Read Online What's Left of Me by Amanda Maxlyn - Free Book Online Page B

vacation time from her new job to come with me, but she knows I’m with Genna, which I think is the only reason she didn’t take a leave of absence.
    The medical bills are never-ending, so my mom couldn’t afford to work part-time anymore.   She needed to switch to full-time at her current job, as well as take on a second part-time job to help out.
    The expenses related to the Hodgkin’s lymphoma have thrown my parents into bankruptcy.   My dad’s insurance wasn’t the best, with a high deductible and an even higher maximum out-of-pocket.   No matter how many times my parents pleaded with facilities for a payment plan, it always came back to them wanting ten percent a month.   Ten percent of thousands of dollars from multiple places adds up quickly.   Eventually, they lost their house, so we moved into a three-bedroom mobile home that had just the right amount of space for the three of us.   To this day, I feel awful for all the financial stress, being the cause of them losing everything they worked hard for.
    My parents never show it, though.   You’d never know any of it by just looking or talking with them.   It’s as if losing their home or living paycheck to paycheck hasn’t affected them.   They always smile, never fight, and are willing to get me or my sister anything we need.
    We pull into the parking lot of For the Love of Paws.   It’s a little after eight, so only a few cars are around.
    Genna makes her way into the building.   I don’t follow.
    After five minutes, Shannon opens the door yelling for me to come in.
    Holding the door open for me, she gives me a sweet smile.   “Hey.”
    “Hi.”
    Making my way into the small, quiet waiting area, I look around.   There’s only one person waiting with her pet carrier.   I can hear dogs barking and cats meowing from down the hall where they keep the animals overnight for surgery.
    They’re speaking my language.   I know what it’s like to be held in a place you don’t want to be.
    “Did Genna get lost?   The place isn’t that big.”
    “No.   Someone Jason went to school with is here with her dog.   I guess Genna wanted to say hi.   She went in with him.”   Great.   One thing I’ve learned over the years is that Genna likes to talk.   A lot.   She also likes details, especially if she hasn’t seen someone for a while.
    I glance down at my watch.   I have forty minutes until I need to check-in.   I’ll be here a while.
    I make my way over to the fake granite desk that Shannon sits behind, glancing down the hallway as I do.   I know Parker is here somewhere.   A part of me hopes to see him while the other part wants to avoid him at all cost.
    The side door opens.   Looking over Shannon’s shoulder, I come face to face with the person I was just thinking about.
    “Good morning Shannon,” he says.   “Aundrea.”   He says my name with a slight nod before turning to his right and heading down the hall.
    Hmm. Not the reaction I was expecting.   Wait, what was I expecting?
    “How do you know Parker?” she asks, giving me a sideways glance.
    It all becomes clear now.   I don’t know how I didn’t put two and two together before.   The night at the bar.   Shannon talking to Parker. They work together.   She wasn’t flirting with him.   This revelation makes me smile.   Not that I should smile because I don’t care.   Right?   No.   I don’t.   Okay, maybe a little.
    “Oh, I met him at Genna and Jason’s the other night.   He came over for dinner.”   I try to say it nonchalantly.
    “He’s so hot.   Hey!   If you work here, you can join me in eyeing him all day.   He’s great man candy!”
    Shaking my head, I say, a little too irritated, “Um … no.   He’s not that hot.   And no, I won’t be working here.”   I bite my lip, hoping I sound convincing.
    Apparently I don’t.   She gets a look of recognition. “Oh, does someone already have a crush on the new doctor?”
    “No.”   I