Not Pretending Anymore by Ward, Penelope (big ebook reader .TXT) 📕

go see Edith in the nursing office.’”

“Even if I don’t need to go see her?”

I nodded. “Yup. He’s terrified of Edith.”

“He is? But she’s so tiny and sweet.”

I pointed at Daisy. “Until you piss her off. Then she’s pretty damn scary. Even the threat of Edith will scare Dr. Arlington. She once laid into him for dumping his interns, and now if you just mention her name, he backs off.”

She laughed, probably assuming I was exaggerating, but I wasn’t. We worked with a real cast of characters. Patrick, the bartender, walked over and delivered our drinks. While we sipped, the two of us looked around at the group. Tonight was a nice turnout.

Daisy lifted her chin and pointed to where Will was talking to an anesthesiologist at the far end of the bar. “What about Dr. Daniels? What’s his story?”

“Will’s one of the good ones. He’s pretty nice to everyone. You won’t have any problems with him.”

She bit her bottom lip. “I meant what’s his story. Is he…single?”

Oh. Ugh. Shit. “Umm… I’m not sure. He’s off and on with someone. Are you…interested?”

Daisy sipped her drink with a coy smile. “He’s really good-looking.”

Yeah, he is. I shrugged. And of course, just then, he had to walk over to us.

He kissed my cheek. “Hey, Molly. I didn’t see you come in.”

Daisy straightened her posture.

“I just got here,” I said.

He nodded and turned his attention to the woman next to me. “It’s Daisy, right?”

She lit up with a megawatt smile. “It is. It’s nice to see you, Dr. Daniels.”

“Please, call me Will.”

“Alright, Will. You know, the other day I happened to notice you getting into your car in the parking lot. You have a Northwestern alum sticker. Is that where you went?”

“It is.”

“Me too.” She made a fist and pumped it into the air. “Go Wildcats.”

“Oh yeah? I’m a huge fan. I still keep season tickets.”

Daisy pouted. “I’m so jealous. I couldn’t afford them this year. I was a cheerleader for four years, and I miss the excitement of game days.”

Ugh.

Will sipped his beer. “You’ll have to come along for a game then sometime.”

Her pout curved to a smile. “I’d love that.”

Double ugh.

Little Miss New Girl just got herself invited to a day alone with Will in thirty seconds, right in front of me. I really sucked at flirting.

The two of them slipped into a conversation about some new quarterback for the upcoming football season, and I was left attempting to smile at appropriate times while feeling like my heart was being ripped out. Normally, I wasn’t one to take out my cell phone when I was with people, but when it buzzed in my pocket, I decided to make an exception.

I was surprised to find Declan’s name on my screen.

Declan: How’s it going? Are you playing hard to get?

I sighed and typed back.

Molly: Apparently easy to get is more Will’s style. A woman basically just made a date with him right in front of me.

The dots on my phone jumped around for a minute, then stopped, then started up again. Eventually, my phone rang in my hand. Declan’s named flashed with an incoming call.

Excusing myself from the conversation I really wasn’t part of anymore, I stepped away from the bar to answer.

“Hey.”

“I thought this might warrant an actual conversation. What happened?”

I shook my head. “A new PA basically just told me she has the hots for Will, and when he walked over to say hello, she got herself invited to a football game within thirty seconds.”

“Okay. Are they still talking?”

I glanced back at the bar to find Daisy flipping her hair and giggling. Frowning, I said, “Yes.”

“What are you wearing?”

I looked down. “A green silk blouse and jeans.”

“Nice,” he said. “I don’t even have to see it to know you look phenomenal in green with your hair and skin color. Are the jeans tight?”

“Sort of.”

“Heels?”

“I have wedges on.”

“Okay, so you’re looking smokin’ hot. This is good…very good. Here’s what I want you to do. Is it warm in the bar?”

“Umm…it’s comfortable, I guess.”

“Alright. Well, you’re warm. Go back to the conversation, and while Dr. Dickalicious is talking to—what’s this woman’s name?”

“Daisy.”

He scoffed. “Dumb name. Anyway, go back to this conversation, and while he’s talking to Violet, lift the back of your hair and sort of fan it up and down like you’re warm. Then order a glass of ice water from the bar. When the bartender brings you the water, accidentally spill it on your shirt.”

“What? No. Why the heck would I do that?”

“Just trust me and do it.”

“Half of my closet is on my bed because I struggled to find exactly the right outfit to wear tonight, and you want me to ruin it?”

“You won’t be ruining it. But let me ask you something else—how big is your purse?”

I looked down at my hand holding it. “I don’t know, about twelve inches long by ten inches tall, maybe. Why?”

“Okay, perfect. So before you go get your water, make a quick trip to the ladies’ room and slip off your bra. You are wearing one, right?”

“Have you been drinking, Declan?”

“No. But I might hit that bottle of wine you have open in the refrigerator when we hang up if you don’t listen to me.”

“Declan, I am not taking off my bra and intentionally spilling a glass of water on myself.”

“Take a chill pill, Mollz. It’s no big deal. You want this guy to notice you in a new way—that will definitely get him to take notice. Trust me, he’ll forget all about Rose.”

“Daisy.”

“Whatever. Now, are you going to take the horse by the reins or what? This is the way to do it.”

“I thought the way to do it was to play hard to get.”

“I’m calling an audible.”

“A what?”

“It’s a football term. One that Little Miss Marigold who’s going to the game with your doc probably knows. But that’s unimportant now. Just trust me on this.”

I shook my head. “I don’t think so, Declan. That’s not the way