Page 53 of What the Doctor Ordered
I grinned at Lily, who was sitting across from me at the coffee table of our apartment. Soon, it wouldn’t be. In just a few short months, I would be Mrs. Vale and would be moving in with Simon permanently.
“I know!” I cried in amazement. “I’m really going to miss living with you, though, Lil.”
Lily smiled and then glared at me playfully. “Don’t think that just because Dr. Vale is gonna be your husband that I’m going to put up with him taking you away from me. I’m requiring monthly sleepovers after you move out.”
I giggled. “Deal,” I said.
The two of us were sitting cross legged at our coffee table, flipping through wedding magazines. Lily was taking her role as maid of honor very seriously, insisting on being part of all of thedetails and decisions, despite the fact that we had a full crew of professional wedding planners and coordinators.
“Try to relax tonight,” I told her. “Remember, you’re not just my wedding planner. You’re my maid of honor and my best friend. You should be allowed to take it easy during my engagement party.”
Lily scoffed. “Not after you told me how Simon’s relatives are a bunch of rich snobs who might look down on you,” she said bitterly. “I have no issue spending the whole night fighting them off and making sure they are all nice to you.”
I winced at the reminder of what could be awaiting me at this party. “I appreciate that,” I told her. “But it’s really not necessary. I don’t care what they think of me. I love Simon, he loves me, and that’s all that matters.”
Lily narrowed her eyes. “You can’t fool me, Kiley,” she said. “You’re too kind to not care what those people think of you. And it’s only natural to want your future husband’s family to approve of you.”
I averted my gaze from Lily’s prying one, hating that she was right. Simon was extremely successful and generationally wealthy, and many of his family members were as well. I was terrified that they were going to disapprove of the fact that he was marrying a student and that all I was going to bring to our marriage was a bunch of student loans.
“Let’s talk about something else,” I suggested, grabbing a random magazine. I showed her the page I landed on. “What do you think of this cake?”
Lily put her hand over the page, lowering the magazine. She opened her mouth to most likely scold me for trying to change the subject but thankfully, I was saved by the doorbell ringing.
I jumped up to answer it, my heart thudding because I already knew who it was.
Simon was so tall that he almost completely filled the doorway with his big body. He bent to kiss me soundly in greeting. “Ready to go?” he asked.
Before I could answer, Lily stomped over and stepped between us. She thrust a large garment bag into Simon’s hands. “Make sure she has time to get dressed before the party,” she scolded, wagging a finger in my fiancé’s face. She then shook her head in dismay. “I can’t believe you two are going on a date before the party. Don’t complain to me when you’re dead on your feet by the end of the night.”
“We’re just going for a walk at the beach, Lil,” I said, rolling my eyes. “It might be the only chance we get to spend alone together today.”
Lily rolled her eyes but waved us off with a grin. “Have fun,” she sang suggestively.
I didn’t bother explaining that that was not the kind of fun we were planning on having before the party.
“I’m sorry about Lily,” I told Simon as we drove away from the apartment, certain I wore an expression of chagrin on my face.
“You don’t have to apologize,” Simon assured me. “I like her a lot. I can tell she really cares about you.”
We chatted casually during the drive and while it was a gorgeous day and I was happy to be getting some alone time with Simon, Ifound my mood drifting south as nerves about the party twisted my gut.
“Why are we parking here?” I asked, trying in vain to keep the attitude out of my voice. “We’re going to have to walk a long way.”
Simon shot me a look but answered calmly. “It isn’t that far,” he said. “Besides, if we get much closer to the beach, we won’t be able to find a parking spot at all. It is tourist season you know.”
“Whatever,” I muttered, unbuckling my seatbelt impatiently.
“Wait just a second, young lady,” Simon said, putting a firm hand over mine. “I’m going to need you to calm down.”
My temper flared. “I didn’t do anything!”
Simon stared back at me calmly before undoing his seatbelt. “You have been high strung since I picked you up,” he said. “And now you’re starting to show me attitude. Thankfully, I have just the remedy for that.”
My jaw dropped as Simon exited the car and quickly came around to my side. He grabbed my arm and hauled me out before opening the back seat.
“Wait, no!” I hollered, pulling away as hard as I could, but he was just so much larger and stronger than me he easily got me into the back seat before climbing in after me and shutting the door.
“You’re not being punished,” he reassured me. “But I think a little maintenance is required before that little mouth of yours lands you in real trouble.”
