Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 119548 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 598(@200wpm)___ 478(@250wpm)___ 398(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119548 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 598(@200wpm)___ 478(@250wpm)___ 398(@300wpm)
“Be careful what you wish for.” She put her other foot on my lap. “Do it to that one, too.”
I laughed, bringing my other hand to her other foot and massaging both of her ankles. “This is why people think we’re actually dating, do you know that?”
She adjusted the pillows behind her and lay back, settling her hands on her stomach. “Mm. But you give good massages, and since we’re getting married, I’m going to take full advantage of it. Now, rub my feet.”
“Yes, wife.”
“Don’t call me that, either.”
I pulled off her trainers and started working my thumbs on her left foot. “I have to call you something, and you’ve already made your feelings about ‘my love’ very clear.”
“I have a name.”
“Yes, but most married couples have a term of endearment, so I’ll have to try a few out. What about darling?”
“Ugh.” She stuck her tongue out. “Next.”
“Honey?”
“Next.”
“Sweetheart? Sweetie?”
“That’s what Granny calls me. No, thank you.”
I rested my head on the back of the sofa, still rubbing her foot. “You’re not making this easy for me, are you?”
“That would be in direct opposition to my life’s mission which is to pester the crap out of you.”
“Then marrying me is actually a good thing for your mission, is it not?”
“I didn’t think of it that way. Look at that, every cloud really does have a silver lining.”
I rolled my head to the side and smiled, meeting her eyes. “Why don’t I pull out the old teenage nickname?”
“Sugartits?” Her eyes bugged. “If you dare call me that, I swear—”
“You’ll rip off my balls, choke me on one, and shove the other up my arse. Yeah, yeah.” I laughed, switching my hand to her other foot. “Let’s just stick with ‘wife.’ It’s simple, not cheesy, it’s accurate, and nobody else calls you that.” I paused. “At least I hope nobody else is calling you that.”
“Not that I know of,” Deli mused. “Although I’m sure Danny would let me choke him on his own testicle if I let him call me that.”
My stomach clenched at the mention of his name. He was that guy in the pub who was trying to get her to go out with him. “Is he still bugging you?”
“I’ve not seen him since the other day. God only knows what he’s cooking up now that you told him all that crap about me.”
“He should know better than to listen to another guy when they say something about a woman,” I retorted. “If he bothers you, just call me.”
“Ooh, aren’t you the protective boyfriend?” Deli teased, her eyes sparking with laughter.
I paused, my thumbs pressing into the arch of her foot. “I suppose so. I guess we’re dating now.”
“There’s no need to sound so enthused.”
“Sorry. Let me try again.” I coughed into my fist. “I guess we’re dating now!” I exclaimed happily.
She shuddered. “Don’t ever do that again. I’m going to have nightmares.”
I laughed. “I can’t wait to see the look on your face when I ask you to marry me.”
“I was wrong,” she said dreamily, staring at the ceiling. “Now I’m going to have nightmares.”
“Who’s proposing to who?” Mum asked, letting herself into my office.
“You could knock,” I said, looking over at her.
“You should lock the door if you want someone to knock,” she replied, carrying a book over to my shelf and replacing it.
When did she borrow that?
“Well? Who’s proposing to who?”
“Fred’s proposing to me,” Deli said. “We’re getting married.”
“Oh,” Mum said. “It’s about time.”
Deli stared at me. “Seriously, not even your mum is surprised?”
“Sorry.” Mum cleared her throat, then clapped her hands together and put on the fakest smile known to man. “You’re getting married? That’s wonderful news, kids!”
“Never mind,” Deli said. “You’re a terrible actress, Aunt Vi.”
“Yes, dear, that’s why I never went into theatre.” Mum sighed heavily and sat on the sofa opposite us. “I don’t know why you’re shocked by my lack of surprise. I mean, you’re lying on the sofa while he massages your feet, Deli, darling. Anyone would walk in here and think you were a couple.”
“Most of the village thinks we’re a couple even without this,” I pointed out.
“Well, they’ll all be thrilled that you’re going to be one, however short-lived it may be.”
Deli narrowed her eyes, looking between me and mum. “Did you tell her the truth?”
I whistled and turned my gaze elsewhere.
“Frederick!”
Mum held up her hands. “Calm down, Delilah. He warned me this was going to happen. Now, as much as I am a crew member of the FreDeli ship—”
“Not you as well,” Deli grumbled, and I bit back a laugh at the irritation on her face.
“—I respect your choices,” Mum continued. “I would love for you both to get married for real, but you’re both adults perfectly capable of making your own stupid decision to get fake married to lie to a dying woman.”