It’s Friday, right around lunch when the clinic usually shuts down for an hour. I’m engrossed in a YouTube clip from an old UFC fight when the chime above the door pulls me away from the video and my salad.
“Sorry, we’re closed for lunch,” I start to say, lifting my gaze from the computer screen.
A wistful sigh escapes me when a familiar tall figure with black hair steps in, cradling a black Labrador puppy under his arm like a football. I recognize him instantly.
Reed Everett, my older brother’s best friend and the star of every single one of my teenage fantasies, is standing right in front of me.
I feel my cheeks heat. His appearance hasn’t changed much. He’s still just as gorgeous as I remember. If anything, he’s gotten hotter since I last saw him in person, his years as an MMA fighter evident in his hard, chiseled body.
Recognition floods his face, softening his sharp features.
“Little Avery Morris?”
His lips curve into that smile I remember all too well. That carefree, melt-in-your-mouth sexy smile I watched him flash to all the girls that would follow him and my brother around. The smile he gave to all the girls except for me.
My stomach flips as he approaches the desk. I take a moment to calm my racing heart before I speak again, putting on a bright smile and hoping that I won’t give myself away. I’ve managed to keep my crush on him a secret for all these years, and I intend to keep it that way.
“Reed Everett—”
“And the guy just keeps coming!” the announcer’s voice screams through the computer’s speakers. “I tell you, no one takes a shot like Ever—”
I hurry to pause the video, my face burning as it takes me two attempts before I’ve successfully silenced the sportscaster. I clear my throat, looking back up with a tense smile.
“Sorry about that. Pop-up. Anyway, what are you doing in New York? I thought you were living in Seattle?”
The little puppy in his arm wiggles and whimpers, so Reed adjusts his hold until I can see its precious little face. My heart swoons at its big, chocolate eyes.
“I moved here four months ago.”
My smile dims a bit.
As if reading my mind, Reed adds, “I was going to give you a call, but Josh said you were too busy with work to show me the ropes.”
“Oh, yeah. That’s fine.” I shrug, trying to play off my frustration as I stand. “What’s this little guy’s name?”
“Champ.”
“Hey, Champ,” I croon as I take the delighted ball of fur from him. “Are you looking to get a checkup?”
He darts a hand through his dark hair, now that his arms are free. “Yep. It’s his first time though, so be gentle.”
An embarrassing giggle slips from me before I can catch it.
“I don’t actually do anything but check the animals in and bring them back to Dr. Collins,” I say softly, the burning in my cheeks intensifying tenfold.
His brow furrows. “Josh said that you wanted to go to school to be a vet.”
I nod as the puppy licks my fingers with its tiny tongue. “I do. I’m working on it, but it’s just pricey, and finding the time can be a bit challenging.”
“I hear that,” he says. He leans against the counter, the muscles in his arms bulging as he tries to peek at my computer screen. “So, you interested in MMA?”
I duck my head, pretending to get some forms for him. “Uh, not really. I catch a clip every now and then…mostly for…self-defense moves.”
His eyebrows raise, and I try not to grimace as I pass him a clipboard and a pen. He takes them, tapping the pen against his arm.
“Ever seen one of my fights?”
I give him an innocent smile. “You’re in MMA?”
He sighs. “Jesus, doesn’t your brother tell you anything? I retired last year, but I was second in the world for my weight class. Even did a few live pay-per-view events. Surprised you haven’t seen a clip of one of my fights yet.”
I don’t admit I’ve watched every single one of them, glued to the screen as Reed danced around the octagon, gloves on his hands and fire in his eyes as he squared off against his opponent.
“Oh,” I say softly, shifting the puppy in my arms and letting myself get a really good look at the man before me.
He certainly looks the part of a seasoned fighter, his physique sculpted into a lethal weapon. Wide shoulders fill out his black T-shirt, broadened by muscle that must have taken years to build. Bulging biceps peek out from each sleeve, the fabric straining over his thick arms.
A playful smirk tugs at the corner of his lips when I stare too long, and I shake the image away, bending to look through my computer. I click through the schedule.
“Let’s see if the doctor is available for a walk-in today.”
He steps closer, peering over the counter. His gaze falls on a scrap piece of paper with several doodles scrawled across it. His eyebrows shoot up.
“What the hell is that?” he asks with a chuckle.
I glance down and notice the poorly drawn penis my best friend and roommate, Olive, left behind the last time she was here. I gasp, quickly hiding the illicit sketch under a tabloid magazine.
“Oh! Th-that’s nothing,” I stammer.
“Is that what I think it is?” he asks, his smile reaching his eyes.
“I-I don’t know what you mean,” I respond, clearing my throat and trying in vain to keep my embarrassment at bay.
But he laughs low in his throat, bending to slide the tabloid over and get a better look at the picture. “Is that a dick, Avery?”
The puppy nearly jumps out of my arms.
“I didn’t draw it,” I say abruptly.
“Well, that’s good, I suppose.” He shrugs, suppressing another laugh. “That’s a pretty small dick. I would hope you’ve had better references than that.”
The cock of his eyebrow lets me know that he’s waiting for a response. I want to say something cute and witty back to him, but Dr. Collins strolls into the clinic before I get the chance. The lively smirk on Reed’s face falters as he takes a step back, and I shift my attention to my boss.
“How was lunch, Dr. Collins?”
“We’ve discussed this already, Avery. Please call me Matt.”
He stops at the coat rack by the door to slip into his lab coat, stashing a pen in the breast pocket.
“Right, sorry. I don’t suppose you have time to squeeze this puppy in today, do you?” I ask hopefully, giving him one of my best smiles to help plead my case.
I know from his schedule that he’s booked up until closing time tonight, but I want to be able to help Reed.
Dr. Collins looks at me and then Reed before settling on me again.
“A full workup wouldn’t exactly be considered ‘squeezing’ him in,” he says, coming around to give the pup a scratch between the ears.
I know that, but it doesn’t negate how much I want to give Reed what he’s asked for.
Reed shrugs. “It’s totally fine. I can come back Monday if there’s something available then.”
He gives me a playful wink as I click through the schedule and find an open timeslot for Monday morning.
“We have an opening at nine thirty.”
“Perfect. We’ll take it.”
I move to give him back the puppy. His cologne dances around me in an intoxicating fog when he steps close, arms held out to take the wriggling Champ.
“It was real nice seeing you again, Avery.”
I stand still as he brushes against me, taking the dog from my grasp. “Yeah, you too, Reed.”
He waves as he walks out the door, and my heart drops when he disappears out of sight. I want to call him back because it’s been too long since we’ve seen each other. I want to ask him what he’s been doing for the last six years.
I want to listen to him talk about MMA fighting, or ask if he finally purchased a Mustang like he’d always dreamed of, or if he’s seeing anyone. I want to ask him a million questions, but he’s gone before I get the chance.
It’s completely cliché that I was smitten with my brother’s best friend growing up, but I was. He was always hanging around with Josh, and the more time he spent at my house, the more my mind wandered to places it shouldn’t have.
Every night, I’d dream of kissing him, of feeling his muscles under my fingertips, of imagining what it would be like to have him be my first. I’d linger around my doorway just to catch a glimpse of him stepping out of the bathroom after soccer practice, towel wrapped around his waist and his body still wet from the shower.
I sit back in my chair, too distracted by Reed’s sudden reappearance to focus on much. I don’t even realize it’s time to leave until Dr. Collins taps the top of my computer monitor.
“See you Monday, Avery.”
I blink a few times to clear my mind from thoughts of Reed, mustering up a small smile.
“See you Monday, Dr. Collins.”
