Page 69 of What Should Have Been Ours

She picks up after the second ring.

“Hey,” she says. The sound of a TV playing fills the background on her end.

“Hey, trouble.”

“You calling me with good news?”

I lean back against the wall outside of my doctor’s office. “Yep. Everything came back normal so far. Just waiting on a couple more tests.”

She groans. “Ugh, I hate all the waiting. It’s so annoying.”

I chuckle. “Tell me about it.”

There’s a small pause before she asks, “So, what’s the plan now? You going home to get some rest?”

“Actually,” I say, glancing at the time. “I was thinking about picking you up for a last-minute dinner reservation to celebrate. Are you free?”

She hums. “Depends.”

“On?”

“What’s in it for me?”

I smirk. “Oh, you know. Good food. Excellent company. Devastatingly good-looking arm candy.”

She snorts. “Devastatingly?”

“I like to think so.”

Gabrielle laughs, and I can see the eye roll that probably accompanied it. “Yeah, I’m free. Just lounging around.”

I start walking down the hallway, lowering my voice just slightly. “And what exactly are you lounging in?”

She pauses. Then, with an absolutely sinful amount of amusement in her tone, she whispers, “Nothing.”

I nearly choke. “What?”

She sighs dramatically. “I just like to walk around my apartment naked when I’m alone. So freeing, you know?”

I drag a hand down my face, heat creeping up my neck. “Geez, Gabrielle—”

She laughs. “I’m kidding. I’m in sweatpants and a sports bra. Nothing sexy, trust me.”

I exhale a pained breath, shaking my head. “You could make a garbage bag look sexy, Gabrielle.”

She laughs again, and I can hear her smile through the phone. It’s my favorite form of oxytocin.

I glance at my watch. “I’ll be by in like an hour after I shower and change.”

“Sounds good,” she answers.

Before we hang up, I lower my voice again, teasing her. “If you were naked, I’d say don’t bother getting dressed. Just let me in, and I’ll handle the rest.”

She playfully gasps. “Dr. Hayes, how scandalous.”

I grin. “It’s one of my best qualities.”

“Mmm, I’ll see you soon.”