Unfriending the Dr: A Small Town Friends to Lovers Romance

I blew out a breath and let my shoulders fall. “I wish I did.”

Parts for old cars weren’t easy to come by and when you did find them, it took forever to negotiate a price and get them shipped to wherever you were in the world.

“Got something else on your mind?” Gavin’s tone was teasing and his satisfied smirk said he knew exactly what was on my mind. “You look like a man in love.”

“It’s too soon for love.” It was too soon to tell Persephone that I loved her as more than a friend, anyway. “We’re taking it slow, feeling each other out so we don’t ruin our friendship.”

“Yeah.” He nodded and crossed his arms. “That is the tricky part, isn’t it?’

“Not for me, but Persephone hasn’t had the best luck with romance and she’s convinced it will all end horribly and she’ll lose me forever.”

“At least she’s worried about losing you. That has to be a good sign.”

That was what I told myself, too.

“What brings you to town, Gavin? Recording a new album?”

No one in town knew for sure why he’d come to Jackson’s Ridge, but everyone had their own ideas.

Gavin shrugged and raked a hand through his hair. “I’m just here to enjoy some downtime and a routine vocal checkup. The studio bigwigs like to know their prize horse is in excellent shape.”

His words were spoken casually, as if it didn’t matter, but the visible signs of tension all over his body said otherwise.

“I’m sure you’ll be fine. Rock stars are tough—at least, that’s what I hear. Constantly.”

That pulled a laugh from Gavin. “Yeah? I’m starting to like your girl more every day. She got a sister?”

He barked out another laugh when I glared at him.

Gavin raised his hands in the air in a defensive gesture. “Hey man, I’m no poacher, especially not from the man who’s fixing my car. How’s that going, by the way?”

“Slowly,” I told him on a sigh. “The good news is that I’ve found the parts, the bad news is that now we have to wait for them to get here.”

“To the far-flung jungles of Oregon? Good think I’ve no place to be.”

“Hardly far-flung jungles, rock star. I have a few loaner cars I let people use on occasion, if you’re interested. None of them are luxury vehicles and they don’t come with a chauffeur, but they run well.”

“Thanks for the offer, but I like being driven around. I’m used to it,” he laughed and settled his gaze on the still mostly untouched Speedster. “Besides, I like surprising the teenagers in town who offer up taxi services. It helps out young entrepreneurs and I have to find ways to amuse myself while I’m here, don’t I?”

“I have no problems with it, and I doubt the kids do, either.” I could just about imagine the looks on their faces when they pulled up and found Gavin Ross waiting.

“But if I need to borrow a car, I know where to go. Thanks.” Gavin glanced down at the sparkling gold watch on his wrist and sighed. “I need to get going. Important things to do.”

“I’ll call you when the parts arrive and I have an idea of how long everything will take.”

“Sounds good.” He nodded absently and I knew I spent too much time with women because I was desperate to know what he was doing in town.

“I’ll walk you out,” I told him after a quick glance at the clock on the wall. “It’s just about time to pick Titus up from the bus stop.” The stop was the closest to my shop and the walk back was part of our afternoon routine.

Gavin clapped me on the back and smiled. “You’re halfway there, Ryan, just don’t screw it up.” With that last piece of advice, Gavin Ross, rock star and relationship expert, apparently, walked toward the town square, hands shoved in his pockets while he hummed one of his biggest hits.

I turned in the opposite direction and made the short walk, arriving at the corner just as Titus hopped off the bus. “Hey, Ryan!”

“Hey, buddy. How was school today?”

“I could meet you at the shop,” he offered up with hope shining in his violet eyes.

The kid was desperate to make the trip on his own and I felt for him. I really did. “You could, but your mother would skin me alive if I let you do it without her permission and something happened to you.”

I was too close to getting everything I wanted to mess it up by letting Titus do something he was too young to do alone.

Titus let out an annoyed sigh and pouted up at me even while he put his little hand in mine. “You and Mom used to walk home from school, and all around town. You told me so.”