Thankful For My FAKE Girlfriend
Page 4
“About that…”
She raises an eyebrow at me and I smile as I step closer to her, wrapping her up in my arms.
“I love you, Annie. I don’t know why it took me so long to see that or to admit it but I do. I don’t want you to be my fake girlfriend. I want us to date for real. I want you to be mine. What do you say?”
I hold my breath as I stare down into her brown eyes, waiting for her to answer. She lets out a sigh and my heart plummets. She’s going to turn me down and it’s going to be awkward at work and then she’ll quit and I’ll lose her.
“I say… it’s about time,” she says, a smile brightening her face.
She leans up on her tiptoes, fitting her lips against mine and I breathe out a sigh of relief.
“I love you.”
“I love you, too,” she whispers back.
Chapter Nine
Annie
Six Months Later…
Derek and I have been dating for six months now. For real. I thought that it would be hard to adjust, especially at work but apparently, people already assumed that we were dating. I had laughed when I found out and when I told Derek, he just smiled before he pulled me into him and kissed me.
We waited a while to move in together. I’m not sure why. We still spent almost every night together at his place or mine and hauling clothes back and forth got old after the first month. He asked me to move in with him on Valentine’s Day and the movers came the very next morning. His parents were happy to hear that we were taking the next step and they even asked us at Easter when we’re going to tie the knot and give them more grandbabies. I thought that Derek was going to freak at that but he seemed to actually think about it.
I know that he was worried that he wouldn’t be a good boyfriend but he’s the best. He’s attentive and sweet and he makes a real effort to compromise with me on things. I’ve even gotten him to cut back on his work hours. He gets out of the house and office more now and we’ve gone out to dinner and movies but also concerts and comedy shows. I love seeing him so relaxed and knowing that I helped him get there.
He said that he had a surprise for me today so I’m currently sitting in the passenger seat of his car as he heads out of the city. I tried to get him to give me a clue but he just smiles at me and gives my hand a squeeze. We’ve been driving for a while and I notice that the houses are few and far between now.
“Are you going to kill me?” I joke and Derek gives me a dark look.
I laugh as he slows the car and turns into a small gravel parking lot. I look around but all I see are trees and grass.
“Where are we?”
“You’ll see. Now, close your eyes.”
I do as he says, listening as he gets out of the car and comes around to my side.
“Keep them closed.” He says as he helps me out of the car.
His hand grips mine and he leads me for a couple of minutes, careful to make sure that I don’t trip. Finally, we stop and I try to peek but Derek is onto me.
“Keep them closed, Annie,” he says with a laugh.
I pout and he laughs louder.
“Just one more minute…. Okay, you can open them.”
I open my eyes and look around to see we’re standing in the middle of a field and Derek has spread out a blanket next to a wicker picnic basket.
“A picnic? I thought you said you wouldn’t be caught dead doing that,” I tease.
“I’d do anything for you, Annie.”
I kiss his cheek and take a seat on the blanket, admiring the day. The sun is out but there’s a slight breeze so it’s not too hot. Derek starts to rummage around in the basket, pulling out plates and Tupperware. I help him set everything up before I dig in.
“Did you cook?” I ask.
“Yeah, my Mom helped me.”
“It’s good,” I say, distracted.
Derek didn’t say anything about meeting up with his Mom and I wonder what the big deal about today is. Don’t get me wrong, Derek puts effort into our relationship but this just seems like more. I search my brain, trying to figure out if I missed an anniversary or something.
“Hey, Annie?”
“Yeah?” I say, looking across the blanket at him.
“Marry me.”
My mouth falls open as he holds up the biggest diamond ring that I’ve ever seen. It’s a princess cut in a platinum setting and it’s beautiful. Yes, is on the tip of my tongue but I just can’t help messing with him.
“That’s how you’re going to propose? Really?”
He growls, grabbing my hand and pushing the ring onto my finger. He places a sweet kiss on the back of my hand afterward before he looks up into my eyes.
“I love you, Annie. Marry me and make me the happiest man in the world.”
“Okay.”
He huffs out a laugh at my casual answer before he tugs me into his arms, his mouth landing on mine.
Chapter Ten
Derek
Ten Years Later…
I unhook my daughter from her car seat, being careful to try not to wake her as Annie goes ahead of us and unlocks our front door. We just got done spending Thanksgiving at my parents’ house and it’s been a long day. Sarah, our daughter, had a blast playing with her grandparents and cousins and she passed out before we even pulled out of the driveway. Annie is looking a little tired too and I hurry, wanting to get both my girls inside and into bed.
Annie follows me upstairs and into our daughter’s room, pulling the curtains while I tug her shoes off. She’s sound asleep and curls up on her side as soon as I tuck her in. I kiss her head, waiting for Annie to do the same before we tiptoe out of her room and across the hall to ours.
We waited several years before we had Sarah, wanting to soak up as much time as we could with just the two of us. We had been married for four years before Annie told me she wanted to start a family and I was one hundred percent ready too. It took us another year to get pregnant and the pregnancy was rough. When Sarah was finally born, we decided that one was enough for us. She’s the light of our lives and has me wrapped around her tiny finger.
I cut way back on my hours at work, only going in two days a week now. My wife helped me see that everything wouldn’t fall apart if I took some time for myself and for my family. It took a couple of years but my control-freak tendencies have faded. The investment firm is still doing great and I get to spend more time with my wife and daughter. Win-win.
We moved out of the city after we had Sarah, wanting to get away from all of the noise and traffic. We live about half an hour outside of the city in a newer subdivision. We’re nearer to my sister and her family and to my parents now and we usually all get together once or twice a month. It’s been nice seeing my family more and I know that I have Annie to thank for bringing us closer together.
I watch as she slips into her pajamas and brushes her teeth. She catches me staring and winks at me and I grin back at her. She still knows how to make me laugh with just a look and I love that about her. I love everything about her. I don’t know how I got so lucky.
We crawl into bed and I wrap Annie up in my arms, stroking my hands down her back as she rests her head on my chest. I wait until her breathing evens out before I do my usual Thanksgiving tradition. I close my eyes and whisper a thank you to whoever brought us together and then I say what I’m most thankful for.
Thank you for Annie, she’s the best thing that ever happened to me. Thank you for Sarah. I didn’t know that I could love anyone like that and I’m so thankful that I asked Annie to be my fake girlfriend all those years ago.
The End.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shaw Hart is a romance author who lives in a constant state of motion, chasing after her two children and three dogs. She is an Air Force wife and a Pinterest addict. She loves crime TV shows, dogs, hiking and yoga.
You can keep up to date with Shaw on her website-Shawhartbooks.blog
ALSO BY SHAW HART
Making Her His
&n
bsp; Trouble
Her Obsession
His Obsession
Baby Mama
Bought and Paid For
His Miracle
Pretty Girl
Stopping at Nothing
The Billionaire’s Bet
Mine to Love
Mine to Protect
Mine to Cherish
Mine to Keep
Her Guardian Angel
His Firework
My Girl
Every Tuesday Night
His Wish
Her Wish
Fighting for His Princess
Riding His Broomstick
CONNECT WITH ME!
If you enjoyed this story, please consider leaving a review on Amazon or any other reader site or blog that you like. Don’t forget to recommend it to your other reader friends.
If you want to chat with me, please consider joining my VIP list or connecting with me on one of my Social Media platforms. I love talking with each of my readers. Links below!
❥ Facebook
❥ Bookbub
❥ Shaw Hart Bookies
❥ VIP list
❥ Instagram
❥ Blog