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weekend.  Why don’t you see if you can bring Sam with you?  I want to introduce her to my friend, Ryan.”
    Gabby pursed her lips before saying, “You mean, as in you want to set them up?”
    “Yes, I think they would be perfect together.  I think you’ll agree when you meet him.  He’s a resident.”
    “I don’t think it’s a good idea for Sam to get involved with someone so far away, or even at all right now.”
    “Why is that?”
    “The obvious.  She just started med school and that is so all-consuming.  Besides, she won’t have the time to go back and forth like me.”
    He tilted his head.  “Well, why don’t you let her decide that for herself?”
    “Okay, I’ll ask her.  What about therapy?”
    “I’ll arrange that first thing Monday morning.  You two will have to do that on weekends that we aren’t together or arrange for therapy during the week.”
    “You mean you don’t want to tag along to therapy with two emotionally screwed up girls?” She chuckled.
    “Don’t talk about yourself like that.  There are a lot of people far more screwed up than you.”  He rubbed his knuckles down her cheek and inhaled sharply.  “Besides, I think you’ll find you’ll mend just fine.”
    She leaned into his touch, whispering. “You really think that?”
    He broke the contact and she realized she had been holding her breath.  Was she going to have any will power where he was concerned ?  He held an oyster up to her mouth.  “Of course.  Open up.”
    She did as she was told, grinning as it slid down her throat.
    The conversation came easy for the rest of dinner.  Bradley would feed her bits and pieces from his steam pot, as he had promised her.  It was difficult for either of them to keep their hands to themselves.  They would occasionally brush fingertips or lean into one another and give a playful nudge.
    When they finished, Bradley paid and offered his hand for her to crawl out of the booth.  Because Gabby had school the next day back in Columbia, Bradley took her home as soon as they were done. 

    He opened the door for Gabby after they arrived back at Sam’s house.  They slowly walked to the door much more comfortable with each other than they had been even the night before.  When they reached the front porch, Gabby turned with her head down.  Bradley gently lifted her chin.  “What’s the matter?”
    “Nothing.”
    “That’s not true.  You’re sad.”
    Gabby glanced up towards him.  “Maybe.”
    Bradley pushed her hair on both sides back behind her ears. “You have nice hair, but it’s always covering up your beautiful face.  What might have you sad?”
    Gabby blinked slowly drinking in his touch and his words.  “I really like being with you.  The past two days have been…well...”  Gabby shook her head.  “They’ve been too good to be true.”
    Bradley cocked his head to the side and furrowed his eye brows. “But, they are true.  Nothing can change that.”
    “I know, but I just worry that I’m going to be let down after you leave.”
    “How many times do we have to discuss this, Gabby?”  He sighed, “I told you we’ll try and we’ll see how it goes.  If it’s not working, at least we’ll know we tried.  All I want is for us to try.”
    Gabby smiled a shy smile and nodded her head. “I know, okay.  Try.  You haven’t even asked for my email or phone number, though.”
    Pulling his phone out, he swiped the screen and opened up the contact list.  She was surprised when he showed it to her.  “I got it from Sam the day I called her and asked when you were coming home.”
    Gabby’s jaw dropped.  “You’ve had my number and my email all this time?” 
    “Yes, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve opened it and almost pressed the button to call you, but chickened out.” He smiled a half smile while shrugging his shoulders.  “Sometimes I just look at your name and think about you…about the night at the wedding.”
    Gabby