Petals For Armour | r.r

15

'1 new message from Ronnie'

Ronnie
Hey are you working today? I told Willow about seeing the animals and she got super excited.

Me
Yes! Come by. I'm here until 4pm.

Ronnie
:) after I want to take you to dinner.

Me
:)

It's been a few weeks since I've been home. I was surprised with me not losing my job. My mom had pulled a few strings and talked a bunch of people at my work on my behalf. Usually felons don't get any kind of job. They reviewed everything in my case. My three year reputation that I've built here also helped a lot.

I finished up giving our facility's' brand new baby baboon his shots. The handlers took him out of my operation room and back into his pen. I had an array of sick, injured or animals in holding in little cages that were across from the operation room. I could hear them all making their noises.

I walked from my operation room and into the kennel area. I had forced a relationship with these animals the more I worked with them. I checked up on my favourite: Atlantis the tiger cub. As I was sticking my finger through the wires of the cage, my phone buzzed.

'1 new message from Ronnie'

Ronnie
We're here. Where should we meet you?

Me
Stay by the front gate. I'll be there in a sec!

I quit playing with Atlantis and took off my lab coat. I wore a plain black short sleeve shirt and skinny jeans. I walked out of the kennel room and into my office space. I walked up to my desk and picked up the phone.

"Hank?" I asked the security officer at the ticket booth where Ronnie and Willow should be. "There should be a man with a little girl up there by you, could you please escort them to my office, if they paid already, please refund them and I will pay you back."

"Sure thing, Dr. Meyer." He hung up the phone.

I put the phone down and tidied up my office space. I heard a knock on the door. "Dr. Meyer." Hanks voice muffled through the door.

"Come in!" I called. Ronnie and Willow both walked in. "Thanks, Hank." He nodded his head and walked back to the ticket booth.

"Hey, you two." I greeted them with a smile and a hug. Willow latched onto my legs and squeezed tightly.

"Hey, A.J." Ronnie smiled. "We sure did miss you."

"I missed you guys, too. Are you ready to see some animals?" I asked Willow.

She jumped up and down with excitement. They followed me into the kennel room. I decided to take Atlantis out of her cage. Willow 'awed' at the sight of her. I set the cub on the operating table as Ronnie picked up Willow so she could see.

"This is really cool, A.J." Ronnie said, smiling at Willow playing with the tiger and then at me.

"I know, right?"

Willow and the tiger cub played for about ten minutes. Willow wanted her picture with it so I quickly snapped one of her and put the cub back once she began nipping at Willows' small fingers. I would send it to Ronnie later.

After a long day at the zoo, I finished my shift while Ronnie and Willow walked around the rest of the outside park.

'1 new message from Ronnie'

Ronnie
I'm taking Willow back to her mom's. I'll pick you up at your place at 6. Wear something nice :)

I smiled at his message but was also confused on what to wear.

Me
How nice?

Ronnie
Something you wouldn't mind getting your picture taken in. By me of course!

I shook my head at his silliness and put my phone away. I locked my office and headed out of the building, saying goodbye to my coworkers. As I reached my car, my phone started to ring. I looked at it almost shit bricks. I quickly answered as I plopped myself into my seat.

"Kate!"

"Alexis!"

"Oh my god!" I exclaimed. "How are you doing? Where are you? I missed you!" I rambled on.

"Woah, woah.." she chuckled. "Slow down. I'm almost all healed up. I'm at Vince Grady Hospital, and I missed you more."

"Kate.. your video.." I trailed off. "You saved my life."

She sighed. I could hear the smiled on her face. "Oh, please. We're even for every time you've dug me out of the shitter."

I laughed along with her but my tone turned serious. "Kate.."

"Yes?"

"I want you to meet someone." I was almost to my house.

She paused for a moment. She breathed in heavily. "I know. Your mom told me everything. I can't wait to meet him."

"I can't believe any of this.."

"Me either, babe." She sighed. "Listen, the nurse is about to come in soon. I'll be out in a couple of days and I'll visit you. Text me! I love you, A.J."

"I love you too, Kate. I'll see you soon."

"Okay bye." She said and hung up the phone.

I parked my car and walked into my building, smiling to myself as I walked into my apartment. I was excited for my date tonight.

I wasn't sure if I could actually call it a 'date' yet. There's a lot more than friendship there. But, we haven't made anything official. We've known each other for almost a year now. What if he actually doesn't like me? Wouldn't he have made a move by now?

I shook those thoughts out of my head as I began to pick out an outfit. I assumed Ronnie would wear something black like usual. I decided to somewhat match him. I picked out a simple mid-length black dress with spaghetti straps. I paired it with shorter length black heels. I left my hair down but teased it a little. I rarely used makeup and honesty, I didn't really know how. I stuck with a simple and natural look. I was ready to go.

I heard a knock on the door. My head raced and I ran to it. Behind the door stood the most handsome man I had ever laid eyes on. Ronnie was dressed in a black button up shirt, slim black pants, Gucci belt and pointed black Gucci shoes. His hair was fixed per usual.

I had to take a moment to catch my breath.

"You look- wow.." he stammered. It's amazing that I was thinking the same thing about him, I just couldn't bring it to words.

"Thank you." I blushed. "You don't look so bad."

He chuckled as I played it cool. On the inside I was screaming my head off. How the hell does someone like him want anything to do with someone like me? I followed him down to his car. After opening the door for me, we both got in and headed to a 'fancy dancy' restaurant, as Ronnie has said.