She glances up at me, a playful gleam in her eyes. “Let me guess, I have to move in with you?”
“That’s a given,” I reply without missing a beat.
“Sex marathon?” she teases.
“That’s already scheduled for after this appointment,” I say with a smirk as we reach Dr. Mike’s door. I knock twice.
“Come in!” Dr. Mike’s voice calls from inside.
Dr. Mike is waiting behind his desk, grinning broadly, his teeth unnaturally white. I take Lauren’s hand—the one with the ring—and place it over my chest, making sure he sees it. Lauren catches on, and her face flushes with embarrassment, realizing how I’m making her “pay” for that ring.
“Doc,” I say with a smug smile as Lauren looks down, “do you remember Lauren? My fiancée.”
Mike stands up, forcing a smile that screamsI’m only being polite. “Of course, Lauren. Good to see you.”
Lauren extends her hand, and he shakes it, but I can tell he’s clocked the ring.
Yeah, go ahead, Mike, soak it in.
“Hi, doctor,” Lauren says, shooting me a venomous look that I can practically feel burning a hole in my side.
We sit down across from him, and Mike starts clicking through his computer, mumbling to himself as he opens my file. Lauren takes my hand, giving me a nervous smile, her fingers tightening around mine.
“Well, Mr. Walker,” Mike says, glancing up, “your heart looks healthy.”
I feel the tension release from my body immediately. Lauren squeezes my hand, and her smile lights up the room. Was she nervous too? It’s new, knowing I’m not alone anymore. I’ve got someone who has my back, someone who I belong to as much as they belong to me.
Mike continues, “What you’re experiencing is chronic stress, which is triggering a physiological response in your body. This response can exacerbate symptoms such as bloating and discomfort, making them more pronounced.”
“Got it,” I cut him off, standing and fastening my jacket. Both Mike and Lauren stare at me, their mouths slightly open, but it’s Lauren’s confused expression that makes me add, “I was going through a rough time, okay? It was temporary, but it all worked out. As you can see,” Isay, lifting Lauren’s hand to show off the ring again. “Let’s go, Lauren.”
I extend my arm to shake Mike’s hand, and he grabs it immediately.
“Thanks for everything. Hopefully, we won’t need to see each other again,” I say with a sly grin. “Oh, and delete Lauren’s number from your phone—you won’t be needing it.”
Without waiting for a response, I lead Lauren out of the room, the satisfaction of knowing she’s mine leaving me with a sense of calm I haven’t felt in years.
My plan kicks off a couple of weeks after that whole catastrophe. Still haven’t managed to convince Lauren to move in with me, but I don’t quit easily when it comes to challenges—especially when the reward isher.
In her weak attempt to dodge my proposal, Lauren underestimated my level of commitment. She didn’t realize I was fully prepared to camp out in her apartment, if that’s what it took. I’m not the type to make empty promises, and when I told her I wasn’t spending a day without her, I meant it. What we have? It’s written in the stars. Who am I to deny fate, right? From the moment I took her to her bed, I haven’t left her side. If that sounds needy, then sure, I’ll own it.
Three weeks without her was hell, and I’m not going through that again. But today—today’s the day the master plan starts to unfold.
Step one: I spy on Lauren while she’s working in her office. She’s laser-focused, scribbling away at some contract. It’ll take her a while to finish, so I sneak back to my own office, where the real magic happens. Step two: I pull out my phone and dial Luca—my complicated, but hands-down favorite brother. He picks up on the fifth ring, which is pretty fast for him.
“I want to talk to Emma,” I say before Luca can even get a word out.
“Emma?” His voice is all confusion, like he doesn’t know exactly who I’m talking about.
I roll my eyes, stretching my legs out and propping my feet on the desk, keeping a casual glance on the door in case Lauren decides to wander in. “Yes, Emma. You know, the woman you’ve been seeing for months? The one you’ve beensleepingwith?”
There’s a brief pause before I hear Luca's trademark smirk seep into his voice. “How the fuck do you know?”
I chuckle. “It wasn’t exactly rocket science, brother. But I need you to know something. I’m going to marry Lauren. No ifs, ands, or buts. So don’t screw things up with her sister again, because once that ring’s on her finger, you’re stuck dealing with her for the rest of your miserable life.”
Luca lets out a low, sinister laugh, the kind he always uses when he’s amused but doesn’t want to admit it. Without saying another word, he hands the phone over to Emma.
“Hello?” she says, her voice a bit wary, as if expecting trouble.
