Free Captivated by You (Crossfire#4) by Sylvia Day Page B

for his hand and linked our fingers. “Me, too.”
    We headed up the walk and nodded at the couple standing by the door smoking. Then we went
    inside and were greeted by the sights and sounds of a hoops match in progress. Two teams of three
    played a half-court game, taunting each other and laughing. I knew from experience that sometimes
    Dr. Travis’s unusual offices were the only place one felt free and safe enough to laugh.
    We waved at the players, who paused just long enough to register us, and then we made a beeline
    for the door that still had Coach emblazoned on the glass inset. It was ajar and a beloved figure lounged in a worn desk chair with his feet propped on the desk. He tossed a tennis ball against the
    wall and caught it deftly, over and over, while a fellow patient I knew from before vaped on an
    electronic cigarette and talked.
    “Oh my God.” Kyle stood in a rush, her pretty red mouth falling open and a cloud of vapor
    billowing out. “I didn’t know you two were back!”
    She launched herself at Cary, barely giving me time to let his hand go.
    Dr. Travis folded his legs and then stood, his kind face splitting with a welcoming grin. He was
    dressed in his usual khakis and dress shirt, with the leather sandals on his feet and the earrings in his ears giving him away as a tad unconventional. His sandy brown hair was shaggy and messy, and his
    wire-rimmed glasses were slightly skewed on the bridge of his nose.
    “I wasn’t expecting you two until sometime after three,” he said.
    “It’s after three in New York,” Cary rejoined, disentangling himself from Kyle.
    I had my suspicions that Cary had slept with the pretty blonde at some point, and that she hadn’t
    brushed it off as easily as he had.
    Dr. Travis caught me up in a quick hug, then did the same to Cary. I watched my best friend’s eyes
    close and his cheek rest for a moment on Dr. Travis’s shoulder. My eyes stung as they always did
    whenever I saw Cary happy. Dr. Travis was the closest thing to a father that he had and I knew how
    much Cary loved him.
    “You two still watching each other’s backs in the Big Apple?”
    “Of course,” I replied.
    Cary jerked his thumb at me. “She’s getting married. I’m having a baby.”
    Kyle gasped.
    I elbowed Cary in the ribs.
    “Oww,” he complained, rubbing his side.
    Dr. Travis blinked. “Congratulations. Quick work, both of you.”
    “I’ll say,” Kyle muttered. “What’s it been? A month?”
    “Kyle.” Dr. Travis tucked his chair into his desk. “Would you give us a minute?”
    She snorted and sauntered toward the door. “You’re good, Doc, but I think you’re going to need
    more time than that.”
    “ENGAGED, huh?” Kyle took another drag off her e-cigarette, her eyes on Cary as he leaped above Dr.
    Travis’s head and made a slam dunk. We sat on the worn bleachers about three rows from the top,
    enough distance away that we couldn’t overhear the therapy session taking place on the court.
    Cary got restless when he opened up. Dr. Travis had quickly learned to keep Cary physically
    active if he wanted to keep him talking.
    Kyle looked at me. “I always kinda figured you and Cary would end up together.”
    I laughed and shook my head. “It’s not like that with us. Never has been.”
    She shrugged. Her eyes were the color of the San Diego sky and heavily rimmed with electric blue
    liner. “You known this guy you’re marrying long?”
    “Long enough.”
    Dr. Travis nailed a bank shot and then ruffled Cary’s hair affectionately. I saw him glance at me
    and knew it was my turn.
    I stood and stretched. “Catch you later,” I said to Kyle.
    “Good luck.”
    My mouth twisted wryly and I made my way down the stairs until I reached Dr. Travis.
    He was about Gideon’s height, so I stopped before I hit the bottom stair so that we were briefly at
    eye level. “You ever consider moving to New York, Doc?”
    He smiled his crooked smile. “As if California taxes aren’t