Page 69 of Doctor I Do

“What colors do you like?”

Staring outside the car window, I look at the trees and flowers as we pass. I let myself answer freely. “Elegant and classic.”

“White roses, peonies, and hydrangeas?” the wedding planner asks, her notepad opened waiting for my answer.

I smile, seeing them as my bouquet. “Yes.”

She hums her approval. “For all the flowers, including the ones on the tables and along the roof?”

I jerk. My head turns to face the planner. “The roof?”

“When your mom and I went to the Greek restaurant you requested the reception to be at, we wanted to make it more elegant. Here, look at these photos.” The planner hands over her phone. “Scroll them.”

Holding her phone, I stare down at the most breathtaking arrangement of flowers dripping from the roof. My hand comes to touch my lips. It almost feels like such a waste for a fake marriage.

“What do you think?” Mom asks.

“It’s beautiful,” I breathe.

“Which one, in particular, do you like?” the planner asks.

I hand back her phone and say, “The white one, where the candles run along the table. It’s so…”

“Romantic.”

“Yes,” I say quietly. Romantic for two people who aren’t in a romantic relationship. It’s comical, only it’s not. But if I can get my dream wedding, even if it’s fake, I’m going to do it right. Get what I like, because God knows when I’ll actually get married for real.

I swallow the bile rising from the lies I’ve had to tell my parents to get here. It’s so against anything I’d ever do, but it’s a necessary evil. Working at the company I can soon run gives me a thrill I haven’t felt before. I just need to keep that in the forefront of my mind.

Not Alex…

Ten minutes later, we’re at the florist. Thankfully, we don’t have to spend too much time in here, because I’ve already made a couple of decisions. We also asked for some flowers to be on the cake to tie it all together.

Afterward, Mom drops me off at my car that’s still parked at work. Sitting in the car, I can’t bring myself to drive to Alex’s house. Alex is on a afternoon shift today, which means I’ll be going home alone. Which gives me an idea. A sexy and out-of-character idea…

Grabbing my phone with a new determination. Maddison answers on the second ring.

“Hi, where are you?” I rush out.

“At home, why?” Maddison answers curiously.

“I’m picking you up. I’m doing something embarrassing, and I can’t do it alone. I need moral support.”

She laughs. “What is it?”

Laying my head back on the headrest, I swallow past the shame. “We’re going to buy me a vibrator or dildo. I don’t know which one, just something to take the edge off.”

The line is dead silent for a moment before she breathes. “You’re serious?”

I sit up with a half-smile, knowing this wouldn’t be something she expected from me. “Very,” I say. “See you soon. Be ready.”

I hang up and drive to the house I lived in with Maddison before I asked Alex to help me. Walking up the stairs and into the house now feels odd, and I don’t miss it as much as I should. Living with Alex has become easy. But in five months, my life will return to the way it was. And I’ll have to forget about our morning coffees together, his crooked smiles, our chats on the sofa, and, recently, him lying next to me in bed. I think this fake marriage has shifted my feelings for Alex. And it’s dangerous. Liking a known bachelor is only going to end in heartbreak, but for some silly reason, I can’t tell my heart to stop.

Hopefully, releasing some of this pent-up frustration will help re-center my thoughts.

“How’s living with Doctor dreamboat?” is the first thing Maddison says on our way to the store.

I giggle, which then turns into a snort. “What made you think of that name?”

---