Page 37 of The Doctor's Irreplaceable Love

"What's going on?"she asked.

He chuckled."You mean other than me being an asshole?Not much."

She had to laugh."You’re not being an asshole."

He cocked an eyebrow."Thanks.I didn't mean to be.But I felt like I was."

"Why?"she asked.

He blew out a sigh."I guess you could say I was being a brat."

She laughed."A brat?Why?What makes you say that?"

He glanced at her computer."I saw you were working on the ad for your replacement the other day."

"Oh."

He nodded."Yeah, that's what I thought.I know it shouldn't have, but it surprised me.Like I said, I've been acting like a brat."

She gave him a puzzled look."I ask again, why?"

He smiled."Because I don't want to lose my friend."

"Aww."She reached out and touched his arm."I don't want to lose my friend either."

He raised his eyebrows."But in a couple of weeks, I'll only be a faraway friend, right?"

Her heart pounded in her chest as she asked, "And you don't want that?"

He shook his head slowly."I'd be happier if you stayed.Would you?"

She swallowed.She didn't know how to answer.Yes, of course, she'd love to spend more time with him.But even if they did that...

He met her gaze."You can say no."

"I'd like for us to keep seeing each other," she said eventually.

"But?"

She shrugged."I don't know, Trip.I've been so used to moving around, not settling in one place."

He cocked an eyebrow."And you couldn't see yourself settling here?"

She raised her eyebrows back at him."Are you saying that you'd want me to?"

He straightened up."That's the thing.I think we're both in the same boat, aren't we?I'd like for us to keep seeing each other.But what that might mean, where it could lead...I don't know.I don't feel like I can ask you to stay just to explore what might happen between us.At the same time, the way I feel about you has kind of taken me by surprise."

His words made warmth bloom in her chest."If it's any consolation, it's taken me by surprise, too."

He smiled."So, what do we do?"

She shrugged."We don't have to decide right this minute, do we?"

"No."

"Then let's just see how things go."

"Okay."He stared into her eyes for a long moment."Want to start by coming over for dinner again tonight?"

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