Page 16 of Insta [FAM]

“Hello?” I call out, because the place is empty and it’s giving me bad horror movie vibes. “Mika?” I can’t even hear anyone; this is some weird kidnapped-and-never-seen-again situation. I have goosebumps as I walk further into the room to look down the hallway. I should just go, run the hell away, who cares if the rabbit dies. I do, I know I do. My kids will be devastated. And Mika wouldn’t drop by if I didn’t have her.

“Dion.”

“Jesus!” I jump. “Are you trying to fucking kill me? Because the rabbit is doing just fine at that thanks,” I snap at him. Fuck my fucking life, he looks like he just rolled off the cover of Men’s Health Magazine. I hold the rabbit out to him at arm’s length, he can have her at this point. I’m that dangerous combination of angry, tired and scared at what could have been. One wrong move and I’ll implode, either into a mess of tears or yelling — it’s a lottery really.

“Are you okay?” He takes her and holds her under his arm, and takes a look at mine. She scratched me good, the blood is dripping down my forearm and my hand. “Let me put Lola in a cage quickly and I’ll clean that for you.”

“It’s fine, just look after the bunny. I’m not going home to tell my kids their demon is dead.”

“That will get infected Dion, it needs to be cleaned properly. Bunny claws are not clean.” He’s still holding my arm, and I yank it away. “Mika, I’m tired, that fucking rabbit nearly killed my whole family. I just want to hug my kids and go to bed. Please check her out so I can go.” I’m very aware of how alone we are here, and how much of a hot mess I am. He looks at me, and I shift my weight from one foot to the other.

“Okay, come with me,” he says, pushing open a door that says no entry — staff only. I guess it doesn’t apply after-hours. I follow him, my arm is stinging like a motherfucker, but I just grit my teeth and act like I’m fine. I am fine, but his ass is more than fine walking ahead of me. I have a decent view. He’s talking to the rabbit in a soft voice that doesn’t match his physical appearance at all. We are in what looks like a very large sterile room, with animal cages built into the one wall. They’re all set up with drips, and heating pads. It’s swank, that’s for sure. But still gives me creepy hospital vibes for some reason. Might be the ungodly hour, and the fact that it’s just us. I don’t know. I just want to leave — now. Mika puts Lola on a stainless-steel table and grabs a stethoscope from the cabinet behind him. “Let’s check those little bunny lungs.” He talks to her while he examines her. If my arm wasn’t burning like salt in a paper cut, I’d be more amused. Mika gives her the complete once-over then looks up at me. “She seems okay, but I think I should keep her here a day or two just to be sure. We don't know how much gas she’s been exposed to.” I nod my head, adding up in my head what that’s going to cost, added to the gas repairs and everything else she’s destroyed. The most expensive free pet ever. “Wait here, I’ll go settle her in.” Mika disappears through a swing door at the back of the room, leaving me in haunted hell with nothing but anxiety and the creeps. Such a good combination. I look at the deep gouges that she has scratched into my arm, that’s going to leave a nice scar. Shit.

My eyes leak a little because it’s actually sore. I’ve worn through my brave face for the day, between nearly being murdered by the rabbit, being kicked out of my house and now this pain. I’m done. This fucking creepy-ass hospital isn’t helping me stay in control of my emotions either. I want to go home; I want to get out of this cold, sterile room and maybe cry in the shower for a minute. Mika comes back through the doors, and I sniff back any lingering tears, wipe my face and turn around.

“Let me clean that for you, Dion,” he says, stepping into my personal bubble.

“I’m not a Poodle, you don’t need to take care of me, I'll sort it out at home.” My heart is beating fast ,and keeping the tears in is getting harder with every breath I take.

“Dion.” He looks down at me. “Are you okay?”

“No!” I half-yell at him. “I’m not okay, a rabbit tried to kill my entire family tonight. I’m bleeding, and you — you are standing here in my space, all hot and sexy, and wanting to take care of me — no, I’m not okay. Not o-kay!”

He stares at me with wide eyes, and clears his throat, looking mighty uncomfortable. “I’m sorry?”

“Sorry for what?” I snap. “Sorry for giving me a bunny straight from satan’s lap, sorry for all the shit she’s chewed, or sorry for being so fucking sexy, I can’t even think straight right now?”

The way he nibbles the side of his bottom lip draws my eyes straight there, and my heart starts racing for another reason. He smells good, and looks good, and fuck it, I want to know if he tastes good, too. So, I do what any emotional, irrational woman in my current predicament would do. I throw myself at the man, who still infuriates me, and kiss him. It’s a skill when you’re a short-ass like me, and he’s so tall, but dammit, I’m getting it right because the hot vet is kissing me back.