Page 73 of Dr. CEO (The Doctors)

“I dropped out in my first term,” I say. “But I was meant to study physics at Cambridge.”

“What?” Vincent asks. “I didn’t know that.”

I shrug. “You don’t know everything about me.”

He presses a kiss to my cheek, then whispers in my ear, “But I want to.”

My insides dissolve. I’m so pleased we’re in a hotel tonight.

“Vincent says you lived in London for years. What made you come to Norfolk?” I ask.

“Can we talk about you going to Cambridge?” Vincent asks.

I laugh. “No. There’s nothing to say.”

“Vincent’s bummed he’s not the cleverest one in the relationship,” Jacob says.

“Vincent’s never the cleverest one in the relationship. That’s why Cambridge kicked him out.”

“Cambridge kicked you out?” I ask. “I didn’t know that’s where you went.”

Vincent reaches for one of the pistachios that have been placed in bowls on the table and launches it at Jacob. “Cambridge didn’t kick me out. Just like Harvard didn’t kick out Bill Gates. Really clever people don’t need university.”

“This is how they show love,” Sutton says to me. “I don’t know if it works the same way in your family, but it took me some getting used to. Now I feel a little excluded if they don’t insult me at least twice a day.”

I smile, taking it all in. It’s nice. It’s warm and cozy and being here feels so special.

I glance at John, who’s chortling away, clearly enjoying his sons and his nephew baiting each other. It’s such a glorious, happy family. It reminds me so much of Crompton. Not the banter and the jibes, but the bond, the inextricable link you can’t see, can’t touch, but can’t deny. It’s everywhere, surrounding these people like an invisible steel ring.

TWENTY-NINE

Vincent

The stars here in Norfolk are one of my favorite things. I never get to see them in London.

“She’s great,” Jacob says.

We’re sitting around the firepit after the anniversary dinner, toasting marshmallows and drinking wine, just like we’ve done hundreds of times before. Tonight feels different. Better. I always enjoy coming to Norfolk, but having Kate here has made everything exceptional. Even the wine tastes better.

“Gorgeous,” says Dax. “Those legs.”

I shoot him a look of disapproval. Although her legs do look fantastic in her shorts.

Kate has gone inside with Sutton and Ellie to try and find some brandy. Or at least I think that’s what they said.

“You have my approval,” Zach says.

“Oh, the one thing I’ve always wanted,” I say, my tone dripping with sarcasm.

“She’s really lovely,” Beau says. “Kind but also funny. And a charades champion.”

Kate has really thrown herself into the weekend. There haven’t been any outward signs she was nervous or felt uncomfortable. The third time I asked her if she was okay, she laughed at me and said she’d tell me if she wasn’t. It’s like she’s known my family for years. And it’s like I’ve known her my entire life. It feels so easy. So right.

“Do you think you’ll stay in the UK?” Jacob asks. “You’ll have the hotel, and now you’ve met Kate.”

“And us, don’t forget us,” Beau says.

I laugh and take a sip of my wine, to give myself a couple of beats to think about his question. “I don’t stay anywhere for long.”

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