Page 55 of Faking It with the Off-Limits Doctor

Of course, I couldn’t in my wildest dreams have imagined that there would be some kind of spin-off, a bonus, a happy accident as a result. After Cindy, I didn’t think I could stomach another long-term relationship. She crushed any trust I had, and future connections of a romantic nature were just not in my periphery. There was no happily-ever-after for me. But as I wander into the kitchen and look around it, I can’t help smiling.

In the last few weeks, Dara has made this place more of a home than I ever could, and I don’t just mean with plants and flowers. Her funny, quick-witted personality has filled every room, not just this one. She’s made me laugh again.

Wandering across the kitchen, I pull open the fridge and wonder what I can make for my lunch. I’m a little underwhelmed at the contents on the shelves, and after figuring out that I can’t produce anything of sufficient nutritional value from left over Korean chicken, a bit of salad, and a jar of mayonnaise, I close the fridge again.

Grabbing my keys, I make my way out to the car.

The town is quiet when I pull up outside the grocery store. Not that the town is anything but. It’s just that I’m so used to the madness of the city Riverdale’s peacefulness still takes me by surprise.

Upon entering the store, Mrs. Casey nearly falls over herself to get to me, which forces me to bite back a chuckle, and in no time, she is once more leading me around the store and helping me select my groceries.

“I’m surprised Dara isn’t in here getting your groceries for you,” she says, once we’re at the till and she’s scanning my items. “Lord knows, you’re busy enough.”

“Dara works hard, too, Mrs. Casey,” I reply. “I thought I’d give her a day off today.”

“You’re such a good man,” she gushes.

That wasn’t the response I was going for. My remark was meant to let Mrs. Casey know that Dara works as hard as I do, but there’s no point trying to press it home, so I just nod, hand her the cash, and bid her farewell.

I’m walking across the parking lot when I hear someone yelling behind me. At first, I think it’s someone yelling at someone else. Then I hear my name.

“Alex! Don’t walk away from me.”

I spin on my heels to see Mark storming across the parking lot with a face like thunder. He certainly looks far better than when I last laid eyes on him, but under the circumstances, I’m not sure that’s a good thing.

“I know,” he yells as he continues coming at me. “I know the relationship is fake.”

Heads turn, and people stare at Mark and then me. I can feel my face blaze bright red as mortification washes over me.

“What the heck has gotten into you?” I hiss, when Mark finally closes the gap between us.

“I know,” Mark barks. “I know everything.”

Trying to look composed with a paper bag of groceries is difficult at the best of times, so I place it on the roof of the car and turn back to him, pinning on my best clueless expression.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

I’m trying to keep eye contact as much as possible. Dropping my gaze is a huge giveaway, and right now, I need him to believe every word I say.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about. You and Dara. The whole thing is a set up. It’s not real.”

I shake my head vehemently. “You’re wrong. It’s very real. In fact, it couldn’t be more real.”

Mark’s face is already twisted, but my words seem to unlock a new level of anger and disgust. He might be an inch shorter than me, but he’s just as broad, and I can feel the angst and frustration emanating from every cell in his body.

“Stop. Just stop. You lied to my face. My best friend. How could you do that to me? How could you treat me like I was nothing? More than that, you’ve used my sister.” He punches his chest. “Even after me telling you to stay away from her.”

I’m in panic mode at this point. He clearly knows something from someone or somewhere, but as I try and figure out what he could have heard and from whom, I’m still also trying to deduce how to defend myself here.

Plus, his words hurt. As I sense his anger, I realize I’ve treated him badly. I should have trusted him to understand. Under the circumstances, I was scared that we were too close and that Mark might blow the chance of a deal with Jack.

But still, he’s wrong. What started out as one thing is now something else entirely.

“You have no idea how I feel about Dara,” I bite back, holding on to the actual feelings that I have for her. “We’re closer than ever, and I have great affection for her.”

“Great affection?” Mark spat. “Is that how a man describes the feelings he has for a woman he’s going to marry? I should have picked up on this before. When I spoke to Dara about you two the other day, she said all the right words. But do you know what she didn’t say?”

I don’t speak and wait for what I know is coming.

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