Page 18 of The Doctor's Irreplaceable Love

Trip scrolled to the movie and fast-forwarded to the last point he remembered Shelley being awake.“Do you want the remote?”he asked.“I know it was somewhere after this, but I don’t know exactly when you dropped off.”

He didn’t understand the shocked look she gave him.

“What?”he asked.“Did I do something wrong?”

“Not so muchwrongas…” She trailed off, shaking her head.“Kind of unbelievable.”

He gave her a puzzled smile.“I don’t get it.What do you mean?”

She took the remote from his hand.“I mean, I can’t believe that you’re giving this thing up.”

He laughed.“Why wouldn’t I?”

“Because you’re a man.”

He still didn’t understand.“And…?”

“And men don’t give up the remote.”She sounded as though she was explaining the simplest, most obvious fact in the world to someone who should know better.

“You’re serious, aren’t you?”he asked.

“You don’t get it.”

“No, I don’t.You’re going to have to educate me.What’s the deal?”

She made a face.“I know I’m speaking for myself, and I know it’s a generalization, but I think I’m pretty much speaking for women everywhere when I say that men tend to hog the remote.It’s a control thing, I think.”

Trip shrugged.“I’ve never heard that one before.I don’t think I have control issues.”He narrowed his eyes at her.“Do I?”

“Not that I’ve ever noticed.And I apologize—I shouldn’t lump you in with my ex.Although I really did think it was a men-in-general thing, not just him in particular.Are you telling me that when you were married, you didn’t hog the remote?”

He made a face.He didn’t like to talk about Katrina or his marriage.But he probably shouldn’t be so touchy about it.

“I think if you were to ask…” He stopped and shook his head.“Forget that.I’ll try again.I think if you were to ask her, my ex would tell you that I wasn’t home enough to hog the remote.”

He let out a short, bitter laugh.“If you ask me, I’d say that the only control issues I had were about beingcontrolled.”

Shelley’s smile vanished.“Shit.I’m sorry.I didn’t mean to—”

He shook his head.“No, it’s okay.I’m the one who should be sorry.I shouldn’t have said that.”

“I’m glad you did.That’s a part of your life I don’t know much about.”

He met her gaze.“It’s not something I talk about much.”

“Right.And I shouldn’t be asking.It’s none of my business.I know.”

She pointed the remote at the TV, and Trip was tempted to tell her that he wished it were her business.But what would be the point?She’d made it clear that she wanted to leave soon.

Hell, he didn’t talk about his marriage or Katrina with anyone these days.

Shelley fast-forwarded through the movie, then backed up a little.Once she found the spot she was happy with, she turned to him with a smile.“This is the last thing I remember seeing.”

“Then let’s watch from here; I promise I’ll be quiet.”

She made a face.“You make me sound terrible.”

His heart sank.Katrina used to say that to him all the time.

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