Page 30 of Taken By the Fake Fiancé

"What if you end up not happy with Felicity anymore? What will happen then? Will you move on to another woman? Will I end up with another stepmother?"

Eli's question hits me hard enough that I stay unblinking for several seconds.

Felicity and I aren't a real couple, which means that we will certainly have to play our faux little relationship to its inevitable end. So, what do I say to Eli?

This really is a lot harder than I thought. What would someone in an actual relationship say to that?

I think hard.

"I would like to believe that Felicity is the one. I don't want what we have to end. So, I'm going to cross my fingers and hope that it never happens."

Eli nods as if that makes perfect sense. We stay like that for a couple more seconds.

"Felicity is certainly going to come again for dinner, I'm hoping that you'll be a lot nicer."

Eli nods.

"Of course."

As I pat his back and get up to make my way to my room, I wonder whether all he had needed was the assurance that Felicity wasn't replacing Amelia.

With our plans in full motion, I decided that telling my father about Felicity right now would be a good idea. So, stepping into my large bedroom, I do just that. Father picks up after a third ring.

"Baron Gray."

His voice is low and steely, at this moment, I realize how much of that attribute I possess.

"Father."

"Son..." Father whispers; the earlier gruffness is now absent.

"How are you? And Eli ?"

"I am fine, and so is Eli."

"Okay."

There is a note of relief in his voice, for a second, I wonder whether he thinks something has happened.

"You never call unless something is up."

"You're ill. That's a good enough reason to call."

"I am not ill. I simply have cancer," Father says. "There is a difference."

I smile but know better than to continue this argument.

"I did call to tell you something and to know how you're doing."

"I'm doing well. Your mother fusses over me like I am ten and decides what I eat and what I don't. I despise her."

There's no denying the note of affection in his voice, even in his obvious exasperation.

"She doesn't want to lose you."

"She won't," Father says. "Cancer isn't the end of the world. I will get better."

"Good."

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