As they walked slowly towards Mick's apartment, Trish put her hand on his arm. "Are you really alright?"

"I think so." He covered her hand with his free one. "Don't worry. You played great. You must have been good back in the day."

"I was captain my senior year and lead scorer."

"I could tell. You should join a league although they might frown on the tripping."

"Will you ever let me live it down?"

"Never." Mick chuckled.

She laughed, and he dropped his hand when they reached the crosswalk. She let her arm fall, but longed for the connection. As if reading her mind, he took her hand again and held it when the walk light appeared. They crossed the street holding hands, and it felt right, like their last day on the island.

Back in his apartment, he offered her some water which she accepted. Mick took his phone out. When he looked up he said, "Hunter called me. Make sure he knows we're just friends when you talk to him."

"I don't want to cause a rift between you two."

Mick said, "We'd have to be more than friends." Before she could respond, he added, "My father called. I'll be quick."

She watched as he paced. "Dad, you called... Can we make it a night this week?... I understand. Nothing has changed. Um, just let me know what night works."

"Are you okay?" Trish frowned.

"Yeah, why?"

She shook her head. "You didn't look happy."

"He called to make plans for us to meet for dinner."

"You don't just go home to eat?"

He smiled and shook his head. "We meet at his favorite restaurant. Occasionally, we change it up."

"Just the three of you?"

"Three?"

"You and your parents?"

Mick laughed. "No, my mother would never join us."

"Why?" She gasped.

"My parents are one of those couples who should have divorced. Do you want to watch a movie or something?"

"It depends on if we have similar interests." She recognized the movie suggestion as his way of changing the subject. Something Putty said nagged at her.

"I'll watch anything."

She didn't believe him. "Romance?"

"Why not?"

Trish laughed. "You're lying."

She reached over and tickled his side. He jumped and tickled her back. She screeched which made him laugh and keep tickling her.

"Uncle. Uncle! Stop! I need the bathroom."

Mick pulled back his hand, as Trish ran to his bathroom and shut the door. She put her hands on her cheeks. Being with him reminded her of Joey back when things were perfect. How many times would a tickle fight end in hot sex. Even when the fighting started, they always had makeup sex. Often she would return home bone tired and wake him. Until he started telling her he was tired and picking fights with her. The tickling had stopped a long time before the marriage was over.

Joey would pick fights about money, which she never understood. She made more than him during her residency. Even after he graduated when they moved into their apartment while she was in medical school, she paid her share. Trish took out loans to pay her portion of the rent and expenses along with her tuition. She never lived off him and took nothing in the divorce.

Looking in the mirror, she wondered why she had gone from being tickled to thinking about her divorce. Happiness turned into misery, and she was afraid of more misery. Tickling Mick could have led to something, but friendship was safer. The risk was too great.

When she left his bathroom, his gaze no longer sparkled. "I'm sorry. Did I, um, cross the line."

She shook her head. "I started it, but we said friends right."

He nodded. "I've tickled my friends before. Not for a few years. Trish." He patted the seat next to him. "I didn't realize how serious your breakup was on the island, but I do now. I only want to help you."

"It's so hard to talk about. I live with a lot of regret."

"Tell me one reason."

She looked at her hands. "If I picked another career. Medicine like Putty and not surgery or even PA." Physician's assistant programs were shorter than med school.

"Think of all the kids you have saved. I'm sure their parents are glad of your career path. Wasn't he proud of you?"

Her med school graduation day came back to her. Joey was her biggest champion. She had become a doctor just like she had said when they started dating. Even before that he had promised to follow her wherever she matched for her residency. They celebrated Yale with cheap champagne and amazing sex.

"He was, he hadn't been prepared for my sixteen-hour days. It was five very long years. We were holding on by a thread when I got the pediatric fellowship."

If they had left New Haven together at the end of her residency, they may have survived, but the damage was done. If they went to marriage counseling would she have been able to forgive him for cheating? It was pointless to play what if, but she did anyway?

"I'm proud of you. You were calm with me earlier. Your patients must love you."

"I give them the best care possible."

Mick squeezed her hand. "Do you still want to watch a movie?"

"Sure. I'm still not used to relaxing. Weekends off were a treat. I remember getting razzed for having a good night's sleep."

"Again I'm in awe."

She felt flush. "Your compliments are going to my head."

He laughed. "I'm finding a movie."

After scrolling and debating, they landed on a comedy. It was borderline corny, but they both laughed at the same jokes. They sat side-by-side with their shoulders touching. She kept her hands in her lap to prevent the urge to reach for his hand.

After the movie Mick stood and stretched. She glimpsed some of his back as his shirt lifted. It was silly to stare when she had spent hours with him shirtless, both by the pool and snorkeling.

"I never would have snorkeled if I hadn't met you."

He laughed. "What made you think of that?"

She shrugged afraid she would blush again. Your exposed skin. "Spending another day together."

He smiled. "Come to dinner with me." She bit her lip. "We'll have an early meal since we both work tomorrow."

Slowly, she nodded, because she didn't want the day to end. They drove to East Boston to the Colombian restaurant. The cheerful restaurant was loud with large tables of families enjoying dinner together.

As they walked to their seats, Mick laughed. "I see people I've met before." He nodded his head at a large table.

"Who are they?" The family was laughing, but one man definitely smiled their way.

"He helped me get my job, and he let Tyler borrow his vacation home. That was how he met Poppy."

"So he's your fairy godfather." Mick laughed as Trish picked up the menu. She wasn't familiar with the cuisine. "You should order for us."

"This is a surprise."

Trish looked to see the handsome man smiling with a beautiful woman by his side. Mick stood and shook his hand. "Good to see you again. This is Trisha Jacobsen. We met in Colombia."

The woman smiled. "That's so wonderful."

"Is that your family?" Trish asked.

"Si, it's my mami's birthday."

Mick said, "Go enjoy. It was nice to see you again."

"It was nice meeting you," Trish added

The woman smiled. "I'm Sofia and my husband, Monty."

Monty said, "Ana is looking for us. We should go back."

"Adios," Sofia said.

"They are nice." She smiled.

Mick leaned in. "They are billionaires."

She looked over at them. Sofia's dress was beautiful. "Seriously?"

"There is probably a wing at your hospital with the Whitby name on it."

Trish's eyes grew wide. She nodded. "I thought rich people were old and aloof, definitely not friendly."

Mick laughed. "That's my mother."

She looked at him shocked. "You're joking."

He frowned. "I wish I were."

"Tell me about your childhood."

He shrugged. "It wasn't happy. I don't remember family vacations. My best memories were at the Putnam's house."

Mick ordered in Spanish, and the food came quickly. As they ate, a couple sat next to them and argued in Spanish. She accused him of looking at another woman. "A man can look. I only want to touch you." He started talking dirty.

Mick leaned in. "He doesn't know."

Trish shook her head. As much as she didn't want to listen she couldn't stop. Her entire body blushed at the suggestive conversation. She was afraid to meet Mick's eyes.

"This is delicious." The light danced in his brown eyes.

She snickered, unable to listen stoically. He laughed with her. They didn't talk as they ate. As they stood to leave Mick thanked their server in Spanish. The couple looked up at him and he winked.

The two of them were crying from laughter when they reached the sidewalk. "That was educational. Did you see her face?" She laughed more.

Mick nodded. "It's their fault. It's a restaurant not their home. They went from fighting to sex in ten seconds."

Trish bit her tongue. Makeup sex was fun. "I hated the fighting."

He took her hand and squeezed. "Sorry."

"It's not your fault. I really enjoyed my day."

He squeezed her hand. "Me too."

Still the friendzone. Thanks for voting ⭐️