Page 50 of The Doctor's Twins

“It’s so good to see you. You look great. Under all that hoodie, I mean.”

“I can’t wait to get out of this getup. I look ridiculous.”

I changed into something less androgynous while Alyssa poured us a drink.

“Here you go,” she said and handed me a glass of wine.

“Bless your cotton socks. This is going to go down like a homesick mole.”

“Cheers! To boy bands!”

“I’ll drink to that.”

“Are you hungry, Pey?”

“No, thanks. I had cardboard eggs and box juice on the plane.”

“Ooh, first-class fair, hey.”

“It’s all I could afford on my almost-doctor budget,” I grinned. “Lyss, I was thinking. It’s better for my folks to come here, rather than for me to go to their place. What do you think?”

“I agree. Shall I call them and arrange it?”

“That would be great.”

“Sure thing. Tomorrow, okay?”

“Of course. You and I have some serious catching up to do first.”

“We do. Speaking of catching up, I think it’s time you told me about Ben, don’t you?”

I wasn’t sure how to negotiate the very delicate subject with the one person who knew me too well.

“Oh, my giddy aunt! You’re sleeping with him. Come on, I dare you to tell me I’m wrong.”

“Ugh! That’s what I get for flying all the way over here so you can interrogate me face-to-face. It’s my own fault.”

“You know I can always spot a lie in your eyes. It’s easy to fib over the phone.”

“I guess so. And, in answer to your question, yes.”

“Good for you!”

“I’m not shouting it from the rooftops just yet, Lyss. I feel guilty as hell, to be honest.”

“What the hell for? You don’t owe Mateo a damn thing.”

“It’s not Mateo. I couldn’t care less about him. I feel terrible because I’m keeping the truth from Ben. He’s such an amazing guy, Lyss. I don’t want to see him hurt.”

“Have you told him anything?”

“No. Truthfully, I’m finding it very difficult to trust any man. Even Ben. I feel so vulnerable. I know Ben is different. But I also thought Mateo was special.”

“You can’t lose your trust in humanity because of one psychopath, Pey. If you do that, you’ll never find love.”

“I’m not sure I believe in love anymore.”

“Oh, balls! That’s crap and you know it. This isn’t you, Peyton.”

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