Chapter Four

LILY

I stayed with Molly for the night, and Ava slept like a dream. I didn't blame her after all the drama she'd been through. It was exhausting for me, so I couldn't imagine what it was like for someone so small, who didn't understand what was really going on.

"Good girl," I coo happily the next morning as she guzzles downs her morning bottle like she's dying of thirst.

Her eyes watch the room, often flicking over to where her aunt sits on the sofa across from us.

Molly is keeping her distance. It's fun to tease her about this kind of thing and her crazy fear of small people, but I know deep down there has to be a reason that she's so scared or apprehensive to be around them.

Holly's never held it against her, never acting like she's offended by Molly never wanting to cradle or care for her daughter. I figure she's used to it, or there's something I don't know.

I don't pry, though. Molly knows she can come to me with anything. She's been my best friend for years. If she wanted me to know, she'd tell me. And either way, no matter what, I will love her.

"Ava's looking at you like she wants a cuddle," I tease subtly.

Molly glares at me from across the sofa, but the anger breaks for a second as she looks down at the gorgeous baby girl in my arms. There's sadness in her eyes, and I shuffle forward, thinking that she actually might take her from me. But in a flash, the moment's gone when a loud knock sounds at the door.

Molly jumps up without even looking back and speeds over to answer it. "Hey!"

I look up with a smile when I hear Holly's voice, and Ava immediately detaches from her bottle, her eyes searching for her mom.

"Hi, Lily," Holly says brightly as she rushes over to catch a glimpse of her daughter while Molly shuts the front door.

"Hey, Holly…" I grin. "… how's Jared?"

She sits beside me, and I happily hand over her little girl. She takes a moment to speak to Ava asking her if she had fun with her aunt.

Molly snorts as she walks to the kitchen. "You want coffee?"

"Yes, please," Holly groans like it's the best idea she's ever heard before she turns back to me. "He's doing okay. He had the surgery to remove the damaged part of his liver, the doctors say it will grow back in time. But other than that, he's very lucky."

"That's so good to hear," I tell her, touching her arm softly.

She nods. "Yeah, he's recovering in the ward and getting some rest before this one crowds her daddy."

"Lily, you want coffee?" Molly calls.

I check the time on my phone. "No thanks! I'm working at the rehab unit today. I need to get going so I can meet Cindy there with the dogs."

Molly walks in with two coffee mugs in her hands, placing one on the table in front of Holly. "I didn't know you were still doing that," Molly replies with a raised eyebrow.

I push off the seat, placing a soft kiss on Ava's head before standing fully. "Yeah, because we only go once a week, and we have more staff now. I'm only there like once every two months."

I give Molly a quick hug.

"Have fun!" she calls after me as I rush out the door.

Lucky for me, I always keep several changes of clothing at Molly's place, just like she does at mine. It makes life easier when we do go on nights out, and we aren't sure whose house we will end up at afterward. I don't really enjoy the walk of shame home, especially when I didn't get anything out of it to make it worthwhile. I don't even remember the last time I had a guy in my apartment, let alone in my bed.

I decide to take a cab this morning. It might be a little more money than the bus, but the rehab center's about twenty minutes across town, and I'm looking forward to the peace and quiet rather than the loud rumble of the bus with all the people on it.

I pay the cab driver as we pull up to the building, and when I jump out, I immediately see Cindy sitting out front with two big beautiful dogs waiting patiently by her side. One is a cream color, a golden retriever by the name of Peach, and the other is a black Labrador who goes by Beau.

Their ears both perk up as they hear me approach, and their tongues roll out the side of their mouths in what I interpret as smiles.

"Cindy!" I wave as I approach, and she stands to her feet with a broad smile.

"Lily, I'm so glad you could make it." She embraces me tightly.

I adore Cindy. It's funny seeing as she's my boss, Steven's ex-wife. Every time I see her, I can't help but wonder how two polar opposites like them could have been together for as long as they were.

Cindy owns half of the vet clinic where I work, and it's written into my employment contract that each staff member will spend time at the rehab center working with the people there and Cindy and Steven's dogs who are therapy certified. While they are separated now, Cindy and Steven never had children so they split their time with their dogs. It reminds me that Steven does, in fact, care about animals despite his atrocious attitude at work.

Beau nuzzles my hand, and Cindy immediately passes over his leash. "Looks like he knows who he wants to work with today."

I giggle, crouching down and scratching behind his ears while he pants happily. "You gonna be my man today?" He nuzzles in close, and I take that as a yes. "All right, let's get going."

We wander through the building, the staff greeting us and occasionally stopping to say hello to the dogs.

"Today we're working in the amputee part of the hospital," Cindy explains as she guides us through. "The hospital actually called and said they had a new patient who had admitted himself, but so far, counseling and other therapies haven't been successful to bring him out of his shell."

"That's sad."

Her lips tighten, and her head bobs. "He doesn't have any family. They think he's lonely, and even his background and medical records are a little hazy. So maybe the idea of a companion like Beau will bring him out of his shell."

I push my shoulders back slightly and look down at Beau as Cindy walks over to the nurses' desk to arrange for us to be signed in. "You ready to do some good?"

He lets out a bark, and I brighten. "Good boy."

I follow Cindy and the nurse into the recreation area. There are tables and food set out along with games, cards, movies, and exercise equipment. Large windows off to the side look out over the street, not a great view but something at least.

"I'll introduce you to Max, Lily," the nurse says while Cindy gives me an enthusiastic thumbs up. "If you get anything out of him, you'll be doing better than the rest of us have done this week."

"What's his story?" I ask curiously, pulling back an eager Beau.

The nurse sighs. "We aren't even sure. His medical records are vague, to say the least. We suspect he was in the military, but he won't confirm. He just came in one day and said I need help. And while it's obvious he does, he doesn't seem to be benefitting from anything we offer."

We stop, and she gives me a supportive smile.

"Max, this is Lily and the therapy dog, Beau. They're going to sit with you for a while," she announces. He continues to stare straight ahead, looking out the large window in his wheelchair. "I'll leave you to it," she whispers, patting my arm softly before she turns away.

"Nice to meet you, Max," I say, pulling a chair from a neighboring table and setting it next to him. I drop onto it, and Beau squeezes in between us, his wet nose nudging Max's hand. When he doesn't respond, he goes for a quick lick, and I have to hold back my laughter.

"He likes you," I say simply. "Have you had dogs before?"

I give him a few minutes, but he doesn't answer, and Beau's still fighting for some kind of affection. So I figure if he wants to do this the hard way, then the hard way it will be. I have no problem telling my life story to someone until they either get to know me and become comfortable, or they get so annoyed they start to shoot back.

I shrug. "All right, so my name's Lily. But we already discussed that. I'm actually a veterinarian nurse, but my boss and his ex-wife, Cindy, have been doing this for years. So all of us who work at the vet clinic take turns helping out," I rattle on. "I grew up on a farm, you know…" then I chuckle to myself, "… no, you don't know I guess since this is the first time we've met. My parents have horses and cattle and even some chickens. I never liked collecting eggs, though, those assholes can be vicious sometimes."

I look out the corner of my eye to see if I've caught any reaction from him, but his face is just stern and severe.

Tough crowd.

Max is handsome. I guess maybe he's in his late fifties. His hair's short and light, but you can see the slightest streak of gray running through it. He's clean-shaven with a strong jawline and deep-set brows. His clothes are casual—dark wash jeans that cover what the nurse had explained was a right leg amputated at the knee.

I know that can't be easy. People like to stare and whisper at things or people that are different from them. But growing up with my brother, I guess I have an understanding of what it's like to be different, and it's made me look at people with disabilities or abnormalities as more than just what you see on the outside.

My brother isn't diseased like many people like to think. He has Down syndrome. An extra chromosome that makes him a little different. But that's it. We're all different. We all have various looks and personalities. We learn at different rates and believe in different religions, but that doesn't make us weird. It makes us unique.

The difference with Max, though, he no doubt has suffered some kind of trauma in his life to be left like this. And that's what I'm here to help with. I'm not trying to help him deal with being different because he shouldn't have to worry about that. What I want to help with is to ease the pain he's going through because of that.

We continue to stare out at the quiet street in silence, Beau looking up at me like he can't understand why he's not being doused in love as usual.

A Volkswagen Beetle catches my eye as it pulls to a stop at the lights below. A smirk catches in the corner of my mouth, and I push back the voices that say no, this is not a good idea.

I have nothing to lose, really.

I turn my body slightly and bring my fist back. "Punch buggy!" I drive my fist into his arm, suddenly realizing just how solid this guy is. He doesn't move, and as I pull my hand back with a shake, trying to ease some of the ache radiating through my fingers due to his hardened biceps. "Ow," I mutter.

A snort makes my eyes flick up instantly. The corner of his mouth is turned up, just slightly, but I'll take it.

"Your punches suck," his deep voice says, bringing a smile to my face even though he's just insulted me.

"You're only saying that because you have arms of steel," I throw back.

Another snort. "Is that a bad Superman joke?"

"I don't make bad jokes," I tell him seriously, almost offended.

His face turns to me just a little, his eyes meeting mine. "Nobody who tells bad jokes thinks their jokes are bad."

I roll my eyes. "Well, aren't you a charmer!"

His hand moves from the side of his wheelchair, and for a second, I think he's going to finally pay Beau some attention. But instead, he reaches over, and his fingers pinch the skin of my arm.

"Ow," I cry, scrambling away from him, and in turn, falling off my chair and landing with a thump on my ass. I know people are staring at us, but I just glare up at him. "What was that for, Superman?"

A low chuckle greets me. "You never said no returns."

I huff like a spoiled child, and Beau quickly leaps at me, licking my face.

"Asshole," I mutter with a smirk as I fight off the dog and push to my feet.

Max is still grinning as I take my seat again. He whistles softly, and Beau's ears perk up before he makes a beeline for Max, almost knocking me over again in his haste.

Max runs his hands over Beau's soft fur, scratching behind his ears. I let him have a moment showing the dog some love and attention. It seems to keep a smile on his face, and as far as I'm concerned, my job is done. Max intrigues me, though, and my inquisitive nature soon gets the better of me.

"So, now that we're acquainted, I'd really like to know more about you."

"Not much to tell, kid," he answers, his dark blue eyes flashing to me for a second.

"Really?" I ask sarcastically. "At your age, you really have nothing to talk about?"

"Nothing I want to talk about," he gruffs, his brow creasing as he turns his face back to Beau. "What about you, girl?" he questions, surprising me.

I laugh. "You want to hear my life's problems?"

"Isn't it always easier to listen to someone else bitch about their life than to dwell on your own?"

I shrug. "Yeah, I guess. I wouldn't really know where to start."

"Married?"

An obnoxious burst of laughter comes from me. "No. No, not married. Very single."

"Surprising," is all he says, and I raise my eyebrow.

"Why?"

"Pretty girl like you not having someone seems wrong."

My stomach tightens as images of Kace flash through my head. I'm not sure why. My pull toward him is obviously so strong that the mention of dating or boyfriends immediately brings me back to him. He's so cut off, though, so unexpected and unknown. I don't like that. It makes me both nervous and excited all at once like teenagers watching the football captain from across the class. The guy who could have any girl he wants, but that you pine over anyway.

"There's someone," Max states, drawing me out of my daze. When I look over, he's staring at me intently.

I shrug. "Maybe… kind of… I'm not really sure. I barely know him."

Max smirks. "I may be old, but ain't that the point of dating? Getting to know someone."

I shake my head. "It's different. He's…" I want to say dangerous, deadly, "… standoffish. He's different like there are secrets inside him that eat him up from the inside out."

Max nods as if he understands, but I'm really not sure how he could.

Kace is an enigma. He's the unknown, and I'm not even sure that if we got close, he would share himself with me, anyway. I think you can feel when a person just isn't ready to let someone in, and with the vibes I get from Kace, I'm not sure he'll ever let anyone in.

There's chemistry between us, I feel it burn through me whenever he's near. It's a magnetism I can't explain.

"Maybe you need to trust him," Max says solemnly, his eyes once again staring out the windows onto the street.

"What do you mean?" I ask curiously, tilting my head slightly.

"If you're scared of him, he will feel it. And people who are scared can do unpredictable things. We, as human beings, know when someone doesn't trust us, and it makes us wary, it keeps us from showing our true selves out of fear of the reaction. If you don't trust him, he can't be sure that once he shares a piece of himself with you, that you won't run or use it against him."

My heart races as I take in his words. "You sound like you know from experience," I murmur, still trying to soak in everything he's said.

He turns back to me, his face returning to the mask he wore when I first sat down with him. "Trust has to be earned. You both have to give a little to get there."

I open my mouth to ask another question, but a hand on my shoulder halts the words. I look back to see Cindy smiling down at me. "We've got to see some other patients now."

I nod before turning back to Max. "It was really nice to meet you, Max. I hope I'll see you again soon."

I stand from my seat, and Beau rises from his place at Max's feet.

Max gives him one last pet but doesn't turn to look at me. "You, too, Lily."

I walk away with goosebumps on my skin and not entirely sure what just transpired.

Max has a story to tell, I know he does. I just hope one day he will share it with me.