Page 23 of The Doctor's Simple Life

I let out an awkward chuckle. “No. I, uh… I guess I just don’t really know where to go.”

“Or want to,” mutters Sienna under her breath. Peggy can’t have heard because she doesn’t look over, but I throw Sienna a mock hurt look. I don’t really care what she thinks at all, but she is right. I’ve felt no desire to explore at all. I don’t think this town is as awful as I’d first expected, but it’s still not a place I think I’d like to hang out in.

I’m not the kind of guy to hang out by myself anyway. I have friends. Why would I do anything alone?

That’s for losers and sad people. I’m neither of those things.

“Well,” says Peggy, barreling on with her thought. “That’s got to change. Sienna, honey, you haven’t shown him anything?”

“No,” says Sienna curtly. “I see him all day at work. Why would I show him anything he’d be ungrateful for outside of that?”

Peggy raises an eyebrow that’s a telling off all by itself, and Sienna sighs. I know she didn’t want me here, but this is more hostile than usual, even by her own high standards. “You don’t think it would be good to spend some quality time outside of the hospital?”

“No,” says Sienna, putting her foot down. “I don’t see why I should.”

“I think it would be good for Reece to have a good friend to show him some of the wonders of Silverbell.”

I bite my tongue to stop myself from sayingwhat wonders?And Sienna mumbles, “Means he’d have to have a good friend,” which gets another stern look from Peggy.

She looks between us and says, “Now, I think y’all could do with a little time where you’re saying kind things to one another. What are you doing this weekend, Reece?”

“Um… nothing,” I say, unable to think of a lie quickly enough to cover myself. It’s not like I do anything at all here except work.

“Then it’s decided. Where are the top spots in Silverbell?”

Sienna makes a face that can’t be mistaken for anything except misery, and I can’t say I blame her. Peggy starts droning on about history and forests and cafes, and I feel a little bad, but I tune it out. All I can do is focus on Sienna.

She’s given in to her grandmother, agreeing to show me around, and I can’t help but wonder why. Peggy’s funny, but Sienna has made it clear that she feels nothing towards me. This week, I almost started to think differently, but this dinner is proving to me that it was all in my head.

Yes, we’ve had a few moments that I would describe as flirty, a few long looks and lingering touches, but that’s at work. Sienna is confident in who she is at work. Outside of that, I barely know her at all.

But Peggy seems to think there’s something in this too. And Sienna can’t say no to her grandma.

Maybe it’s the delusions of an old woman who wants to see her granddaughter thrive. I can’t blame her for that. I’m sure it’s what all good grandmothers do. It’s flattering that she thinks I’m a catch.

Is it what Sienna wants, though? I would have said no, but this week…

No, I’m having delusions too. Sienna is agreeing to this list that Peggy is drawing up, but I’m sure she’ll text me later and tell me not to bother showing up. Maybe that would be best for us both. After all, from the way we fight, it’s clear that we’re nothing alike. She can’t stand me, and I don’t understand her.

That’s no basis for a relationship, is it?

But she is beautiful. And she’s not rejecting the idea completely.

It must be too long since I’ve been with a woman; that’s what’s doing this to me. I’m going crazy by being alone in my own bed every night. Sienna is the only woman who speaks to me — except her boss, who I’m sure would throw herself at me if I let her, but I’m not that kind of guy. I have a little self-respect. Not much, but enough to not sleep with the boss.

It’s the situation, that’s all. The family dinner thing is getting into my head. I don’t want Sienna. I’m just getting a glimpse of a life I can never have. And it’s making me ache.

CHAPTER 12

SIENNA

Iarrive at Reece’s house at ten a.m. sharp. I’m half expecting him not to be ready for me, but to my surprise, the second I knock on the door, he jumps to answer it.

He swings open his door with a grin, and I meet that with as happy a “Hello” as I can muster. Which isn’t that happy.

He’s dressed and ready to go, all the way down to the cap and sunglasses. “You’re here early,” he says.

“I’m not,” I retort. “I’m here at exactly the time we said last night.”

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