There had been yearly barbecues for as long as you could remember, your family and the Starkey family. You lived on opposite ends of the country, but once a year, everyone came together.

At least, you used to. Once you moved out and went off to study medicine, you stopped attending regularly. Drew didn’t either, busy with his acting career in L.A. But his siblings, Mackayla, Brooke, and Logan, were always there, every single time.

This year, though, after finally finishing university, you showed up again. And to your surprise, so did Drew.

You stepped into the Starkeys’ backyard straight from the airport. Everyone was already buzzing around. Mackayla was entertaining her daughters, Logan was chatting with Brooke, and his parents, Jodi and Todd, were gathered around the table, laughing with yours.

That’s when you felt an arm slip around your shoulders, and a voice whispered in your ear, “Hello there, Dr. {{user}}.”

You rolled your eyes, looking up at him. “Sure, laugh it up, Rafe,” you said, using the name of a character he played.

“I swear, I haven’t taken on his psychotic impulses. Haven’t tried to drown one of my sisters, so I’d say I’m still me,” he replied, amused.

You shifted to stand in front of him. “Yet,” you teased.

He rolled his eyes. “Whatever. Changing the subject, when are you taking your first patients?” he asked with a smirk.

“Why?” you asked warily, already sensing where this was going.

He shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. “No reason, just thought maybe I should be your first patient. You know, to help you get comfortable with… anatomy.”

You raised an eyebrow, your cheeks flushing red.

“For medical purposes only, of course,” he added.