Page 72 of Doctor Second Chance

"So," Izzy leans in, her eyes twinkling with curiosity, "how's life at Casa Duncan Rehab?”

“It’s going swimmingly. I just got there, but it almost feels like we’ve been doing this forever.”

I take a sip of my cappuccino and prop myself on my elbows on the round, wood-topped table. I take another sip of my cappuccino, savoring the rich flavor as I gather my thoughts. The memory of that night by the pool with Shep flashes vividly in my mind, and a mix of emotions is bubbling up inside me.

“Girl, you are smitten. Have y’all discussed anything, or are you still just slinging your cat around, consequences be damned?”

“The other night after Opie went to bed, we did have a big talk," I begin, my voice a little hesitant. I fidget with the handle of my mug, trying to find the right words to convey the weight of that conversation. "It was... intense, to say the least. We haven't really talked about anything before. I mean, we talk, but only about the here and now. And then, if you catch my drift, we did a lot of not-talking when alone.”

We both laugh about that. "You know I want more details there. But first, tell me about the talk."

"Well, we told each other where we are in our love lives. He isn't dating anyone, and you know my situation. I went more into detail about Justin."

"So he isn't dating anyone at all?"

"He says he's not really into the dating scene."

"Now, I'm not sure I can buy that. Have you looked at that man lately? If George Clooney and Peirce Brosnan had a baby together, he still wouldn't be more beautiful than Shep. That man is into the dating scene, trust me."

"True. He didn't say he was celibate. Just that he doesn't do commitment."

Izzy raises an eyebrow. "And you're okay with that? Are you sure that's enough for you? I mean, is he a slut? Or a commitment phobe?"

I pause, considering her question. "I think I'm okay with it. I mean, it's only been about two weeks since we reconnected, so this is all happening fast. Maybe down the line, I'll want more of a commitment. But for now, I'm willing to take the risk and see if there's something there. You know what I mean?"

"Hmm. Maybe. Keep going."

"Maybe. What does that mean?" I press her. She isn't letting up. And she wasn't even around when the break-up went down, so it's not like she already has trust issues with him.

"It's just that we are getting up there in age. We are fresh out of college-style dating around. If a man tells you he doesn’t commit, what kind of future is there? And long distance—that requires a major commitment," Izzy says, her voice laced with concern. "What if a bigger, better deal comes along like before? Are you prepared for him to potentially drop you without looking back?"

I sigh, running my finger along the rim of my coffee cup. "I understand the risk, Iz. But I can't help how I feel. There's still something between us, and I want to explore it."

Izzy nods, though I can see she's not entirely convinced. “Look, this is what I’ll say. You didn’t talk about anything after your little saucy hospital bed romp. You didn’t give over your heart. You might have been falling hard, but no words were exchanged.”

“Mmm hmm. So, what’s the difference now? It’s only a day later.”

“Now you’re in the big leagues. You’re making plans, and there’s a kid involved, careers, and expenses in traveling. In my opinion, he needs to step up to the plate, or it isn’t worth diving in. Hot sex is one thing. Putting all your eggs in his basket is another entirely.”

I look down at my half-empty cup. She is framing it in a way I hadn’t considered. I’m just enjoying all of the good, the sex, the excitement of getting to know each other again, the stolen glances and hidden brushes under the table. But that isn’t reality.

If I’m not careful, I could get hurt. And put real-life stuff in jeopardy.

“And might I remind you, we aren’t getting any younger. Did y’all talk about how you will navigate not living in the same city, the distance?"

I bite my lip, considering her question. The distance is a challenge I haven't fully wrapped my head around yet.

“Yes, we talked about it. A lot was said on the subject, but in short, we agreed to do every other weekend between Florida and here."

"That's a lot to do with someone you aren't committed to. I'm just saying.”

9:54 am

I tightly grip the steering wheel with my good hand, my eyes darting between the road and the Waze app on my phone. Eight minutes. I'll be two minutes late. Dammit.

I fucking hate being late. Like, with a passion.

Isabella and I got so engrossed in our conversation that I lost track of time. I was hanging on, hoping to convince her to change her position on Shep.

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