Page 21 of Doctor I Do

Do I say it now, or wait to see him face-to-face? Nope, that would be worse. Rip the Band-Aid off.

“It would mean you’re exclusive to me. No one else,” I say, much too quietly. I’m surprised he even heard it, but when he answers, I know he did.

“Right,” he mumbles. I can imagine him thinking it over, but then he asks, “What will we do?”

My throat is dry, constricting. I’m suddenly feeling warm all over.

Gripping the phone, I try to act like this is a totally normal conversation. “Hold hands, cuddle, and um, kiss, probably, just for show.”

It’s silent for a beat, and I hold my breath, waiting for him to say something. All I can hear is him breathing heavily down the line.

“Okay,” he finally answers, after what feels like ten minutes.

“Okay?” I clarify, my heart thundering in my chest.

“Okay. But I have my own condition.”

“Anything,” I reply immediately.

“I can tell getting the business is important to you. So, if it requires you to get married, let’s be engaged and get married,” he suggests, as if it’s not a big deal.

I gasp. Wow. I wasn’t expecting that.

My brain falters a little in shock. When I let his offer sink in, I clear my throat, not hating the idea. “You’d do that?”

“Yeah, why not? It’ll be fun, and you get something that means a lot to you.” He states it so easily. Yet I’m trembling with the trouble I’m getting myself into.

“What time tomorrow?” His voice pulls me from my distracting thoughts once again.

“Dinner is at six.”

“All right. We need to meet before dinner to talk things over, and then we can leave together.”

“I can drive to Bar 9 at five. It’s on the way to my parents,” I say, as I could do with the wine.

“Are you telling anyone?” he asks.

“Not yet.”

“Why? Are you embarrassed?” he gruffs, sounding hurt.

“No, no, no,” I rush out, sitting taller. “I hung up from my mother after blurting you’re my new boyfriend and called you immediately. I haven’t had time to get my thoughts together yet.”

“Your mom believed you telling her that you have a random boyfriend?”

I sigh. “Seems so. She was trying to set me up with someone. And I’m not being fixed up with her choice.”

“Should I be worried about you being able to lie that well?” He isn’t serious; he’s teasing me, and it makes me giggle.

“No, I detest lying. But the will my grandfather left, leaves me no option. I had to tell them a small white lie to get my stake.”

“Whatever you need to tell yourself to sleep at night,” he jokes.

We laugh together and I have to pinch myself with how easy it is to talk and laugh with him. Maybe a little too easy…

Chapter 7

Tahlia

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