Page 125 of The Doctor's Irreplaceable Love

“We’ll make it happen,” Trip told her.

He wasn’t sure how Shelley would feel about being roped in to make playdates for kids, but for himself, he loved that people already seemed to consider them a couple.

As they pulled away from the house, Tanya—who had gleefully claimed the front seat since, according to her, Alana always called shotgun first—waved at her friend before turning to Trip.

“Thanks so much for coming to get us.We’re loving having everyone take turns to get us.Don’t get me wrong—Brookie’s awesome, and we have so much fun with her—but we haven’t gotten to hang out with you guys much lately.”

Trip shot her a quick smile.“I know.And last time I talked to your dad, we were saying that we could maybe change that.How would you feel about coming over to hang out at the house again sometime?Remember?Like you used to when you and Alana were small?”

“I’d love it,” she said.“I don’t know about Alana.She’s all grown up these days.”

That made Trip smile.There were only two years between them—Tanya was thirteen and Alana fifteen—but from the little he’d seen of them lately, he’d say Alana was already becoming a young woman, while Tanya was still more of a child.Although, he figured that had more to do with their personalities than their ages.

“There she is,” Tanya pointed as Trip pulled up in front of the theater.

Alana hadn’t spotted them.She was tapping away at her phone and didn’t look thrilled when he parked right in front of where she was standing.He hoped that her lack of enthusiasm was because Tanya had claimed the passenger seat—not because it wasn’t cool to have him picking her up.

“Hey, Uncle Trip.Thanks for this,” she said as she climbed into the backseat of his SUV.

“It’s my pleasure,” he told her as he pulled away.“How’s it going?”

“Yeah, things are going well, thanks.The play’s going to be awesome.I hope you’ll come and see it.”

“Absolutely, we’ll be there.When does it open?”

“Not for a couple of months yet.Rehearsals are going to go on forever—but that’s okay.It’ll mean we’re truly ready by the time the curtain goes up.And when you say ‘we,’ you mean you and Shelley, right?”

“I do.”

“Will you bring Harper too?”

He smiled at her in the rearview mirror.“I doubt we’ll be able to keep her away.She loves the theater—and from what she said, it sounded like the three of you got along well when she picked you up.”

He wasn’t sure what to make of the sly smile Alana gave him as she nodded.

He turned his attention back to the road as Tanya said, “Harper’s awesome.And Shelley’s awesome too.Are you going to marry her?”

He chuckled as Alana leaned forward between the seats.

“Is your seatbelt fastened?”he asked.

“It is,” she assured him.“If it wasn’t, I’d be even further forward.But go on, tell us—are you going to marry Shelley?”

“No…” He had to laugh when they both groaned.“Give me a second, ladies.Let me finish.I was going to say that I don’t want tomarryher.But we are together, and I do want to… I want to spend the rest of my life with her.”

It felt strange to put it so plainly—to spell it out so clearly for them—but there was no other way to say it.And he didn’t want to hide it.

“So why don’t you want to marry her?”Tanya asked.“I thought that was what getting married was about—spending the rest of your life with someone.”

“You don’t have to get married to do that, though,” said Alana.“Marriage is kind of old-school, if you ask me.”

Trip had to laugh.“I’d have to agree with you there.”He shot Tanya a quick smile, wanting to reassure her.“To my mind, it’s just a case of personal preference.Some people still want to get married.Some people don’t need the title or the piece of paper to make it official.”

Tanya still looked disappointed.“So you’re telling me she doesn’t get a diamond ring or get to wear a pretty white dress and have a big party or any of that?”

He had to laugh.“Yeah, I guess that’s what I’m saying.Although…” He glanced at them both in turn.“I’m still going to get her a ring.I mean, every girl likes rings, don’t they?”

Tanya nodded eagerly, and Alana chuckled.“Yeah.I think so.But if you’re not going to marry her, what kind of ring will you buy her?It won’t be an engagement ring, will it?”