“Do you ever feel like we're in a bad soap opera?”

“No.”

“Really? Doctor with a drug problem falls for the girl who fell for his twin brother, bum bum buuuum!”

“I've never watched a soap opera, and you didn't 'fall for' Liam, not really.”

“Not really, no.”

“Here, get rid of this.”

Tori grimaced as Landon handed her a large wad of bloody bandages and gauze. She turned and hurriedly dumped them in a bio-hazard trash can, then moved back to the bed side. A man was stretched out in front of them, a large gash running almost the full length of his thigh. Landon was leaning close to the wound, quickly and neatly stitching it up, a lit cigarette dangling from his lips.

“You'd make a good nurse, you know,” he mumbled, and she watched as ashes fell from the almost burnt out butt. “You should go to classes when we go home. Become an RN or something.”

“Me? Nah,” she chuckled.

“You're good at this.”

“You think so?”

“I know so.”

“Thanks,” she smiled. “I feel like I'm doing a good job here, and I'm actually really happy I came.”

“Me, too.”

Okay, now the smile was a full on grin, accompanied by a blush.

“But I'm sorry, blood and guts and puke are not my thing. If I never have to do anything like this again, it'll be too soon.”

He laughed and the cigarette finally fell free from his mouth. She quickly ground it out with the toe of her shoe, then helped him clean and bandage the wound so the farmer could go home.

It had been a week since their crazy melt down. Since feelings had been openly acknowledged and talked about and explored. No titles had been specifically said, but when Landon spoke of going home, it was always in the plural. When we get on the plane, when we go to the apartment, when we talk to Liam.

Barely three weeks of “we” yet I've practically forgotten what “I” means.

Tori had been all for calling Liam and having a heart to heart with him over speaker phone. Landon had been the one to agree with her statements from earlier in the trip, that some things were better discussed in person. Liam was apparently very protective of Tori, and also only knew the one side to his twin brother, so he wouldn't believe it wasn't all bullshit.

So she agreed to at least two more weeks in Thailand, saying that afterwards they could go home together and talk to Liam. Landon had told her she didn't have to stay, she could fly home first if she wanted – she didn't have to stay just because of him.

To which she'd replied of course she had to stay “just because of him”, and she also wanted to see this adventure through to the end. He'd nodded his head and turned away from her, but right before he did so, she was pretty sure she caught a glimpse of a smile at the corner of his mouth.

Days were filled with endless chores and bodies and duties. Nights were filled with showers together and stealing kisses in dark corners and spending all their spare time in bed. Sometimes being gentle and sweet, but other times, well ... other times were more like explosions.

She loved it.

“You're daydreaming.”

Tori jerked her head up and realized their patient was gone. Landon was peeling his gloves off and tossing them in the trash can. Tori quickly followed suit, then also yanked the plastic bags off her tennis shoes, tossing them as well.

“So back at home,” she said, hurrying to keep up with him as he strode out of the tent. He nodded while he dug out a fresh cigarette.

“Uh huh.”

“What are you going to do there?” she asked. He glanced down at her while he held his lighter to the end of the cigarette.

“What do you mean?”

“Like work,” she continued. “Are you going to try to work at the club with Liam?”

“Sweet christ, no.”

“Just gonna hang out again?” she asked, trying to keep her voice even. Landon was an adult and could do whatever he wanted – Twin Estates building one was completely rented, so he had income. But still ...

“No, I don't think so,” he finally replied, and she felt relieved. “I dunno, Tor. I was thinking of doing some research.”

“Research?”

“Yeah. Find out what kind of punishment I'd have to go through in the event I used drugs while at my work. I'll lose my license, for sure, but not forever. Probably have to go to rehab, do counseling, testing, all that shit.”

“And you'd be willing to go through all that?” she asked tentatively. He shrugged.

“I have to be, if I want to practice in the U.S. again,” he answered simply. She grabbed his arm and swung him to a stop.

“You – Landon Edenhoff – would go to rehab. You know that means, right?” she checked, staring up at him.

“Yeah, Tori, I know what rehab means.”

“You'd be willing to give up your precious drugs and alcohol?” she kept stressing, not really willing to believe it. Landon had been at least casually using since he was a teenager.

“Yeah,” he said, shrugging and looking off into the distance. “I've been weaning myself off everything while we're here, using less and less. It's ... it's time.”

She felt herself grow hot all over. It was time because she was in his life now.

“That's amazing, Landon. I'm ... proud of you,” she babbled. He rolled his eyes and started walking forward again.

“There's that word again. Thanks, mom.”

“Hey,” she laughed. “You know what else is amazing? You, sleeping. All through the nights. You're actually pretty adorable when you sleep.”

“Shut up.”

“You make these little noises,” she teased. “Kinda like a baby. You're all mmmm and aaahhhh and siiiiigh.”

“Yeah? Well, you hog the bed, fat ass.”

She snorted, then let out a yelp when he smacked said fat ass.

“Now you're just trying to flirt with me,” she laughed. “You love my ass.”

“I'd love it more if you'd let me fuck it.”

“That requires a lot more time and devotion, doctor.”

“Hmmm, rethinking this whole idea.”

“Shut up. Where are we going?” she asked, realizing they'd walked past the mess hall and were continuing down the hill.

“We are not going anywhere,” he corrected her, lengthening his stride and leading them towards their tent. “I am going back into town.”

Tori stopped just outside the flap of canvas, staring at his back. Last time he'd gone back to Bangkok, he'd wound up making out with the camp organizer and she'd almost had a nervous breakdown. He glanced over his shoulder at her, then rolled his eyes again and reached out, hooking a finger into the top of her shorts and yanking her forward.

“Don't be such a chick. I'm going alone, okay? This well situation is bullshit – there's got to be a way to get money to fix it. Amie just sounds like some bleeding heart hippie when she's begging for money, but maybe they'll listen to a pissed off and jaded doctor,” he explained, forcing her to sit on the cot. She heaved a sigh.

“Maybe. God, this is so unfair. You get to go gallivanting off to the big city and I have to stay here. I would literally kill for a real shower,” she fell onto her back.

“Don't be so dramatic – you agreed to stay,” he reminded her.

“Yeah, before I realized you'd be ditching me for civilization every other week.”

She was only been teasing. While it wasn't her life's ambition to do volunteer work in a third world country, she could honestly say she felt like a better person. Like she'd grown and changed. She was thankful for the experience. So when Landon finally turned and faced her, a deep frown etched across his face, she felt bad.

“I know this isn't the vacation I originally promised,” he grumbled, rubbing at the stubble on the side of his jaw. “Maybe ... maybe if I can get someone to fund the well, we can bounce after construction starts.”

“I'm just busting your balls, Dr. Edenhoff. Go, save lives, do what you do best. I'll be here when you get back,” she assured him. He didn't stop frowning, but he did turn away and continue packing an overnight bag.

“Since I'm leaving kind of late, I'm gonna stay the night. Hit up the corporate offices in the morning, have them send me out to some investors.”

Over night? Tori wasn't sure how to feel about that – they hadn't spent a night apart since they'd embarked on this bizarre vacation. Sure, she'd made friends with other volunteers and people in the village, but it wasn't the same. She'd grown used to his surliness and his bad attitude and the way he made every single one of her nerve endings come alive.

It's one night, Tor. Chill out. He'll come back and then one more week and you'll get to go home together.

“Alright,” she sighed. “You can go.”

“I'm sorry, did I need to ask permission?” he laughed at her.

“Yes, and I'm granting it. But on one condition.”

“Jesus, I'm scared to ask.”

“You have to get naked the moment you come back, and you can't get dressed again until the next morning.”

He paused for a moment and she could almost hear him smiling.

“Then I'll be back before you even notice I'm gone.”