Saturday morning rolls in and I push myself out of bed. I stumble straight to the kitchen to start a pot of coffee and feed Ace. While the coffee brews, I take a quick shower and get ready for the day.

Every Saturday, I volunteer at the local animal shelter. I offer them quality vet care and help the workers with anything they need done; baths, cleaning out the kennels, feedings, walking. You name it, I’ve done it.

I pull on a pair of jeans and my, adopt a stray t-shirt that I wear every week when I volunteer. Instead of messing with my long, strawberry-blonde hair, I pull it into a messy bun on the top of my head. I apply a little mascara and lip gloss before stepping out of the bathroom.

By the time I get back to the kitchen, Ace has emptied his bowl and is fast asleep on the couch. I giggle to myself and shake my head, ahh! the life of a spoiled, old cat.

I pour my coffee into a thermos, grab my purse and keys, and rush out the door. I’m pulling up to the animal shelter only minutes later. As I’m climbing out of the car, my phone rings and I glance at the screen to see a text.

Tyler: Can’t wait for our date tonight.

A smile tugs at my lips as I type back: Me either. I hope to become good friends.

I hope he gets the message I was sending by using the word friends.

“Hey, Ves,” Judy says as I walk through the doors of the animal shelter.

I smile and wave. “How are you?” I stop at the counter to sign in and get my volunteer sticker.

She smiles wide. “Great. I found a home for the dog I’ve been fostering.”

“That’s great news!” I drop the pen onto the counter. “What about Sammy?”

Her happy face falls to one of sadness. “Not yet. But he’s so sweet, I know he will find the right family.”

I offer her a sad smile. “I’m sure he will. And I know you won’t stop looking until you find them.” Sammy is a five-year-old American Pit Bull that was severely abused. When they found him, he was malnourished and covered in scars. He was so afraid of men and loud noises that he would cower in the corner and cry. Judy has been working with him for months, and if you were to look at him now, you wouldn’t think he’s had a rough past. He’s such a lovable lap puppy, even though he weighs nearly fifty pounds.

I head to the back of the building and pick up the clipboard, scanning over what animals need to be checked out today. There are only three that need vaccines, meaning I’ll have a quick day. Which is good because I get time to work up the courage to actually go on this date.

Amy walks in as I’m flipping through the pages on the clip board. “Hey, boss.” She drops her large purse on the table. “What do we have here today?”

“We need Bently, Warren, and Jasper for vaccines.” I look up at her bloodshot eyes. “You want to get Bently while I’m setting up?”

She yawns and nods her head.

I laugh. “Did someone have a little too much fun last night?”

Instead of answering me, she holds up her thumb and index finger with a small gap in-between them, meaning a little bit.

“With any luck, you’ll look like this tomorrow,” she says, pushing her way out the door to retrieve the first dog.

I roll my eyes as I begin setting the items I’ll need, my mind never settling from the nervousness that’s pumping through me with each beat of my heart.

I’ve managed to get all three dogs vaccinated, walked a few, and helped clean out some kennels. It’s going on two p.m. and the closer it gets to date time, the faster my heart pounds. I don’t know why I’m so nervous. I know that I’m going on this date on a ‘just friends’ basis, but a part of me thinks that Tyler is hoping for more; that something will come out of it and I know that’s not the case. I just hope that he accepts what I’m willing to give, and that things don’t get too weird when we have to work together.

When I get home, Ace greets me at the door, meowing at my feet.

“Don’t give me that, mister. It’s not dinner time and you know it,” I tell him as I pick him up against my chest and rub his fat belly. I take a seat on the couch and immediately, he jumps from my arms and runs back into the kitchen, probably to scratch at the container of cat food. I kick off my shoes and sit back, thinking about what I’m going to wear on this date tonight.

My phone rings, pulling me back from my thoughts.

I pull my phone from my back pocket. “Hello?” I answer, without checking the caller ID.

“Hi, honey. How’d your shift at the animal shelter go?” Mom asks.

I shrug like she can see me. “Good, I guess.”

“What’s the matter?” she asks, obviously picking up on something in my tone.

“Nothing... I just… I have a date tonight,” I admit.

“That’s wonderful. With who? Tell me all about him!” she gushes.

I laugh. “It’s nobody you know. His name is Tyler, and he is the ranch hand at O’Connor’s place. But don’t get your hopes up. It’s just as friends. I’m not ready for anything serious.”

“You’re twenty-six, Vesper. It’s time you start thinking about your future. Not to mention, I’d like to have grandchildren before I’m senile and can’t remember their names,” she jokes.

I roll my eyes and take a deep breath. “Mom, I’m nowhere near ready to think about settling down and having kids. I just got my clinic open. I have big plans. I want to expand. Getting into a serious relationship at the beginning of my business venture isn’t smart. I need to keep my time freed up. Nobody wants to be with a woman who works all the time. Plus, when I find the right man, I want to have everything up and running so he gets more of my time than my job.” I shake my head. “Now just isn’t the time.”

She scoffs. “You sound just as your father did when he opened up that tractor supply store.”

I laugh. “And look how well that’s doing! He did things the smart way.” Daddy’s tractor supply is the only one that’s still up and running in this town, even after nearly twenty years. He’s put every local dealer out of business. Everyone in a hundred-mile radius knows he’s the man to go to when you need a new tractor.

“Well, I was going to call and invite you to dinner tonight, but since you have plans, I’ll let your daddy know and we can do it another time.”

“Sounds good, Mom. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Vesper!” she suddenly shouts.

“What?” I ask, alarmed.

“What are you going to wear on this date?”

I laugh. Only she would be concerned about that. “I don’t know. Probably just a pair of jeans and a cute top. Why?”

“Oh, Vesper. Didn’t I teach you anything? You need to wear that little black dress you wore to our anniversary party last year. He won’t be able to take his eyes off you if you wear that dress.”

“Goodbye, Mama.”

“Oh, and wear your hair down,” she adds on.

“Bye, Mom.”

“Bye,” she finally says, hanging up the phone.

I toss the phone onto the couch beside me, wondering if she’s right. Should I wear that dress?

I roll my eyes and shake my head, clearing it out of all the confusion.

I guess I fell asleep, because the next thing I know, I’m waking up to someone beating on the door. I jump up from the couch and rush through the kitchen to answer it. I throw open the door and there stands Amy, holding her makeup bag.

I lean against the door frame and cross my arms over my chest. “What are you doing here?”

She offers a wide smile. “I’m here to help you get ready for your date.” She pushes past me, walking into the kitchen.

I close the door and spin around. “My mother put you up to this, didn’t she?”

She freezes. “No?” I hear the question in that statement.

“Ugh,” I groan as my shoulders fall and my head dips back so I’m staring at the ceiling.

“She made me promise that I wouldn’t tell. But can you blame her? I mean, look at you.” She motions toward me. “He will be here in an hour and you haven’t even showered yet.” She steps closer and sniffs me. “You smell like wet dog. Go shower.”

“I’ve spent the day at the animal shelter,” I mumble as I head toward the bathroom.

Ten minutes later, I’m stepping out of the shower, wrapped in a towel when she barges through the door, her arms loaded down with supplies.

“We’re going to apply some makeup—maybe give you a hint of a smoky eye. Then we’re going to straighten that hair until it’s silky smooth.” She drops her makeup bag onto the bathroom counter and plugs in the flat iron.

“Uh, hello!” My eyes grow wide.

“What?” She looks at me from over her shoulder.

“I’m naked! Can’t this wait until I’m dressed?”

“Fifty minutes and counting, Ves. What do you think?” She tilts her head to the side and lifts her brows.

I pull my towel tighter around me. “Fine,” I mumble.

“Go get some clothes on while this flat iron warms up.” She points toward my bedroom.

I basically stomp from the room, and into my bedroom like a spoiled teenage girl. Why in the hell didn’t they think I could do this on my own? I mean, I’ve been dressing myself for years now. And Amy of all people knows how I feel about this date. To me, it’s not a date. It’s just two people, that work together, getting to know one another a little better. There will be no goodnight kiss, no second date.

I pull on a pair of sweatpants and a ratty old tank-top, and head back to the bathroom where she has all her makeup pulled out from the case and laying it out on the counter.

“Have a seat,” she says, pointing at the toilet.