Page 47 of Faking It with the Off-Limits Doctor

“Right. So, how did that go?”

“Last night?” I heave a sigh. “Awful. I had to lie to his face, which was bad enough, but I get the distinct feeling he didn’t believe us.”

“Oh, I wonder why that might be?” Astrid sings sarcastically.

She’s already set a jug of homemade lemonade on the table between us, and pouring myself a glass, I take a long draw.

“Honestly, Astrid,” I say, putting my glass back down, “I’m starting to wonder if I have bitten off more than I can chew.”

“And you’re only realizing that now?” My friend grins.

I give her a piercing gaze. “If I recall, it was you who talked me into this mess.”

“Oh, no. I’m not taking the blame for this. You have a mind of your own, or so you keep telling me.”

Of course, she was right. While I had asked her advice at the start of all this, I had made the final decision. So far, a decision that’s caused me more stress than I thought it would. And yet, like I said to Alex when we were in the kitchen earlier,

“…when I think of all those children that you’re helping, I have to ask, what’s too much?”

Here I am moaning about stress when those poor orphans are running about completely helpless with no parents, no food, and no home. My stresses look ridiculous in comparison.

“So, how is our esteemed surgeon?” Astrid asks.

“He’s fine,” I answer a little too flippantly.

Astrid looks at me for a long moment and then smiles. “You like him.”

“He’s all right.” I shrug, trying to avoid what she’s getting at.

“No. I mean, you like him.”

I shake my head fervently. “I do not,” I lie. “This is a business relationship and nothing more.”

“I don’t believe you. I’ve known you nearly all my life, Dara, and while you might be able to lie to everyone else, you can’t lie to me. What are you so afraid of?”

“I’m not afraid,” I counter. “It’s just…”

The thing is, I don’t know what it is. Astrid can see through me like I’m a pane of glass. She always could. And so I don’t even know why I’m denying that I do actually like Alex.

“The idea scares me,” I eventually confess.

“That you like him?” Astrid asks, looking confused. “But why? He’s a man, you’re a woman. What’s scary about that? Does he like you back?”

I shrug. “Maybe. I think.”

Astrid now looks even more astonished. “So? What’s stopping you both?”

But I don’t have an answer to that question. Yes, the man has baggage, but who doesn’t these days? I’ve never been married, so my baggage probably isn’t as big or as heavy as his. I could fit my stuff in a rucksack, where his might take up an airport trolley, but still.

“I’ve never seen you like this, Dara. You’ve always been so sure of yourself in just about everything.”

I look at Astrid, knowing she’s right. “Maybe career choices are easier decisions.”

“Poppycock!” she blurts.

My eyes widen and I can’t help but giggle. “Poppycock? Really?”

Astrid bursts into giggles with me. “It was the best thing I could come up with at such short notice.”

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