Page 54 of The Doctor's Twins

“Yeah.”

“Good. Bugs. Yuk.”

“Be careful. Watch your fingers. The hook is very sharp.”

“Yes, Dr. Forbes,” she mocked.

“Careful. Cheeky pupils get wet.”

I helped her to rig up her line and showed her how to cast.

“Okay. Ready?” I asked.

“Ready.”

“Give the line some slack, then cast. Let me show you how. Watch me.”

I showed her a few times and soon she had her fly on the water.

“Like this?”

“That’s it. Look at you. You’re a natural.”

“Sweet talker,” she smiled.

“No, I’m serious. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if you catch a fish before I do.”

“Loser pays for dinner?” she grinned.

“Okay, I’ll bite.”

“Haha.”

Less than an hour later, Peyton pulled her first bass out of the river.

“I feel as if I’ve been hustled,” I laughed when she gave me a pleased grin.

“What can I say? You’ve got me hooked on fishing.”

“Guess I walked straight into that one.”

“Chest wader and all, Doc.”

“You know you have to clean and eat what you catch, right?”

“Oh, no. I’ll have a steak dinner, thanks.”

* * *

My relationship with the beautiful Peyton was progressing nicely. I adored her sense of humor and we had so much in common. Still, there was a part of her that she kept inaccessible. I wondered if she’d ever let me in. Even when we made love, I could sense that she held back. She was a very sexy lover, for sure, but Peyton never surrendered to me fully.

I decided to drop by her apartment, unannounced one evening after work. My car was in the shop for maintenance and repairs, so I was in the shop’s car. As I drove up, I saw Peyton getting into her car. She looked upset. I wondered what was wrong, so I decided, on a whim, to follow her.

I kept a good distance behind so that she wouldn’t see me. I did feel a little guilty for spying on my girlfriend, but who could blame me? How else would I ever learn more about the woman I was madly in love with? Was it a dick move? Probably.

Where was she going? I didn’t recognize the area she was heading for. All kinds of scenarios mulled about inside my mind. I wished I knew why she was hiding things from me. Was she afraid that I would turn out to be the same kind of man as her ex? Couldn’t Peyton tell how I felt about her from the way that I made love to her?

Her car crossed through an intersection. I was two cars behind her, and the light was about to turn red, so I sped up and passed the car ahead of me. It was a bit of a close call, I had to admit.

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