Page 66 of Doctor Mile High
“She’s sad, Hanson. She misses her best friend. Every day, I see her check her phone, and when she doesn’t have a text from you,I see a little bit of her light fade away. She checks your social media to see what you’re up to, but you haven’t posted. She’s heartbroken too.”
“I had this plan to be in her life and the baby’s. I care about him, okay? I helped build the nursery in her apartment. I took her to her appointments. It was me. I was there when you weren’t, and it’s as if I was replaceable the moment she found you again.”
“And I’ll never be able to thank you enough for being there for her when I wasn’t. You made her life so much easier. You can still be in their lives, Hanson. I know she would want that and I know you want that too. If anything, be honest with her. If you can’t be her friend anymore, then be open and honest about that so she can move on too, but I’d hate to see years of friendship go down the drain due to a relationship that even you knew would never happen. I think you love her deeply, but I don’t think you’re in love with her, because how many men did she date before she met me, and you never did a thing?”
He rubs a hand over his mouth. “I never thought about it like that before.”
I continue, “You’re threatened because I’m not going anywhere and you aren’t used to sharing her. I want to make something crystal clear. If you do want to be in her life, you need to know she will be my wife. Mine. Not yours.” I motion my hand in the air as if it’s being carried away by the wind. “Your dream or fantasy of being with her will not exist. It doesn’t exist now. It stopped existing the moment I saw her in Costa Rica. As long as you know that dream is dead, you and I won’t have any problems.”
Amy picks the perfect time to bring me my to-go order. “Here you are. Is there anything else I can do for you?”
“No, thank you, Amy. Have a great day,” I say with a smile.
“You too, Dr. Warrick.” She skips away again, that ponytail swaying left and right from the pep in her step.
I exhale, finishing off the last of my latte, wondering what Hanson will choose. I’m open to being completely wrong about him not loving her, but I don’t think I am. He’s so used to being the center of her universe and he doesn’t know how to share. As friends go, I think Dove can do better, but I won’t be the one who tells her who she can and can’t be friends with. That’s up to her.
“I understand. I’ll think about what you said and tonight, I’ll give her a call.”
“Good. I’m glad. I don’t like her being sad, Hanson. I have more funds than your family has, and I can make your life a living hell if you ever make her sad again.”
“I won’t. You’ve given me a lot to think about.”
Reaching for my wallet, I toss a couple hundred dollars on the table to cover the bill and to give Amy a large tip.
“I can cover it,” Hanson says.
“Don’t worry about it. You didn’t order anything. No need.”
“I’ll talk to her, Winston. I will. I want to. I miss her.”
I hold in my anger when I hear those last three words. “Great. I look forward to getting to know you more, then.” I snag the to-go container and begin my stroll to my car.
“Winston?”
I pause when I hear him shout for me.
I turn around, waiting for him to say what he needs to say.
“Thank you. I’ve been angry and this talk actually helped.”
Giving him a curt nod, I cross the street, wanting to get far away from the man who supposedly loves my fiancée. That was not an easy conversation to have, but it had to be done. Dove needed me to do it, even if she never asked.
Giving Hanson a final wave before entering the parking garage, I leave him there to think about his choices. All I can hope is that he makes the right one.
Me? I’m going to go get Dove’s engagement ring so she can finally feel like our engagement is real.
18
DOVE
I was clearedfor sexual intercourse, and I might have bought lingerie after spending the day at the doctor’s office. Baby Winston is asleep in the nursery and I’m in the bedroom staring at myself in the mirror, wondering if I’ve lost my mind.
“I look ridiculous,” I mutter to myself, untwisting the strap on my shoulder.
It’s a sheer lace bodysuit with a deep low-cut neckline that pushes my breasts up. It comes with a matching cheeky sheer panties.
“Up.” I grab my hair and lift it. “Down.” And then I drop it.
