Page 35 of The Doctor's Irreplaceable Love

"She has.But the lasagna’s already gone."

Travis's eyes widened."You mean you ate the whole damn thing already?When was she here?"

"It's been almost a week, but..."

Travis laughed."Even if you ate it every day for a week, I don't see how you've gotten your way through an entire one of Maisie's lasagnas by now."

Trip pursed his lips.He wasn't sure that he wanted to tell his friend about Shelley staying over again on Saturday night.

Travis narrowed his eyes at him."Shelley.She helped you eat some when she was here on Friday night."

He nodded.

Travis grinned."And she's been back again since."

Trip nodded again.

"So...what's going on?"

Trip shrugged.

"Come on, talk to me, buddy.Are you two finally getting somewhere?"

"I don't know."

Travis blew out a sigh."How about we figure out what we're going to eat, stick it in the oven to reheat, and while it's doing that, you can tell me all about it."

Once the food was in the oven, they sat on the stools at the island.Travis met his gaze and held it."What's going on?Is Shelley the reason that you're down?"

"Who says I'm down?"

Travis laughed."I do.I know you.You can't fool me."

"I'm not trying to fool you.I'm tired.I was at the hospital until the early hours."

Travis nodded."I heard that.But there's a difference between tired and down.You, my friend, are down, and you're about to tell me why."

Trip had to laugh."All right."He took a swig of his beer and set the bottle down."I told you she was here on Friday night."

Travis nodded.

"What I haven't told you is that she came back again on Saturday night...and stayed the night."

Travis raised his eyebrows."She stayed the night on Friday, but in the guest room.Are you saying that wasn't the case on Saturday night?"

Trip nodded slowly, and Travis grinned.

"And you guys had a good time?"he asked.

"The best," said Trip.

Travis's smile faded."But something's gone wrong since then."

"Not exactly.We're still getting along great.But..."

"But what?"asked Travis."Come on, put me out of my misery.What's happening?"

Trip blew out a sigh."I was going to ask her if she wanted to come home with me from work tonight."

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