Page 15 of The Doctor's Irreplaceable Love

“It’s your call.Which is most urgent?”Trip asked.

“Probably Eli’s office.He’s almost ready to make the move.He should be here the week after next.”

“Okay, then painting it is,” Trip chuckled.“I’ll get changed before I come.I know damn well that with you around, it’ll most likely turn into a paint war.”

Travis chuckled.“Don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Trip laughed with him.“Yes, you do.Is anyone else around to help, or will it just be you and me?”

“Just you and me,” said Travis.“And if you don’t feel like it, we can do something else.For me, the whole point is just to get some time with my buddy.I feel like I haven’t seen you in too long.”

Trip had to smile.Travis had only recently moved back home to the valley.For the last few years, they’d only seen each other once every couple of months or so.Now that he was back, Trav didn’t like to let even a week go by without catching up.

“You’re right,” he said.“It’s been a while.”

“How you doing?”Travis asked.

“I’m okay, why?”

“I don’t know.I just get the impression that you’re a little bit down.”

Trip didn’t think he was—he would have been if Shelley hadn’t agreed to come back over this evening.

Travis interrupted his musing.“Never mind.Get your ass into gear and get down here.I’ll get it out of you when I see you.”

“Okay.Give me a bit more than half an hour.I’m going to get changed first.”

~ ~ ~

When Shelley got home, she dumped her bag on the kitchen counter and went straight upstairs to take another shower.

When she’d showered at Trip's place this morning, she’d eyed the big soaking tub in the corner of the bathroom covetously.That was the one thing she’d missed since moving into this house—there was no tub here.

She stood under the spray, letting the hot water hit her face, hoping it might wash the stupidity right off her.

She’d almost made a fool of herself this morning.When Trip had said,How about you just don’t leave?she’d almost saidokay.

She’d thought about it for a moment or two, and just as she’d been about to say okay, she’d stay, he’d laughed and told her he was only joking.

At least one of them had come to their senses.Although, Trip had probably been sensible the whole time.Just because she’d been convinced on a few occasions that they were both prepared to give in to their attraction to each other, it didn’t mean that he’d been on the same page.

But no, she was fairly certain that he felt the same way—at least about the physical attraction.But even if he was open to sleeping together, that didn’t mean he wanted her to stay.She was the one who’d gotten carried away thinking that.

When she finally got out of the shower, she felt better.At least she knew where she stood now.She was glad that he’d invited her back over tonight.She’d go, and they’d hang out as friends.It’d be fun.

Spending time with him always was.

And this way, she wouldn’t feel awkward when she saw him again on Monday.They’d hang out.She’d get a grip on her overactive imagination, and everything would be okay.

As she dried herself off, she told herself sternly that on Monday, she was going to start writing up an ad to find her replacement.It was time to move on.

When she was dressed again, she went back downstairs and started making her shopping list for the week.Trip’s fridge might be full to overflowing with all the goodies Maisie had cooked for him, but her own fridge looked sadly bare.

She added a few goodies to her list.After this weekend, she probably shouldn’t hang out with him outside of work anymore.She could spend her evenings cooking for herself.

She checked her phone before heading out to the grocery store and smiled when she saw an email from her friend, Harper.

Hey, Shelley-Bells,

---