Setting aside the publication, Piper reached for People magazine, ready to move on from what was hot in fashion to the latest Hollywood gossip. Just then, there was a light knock on the exam room door. A second later, Erin entered wearing her white doctor’s coat and a welcoming smile,
“Hello, Piper.” Erin squirted two pumps of hand sanitizer onto the palm of one hand. “What a surprise. I hope nothing’s wrong.”
“Physically, mentally, professionally, personally, everything is good.”
“That’s a lot of good.” Erin laughed. She tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. “Then what can I do for you.”
“I know you’re crazy busy.” Piper felt another twinge of guilt. “Thank you for fitting me in at the last minute.”
Erin crossed her legs. On her feet, she wore a pair of bright pink running shoes. The white swish on the side was decorated with pink ribbons.
“Since when are any of the people in our circle too busy for a friend?” Erin said, waving off Piper’s apology.
Piper nodded. She was lucky. No, she was blessed to be close to a group of people who were so generous with their time and company. Best of all, they were fun. When they got together, they laughed. All the time.
“I want to update the prescription for my birth control pills.” Piper smiled when she thought of the reason. “More important, I’d like you to check and make certain I’m clean of any STDs.”
“Not a problem.” Her demeanor calm, yet understanding, Erin nodded. Her bedside manner was excellent—the best. She glanced at Piper’s chart. “We did a blood test during your yearly exam. You were clean. Do you have any reason to think things have changed?”
“No. I’m always careful to use a condom on top of the pill,” Piper said. “Besides, my sex life has been on hold for the past few months.”
“Everyone goes through a dry spell,” Erin commiserated. “Whether by choice or circumstance.”
“Mine was definitely by choice.” Piper grimaced when she thought of the men she turned down. Yikes! “Recently, I started a relationship. Exclusive. Before we stop using condoms, I want to make certain I won’t pass anything along.”
“You and Levi finally made the move?” When Piper blinked in surprise, Erin grinned. “Your chemistry sizzles. I get a contact sex buzz whenever the two of you are in a room together.”
At a loss for words, Piper felt her cheeks heat.
“Don’t be embarrassed,” Erin said. “You’re lucky. All the time you spent getting to know each other is a bonus. Makes sense that the friends to lovers tropes are so popular in fiction.”
“What about you?” Piper asked. “Your best friend is a hotty. And a football player. I can attest to the fact that the two things combined make a heady combination.”
“Finn? And me?” Erin laughed so hard that tears came to her eyes. “Can you imagine having a romance with someone you once babysat?”
“When he’s as charming and sexy as Finn Gallagher? Yes, I can.” Piper heaved an exaggerated sigh. “I suppose the fact that he lives in Chicago would put a crimp in the plan.”
“Finn is like a sometimes annoying but always lovable kid brother,” Erin said with an easy smile. “Now, let’s get you taken care of. I’ll send my nurse in to take some blood.”
“Thanks, Erin.”
They exchanged hugs.
“I’m sure the tests will be negative, but you’re smart to check.” Erin paused before leaving. “Levi is getting tested, too. Right?”
“He’s with his personal doctor as we speak,” Piper assured her.
“Good man.” Erin nodded. “I’ll call you as soon as the results come in. Should be no more than a couple of days. Maybe we can meet for lunch.”
“We definitely should,” Piper agreed.
As she waited for the nurse, Piper thought about Erin’s words. She called Levi a good man. He was. The best she’d ever know. And, she thought with a happy shiver, he was all hers.
▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲
“DID YOU GET your blood test results?” Levi asked.
“Yes.” Piper blinked, calm on the outside, but jiggly with excitement inside. “How about you?”
“Heard from my doctor just before I left practice and headed home.”
They were on the back deck of Levi’s house. Cold, but clear, the stars shone brightly in the night sky, glistening off the surface of Lake Washington. In the days since they’d been tested, they hadn’t exactly kept their hands off each other.
Piper would say they were going at each other with the frequency of over-sexed rabbits—if rabbits had the kind of stamina Levi exhibited on a nightly—and daily basis. To her delight, he was not a proponent of athletes remaining celibate.
Levi claimed he might consider abstaining on the night before the Super Bowl—if he were ever lucky enough to play in the big game. But during the regular season, Piper rejuvenated him. In and out of bed.
Still, as often as they made love, until now, they’d always used a condom. The thought of going barrier-free for the first time in her life left Piper giddy with anticipation.
“Well?” he asked. “What’s the word.”
“Clean as a whistle,” Piper said, swirling her hands up and down her body. “You?”
“Pristine,” Levi told her. “My genitals are so sparkly you could eat a meal off of them.”
“You just painted a picture I could do without,” Piper said with a snort. “Wait. We’re both healthy, non-disease carrying, willing and able, consensual adults?”
“According to two members in good standing of the American Medical Association, the answer is a big, fat, yes, siree.”
“Then what are we waiting for?” Piper demanded.
“I planned to give you a head start,” Levi said, waggling his eyebrows as he approached with slow, deliberate steps.
“I had the same idea—for you.” Piper nodded toward the French doors. “Run little bunny. The big, bad wolf is nipping at your heels.”
“We could stand here all night and exchange cute quips. The hell with that.” Levi lifted Piper into his arms. “I leave on a road trip tomorrow morning. We don’t have time for adorable.”
“No?” Piper asked with
