Page 20 of Doctor I Do

Just say it.

“Wha—” he asks curiously.

My nerves are bubbling, and I can’t help but cut him off, trying to hurry the words out.

“Would you be my pretend boyfriend?”

“What? Why would you need a pretend boyfriend?” he chokes out. I’ve definitely surprised him.

“I need my parents to take me seriously.”

He coughs and splutters before composing himself. “What the hell for? That’s a big favor without giving me all the details.”

I sigh loudly and drop my chin back down. My nerves hit my chest as I talk. “My grandfather left a will. He owned a fashion business called Emerald Designs. He left my parents with 40% stake, and me the rest. But there’s a clause. I can’t inherit my stake unless I’m married by my twenty-fifth birthday. Otherwise, my parents can sell my 60% stake to another investor. When I quit Frank’s today, I realized I want my stake in the family business.”

I figure I can’t hold anything back if he is to play the part for real. He needs to know all the lies I spilled to my mom.

“Shit! You really want this, don’t you? I wasn’t expecting this call today.”

I can’t help but smile at his rambling. It eases my nerves a little.

“I know, and I’m sorry. I’m just sick and tired of my life. I’m going through the motions without enjoying it. Quitting Frank’s is one way of taking back my happiness. And getting my stake in the family’s business would be another.”

“How did Frank. I’m guessing that’s his name, take it?”

“He told me I was useless anyway.”

“Do you want me to come down after surgery today and yell at the dumbass?”

I giggle, but it turns into a snort, loving this protective side to him. “Nah, I’m good. It’s nothing I can’t handle.”

“You shouldn’t have to handle that.” His voice is serious.

“Well, hopefully, I’ll have a business to run, and he won’t matter anymore…” I trail off, hoping he agrees to my offer.

“Oh, yeah. That’s where I come in, right? Boyfriend. But let me get this straight; I have to do this until your birthday, which is in December, right?”

Him saying he has to do this gets me excited. He may actually say yes.

“Yeah. Does this mean you’ll agree?” I ask with the sweetest, pleasing tone.

“Are you going to beg me?”

I grumble, and he chuckles again.

“I’m kidding…sorta,” he teases.

“Fine. If I have to beg, I will.”

He sucks in an audible breath. “For anyone else, I’d say hell no, but for you, T, I’ll do it.”

My breathing shallows, and my heart thumps loudly in my chest. I’m lost in the thought of being special to him. I’m somehow different. But why?

I don’t dare ask that. I need to stick to the point of the phone call.

“But there are conditions,” I say to stop my racing mind.

“Like what?” he asks.

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