idea sounded terrible. But what could I do? That was what Andrew and Angelica did to me.

  I better get used to picking up dog poop and hunting down specialized, gourmet, locally-sourced dog food.

  Sucking on my lower lip, I shook my head. “I can’t do it. I didn’t go to school and take the veterinarian exams just so I could be a nanny for overly pampered pets.”

  Diana sighed, resting her chin on her clasped hands. “I get it. You love these animals. And you treat them well. I just wish there was a way you could fire Angelica.”

  “Yes,” I nodded, “I thought the same thing. When she says she’s got a doctor appointment, it’s code for going to bang Andrew.”

  Diana lifted her head. “She’s the one who said if she caught us lying about not being at work, we’d be fired instantly.”

  “That’s why I think she should fire herself.”

  “Yeah. It’s only fair.”

  I snapped my fingers. “I’m going to do it.”

  Diana tilted her head. “What?”

  “I’m going to march into Angelica’s office and tell her she needs to fire herself.”

  “You’re going to do what now?”

  I pushed my hands on my hips, standing tall. “When I get done with Angelica, she’ll be the one running out of this place… not me.”

  “Uh, Daisy, we were only playing around. Just letting you get your anger out about Angelica. You know she will not fire herself. This is her clinic.”

  It was too late for formalities. I had a plan.

  “I have been pushed around too much by that woman and Andrew. Taken advantage of by them. It’s time one of them pays. And when she’s gone, I can be the veterinarian, no longer just the animal tech.”

  My sneakers squeaked against the beige vinyl floor tiles. Diana called out to me, but I ignored her as I made my way down the back hallway to Angelica’s office.

  I stood in front of the closed white door and pushed my shoulders back. Lifting my fist, I pounded on her door.

  “Who is it?” her high-pitched voice screeched.

  “It’s me. Daisy. I need to speak with you.”

  “Make it quick,” she said, sounding annoyed.

  My teeth clenched. I felt like an idiot for looking up to her when I first started, idolizing a successful, independent business owner, doing what she loved. It wasn’t until I worked for her that her beautiful façade cracked and slowly crumbled.

  I found out her ex-husband set up her clinic, and then they divorced. Why didn’t that marriage last? Because she cheated on him. From what Diana told me, he worshiped her, and she just used him for his money.

  Then I saw the way she treated the animals. Each one was an annoyance she tried to help as quickly as possible. And by help, I meant make me do the exam and pass on the results to her while she spent one minute in the exam room with the pet owner explaining the problem. And if the owner had questions, she gave them a pamphlet.

  She actually used a timer on her phone, and once that timer went off, she was done dealing with the pet.

  I grasped the brass knob and turned, pushing open the door. She held her phone in her hand, tapping away at it, never looking up.

  “Angelica, we need to talk.”

  “I got that, Daisy. I’m not deaf. What do you need to talk about right now when I’m obviously busy?” She waved her hand at her phone.

  It was amusing; she thought playing Lollipop Smash was her way of being busy. I bet she thought I didn’t know about her game addiction.

  “What level are you on?”

  “Level one hundred and fifty-two—” She stopped herself and lowered the phone. “I just opened the game right before you came in here.”

  I folded my arms over my chest. “Sure.”

  Angelica leaned back in her white leather chair. “I am assuming you didn’t come in here to talk about games? What do you want?”

  I lifted my arm and pointed at her, secretly hoping she didn’t notice how my hand shook ever so slightly. “You’re fired.” My voice was wobbly as I gave her my answer.

  Her eyes widened. “Fired? Me?” She threw her head back with a loud chuckle.

  “You were the one who lied about going to doctor appointments when you were really seeing Andrew. According to your own policy, you should be fired on the spot.”

  Her laughter died, and she straightened. “Here’s the problem with that logic, Daisy. I pay the bills. The clinic is in my name. If I am fired, who will pay your salary? Where will the animals go once the rent isn’t paid to the building? If I go, so does this clinic.”

  Shit. I hadn’t thought of that. Diana mentioned that this was Angelica’s business. I was too worked up at the time to realize what that really meant.

  She gave a cartoonish frown and stood, walking around her black desk to stand next to me. Slipping her hand around my back, Angelica pulled me into a side hug. It was nauseating.

  “If you don’t want me firing you, I suggest you get over this hang-up you have about me being with Andrew.”

  My eyes burned, and I knew tears weren’t far off from falling. I took a deep breath and willed myself not to cry. She didn’t deserve to witness my pain.

  “I just found out on Friday.”

  Thankfully, she let me go as she moved around to face me. “Exactly. You had the entire weekend to deal with whatever feelings you had for him. My first boyfriend dumped me for my best friend my senior year in high school. It took me all of two hours to move on to her brother.”

  Ugh, she really was the worst.

  Her phone beeped behind me. She ran around the desk in her three-inch heels and tight gray pencil skirt to grab it.

  “Oh, good.” Her red lips twisted into a satisfied grin. “I have a doctor’s appointment. It shouldn’t be long. You can take over while I’m out.”

  “Really? You’re still using the doctor appointment excuse? You realize I know you’re going to see Andrew.”

  Grabbing her puffy gold coat and placing it on her shoulders, Angelica shook her head. “It’s a doctor appointment. I’ll be gone about fifteen minutes, max.”

  I rolled my eyes as she sashayed out her office door.

  Groaning, I went back into the waiting room. It was still empty, but the cool air lingered from Angelica having just left.

  “Did you actually fire her?” Diana blinked at the door.

  “No. You were right. It was silly nonsense. This place would close if she wasn’t here.”

  “Then where did she go?”

  “Doctor’s appointment.” I rolled my eyes as Diana snorted. “What doctor appointment is only going to take fifteen minutes?”

  “Yup.”

  “And I know from experience, fifteen minutes is more than enough time for sex with Andrew. She could squeeze in a shower if she wanted with all the time she’d have left once they finished.”

  Diana’s head fell back with laughter.

  The bell on the front door rang as it opened. I expected Angelica to walk through, telling us the doctor appointment was shorter than she thought.

  But it was much worse.

  Katie walked through the door. Her orange-tipped fingers held a leash to a small black puppy.

  “Katie, what are you doing here?” I asked Jackson’s ex-wife.

  She pushed her bleach-blond waves off her shoulder and sneered, “I should ask you the same question.”

  I rubbed the spot between my brows. A sharp pain seemed to always strike whenever Katie was around.

  “You knew I worked for a veterinarian.”

  She stepped farther inside, pulling the puppy with her. The dog yelped and placed its butt down on the floor, refusing to move.

  Katie groaned, throwing her head back like an overdramatic teenager. “This dog is so annoying.”

 

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