Page 58 of Animal's Reformation
Olivia swiveled around and faced Dr. Linney. “Why?”
“She seemed distracted and upset during Mr. Riley’s procedure.”
“Did you ask her what was wrong?”
“I did, but she just shrugged it off.” Dr. Linney scrubbed the side of his face.
“She’s going through a rough spot with a personal problem,” Olivia said.
“Okay. I was wondering about it, that’s all. Carl asked me about it too.”
“You and Dr. Mitchell don’t need to worry. Ivy had just learned something upsetting today,” Olivia replied.
Dr. Linney smiled. “I hope she gets through it okay. I’ll let Carl know. Thanks.” He turned around and walked back to his office.
Alan Linney and Carl Mitchell had gone to dental school together and had purchased the clinic from an older dentist whom Dr. Linney had worked for. The clinic had one associate dentist: Dr. Lyle Canty. The office was very busy, and most of the time Olivia worked nonstop from morning to the end of the day. She liked all the people who worked there except for Dr. Canty. Most of the staff didn’t care for him, but his patients loved him, and Olivia suspected that was the reason why Alan and Carl kept him on.
Five o’clock couldn’t come fast enough for Olivia. Holding down two jobs was exhausting even though they were both part-time. The hours Olivia put in as a teacher’s assistant at Slavens far surpassed the thirty-two hours a week for which she was paid, but she loved working with the students so much that most of the time it didn’t feel like a job. The receptionist job at the dental clinic was another story. On the two days a week she worked there, she couldn’t wait until the doors closed, but the money was good, and it helped pay her mortgage and school tuition.
“Ready?” Ivy asked when she came into the bathroom.
“Just a sec,” Olivia replied as she fluffed her hair then swiped a coat of lipstick on her mouth.
“I love that color. What is it?”
“Urban Decay’s Crush. It’s my favorite right now. I love the warm orange color,” Olivia replied, looking at her friend’s reflection in the mirror. She took out a tube of crystal clear gloss and dabbed it over her lipstick “I love this—it’s like a hint of sunshine on my lips. God … I wish the weather would get warmer.”
“I do too.” Ivy brushed out her short blonde hair. “Which restaurant did you want to go to?”
“Burgers & Beer Joint—it’s in West Pinewood Springs. I’ve heard about it ever since I moved here but never checked it out. Alice keeps telling me that the burgers are the best she’s eaten anywhere. Have you been there?”
Ivy shook her head. “I don’t eat meat, remember?” She smiled.
“I do, but I checked out the menu online and they have several vegetarian dishes—even a veggie burger. It’s also a brewery, and if anyone needs a cold beer tonight, you do.”
“Well, you sold me.” Ivy paused and caught Olivia’s gaze in the mirror. “Thanks for being such a good friend. I dreaded going home right after work and thinking about Brady.”
“Don’t mention it—that’s what friends are for.” She squeezed Ivy’s shoulder. “I can’t tell you how many times Alice and Harper have been there for me after a breakup.”
A small smile whispered on her friend’s lips. “Brady was the first real relationship I’d had. I usually never got past a few dates.”
“You’ll find someone else. My problem is I fall too fast, then everything blows up when I get to know the guy. I kind of do it ass-backward, you know?”
Ivy sighed. “Who’s to say what’s the right way?”
“Well, dating a guy a couple of times, falling in love—or thinking that you’re in love, and moving in with him after only a month, is definitelynotthe right way. I know because that’s been my MO for likeever.” Olivia zipped her lipstick and gloss back in a compartment of her purse then slung it over her shoulder. “Ready?”
Ivy pulled the sides of her hair back, securing them with rose-colored barrettes. “Let’s go,” she said.
The two women walked out into the parking lot to their cars. Ivy would follow Olivia since she wasn’t the best at directions. Olivia started the car and pulled out into the traffic.
Spotting the bright yellow sign with the black lettering, Olivia turned into the strip mall and scanned the lot for a parking space. She glanced in her rearview mirror and saw Ivy’s car right behind hers. She turned into a space, grabbed her coat on the passenger seat, then got out of the car. The air was chilly, so Olivia shrugged on her wool coat and leaned against the car as she waited for Ivy to find a parking spot.
Several people milled outside the restaurant, and Olivia figured there was probably a wait for a table.As long as we can get a place to sit, I’m good.She’d worn her high heels to work—something she’d never do on teaching days.
“It’s packed,” Ivy said as she approached Olivia. “I didn’t think I was going to find a place to park.”
The two women entered the eatery through the oversized glass doors, and the heat from a fireplace on the back wall surrounded them.
