ログイン共有
Appreciation
最終更新日:
2025-01-07 23:33:12
関連チャプター
Pretend to be mine Sunday morning
Lucia woke up the next morning alone in bed. She assumed that Avon was in the bathroom, but when he didn’t get back in bed after a few minutes, she sat up and saw his bathroom door open and the light off. She pulled on his robe and wandered into the kitchen in the hopes that he was making coffee, but he wasn’t there, either. She decided that he’d probably gone for a run on the beach like he said he did some mornings. She sort of wished he’d left her a note but forced herself to shrug it off. She got back in bed with her neglected phone to check her work email. But first things first: she typed out a quick reply to a text from Diana that just said ???????? Weekend so far: having fun, eating good food, great sex, don’t wish you were here. Just then, she heard Avon’s front door quietly open and close. “Oh, you’re awake.” He’d tiptoed into the bedroom, holding two cups of coffee in a tray and a bakery bag. “I thought you’d still be asleep.” She looked at the bag, and then back to
最終更新日 : 2025-01-10Pretend to be mine Dim sum and departures
Avon put his arm around her and leaned back against the pillows. “This program is really important to you, isn’t it?” She nodded, her head against his chest. “Tell me about it,” he said, his fingers moving through her hair. She hesitated. Was she ready to get into this with him just yet? Or ever, really? Would he understand? Would he even care? He kept waiting, though. “I’ve always been interested in how to help teenagers. There are all sorts of programs for little kids, lots of reading groups and playgrounds and stuff like that. But people stop caring about kids once they hit the age of eleven or twelve. And everyone hates teenagers. Which sucks, because that’s just the time of life when everything is changing and scary and you need help. And then when teenagers screw up, no one ever wants to give them a chance again. Especially teens of color.” “But an arts program?” She looked up at that tone in his voice and saw his raised eyebrows. “Isn’t that just rewarding kid
最終更新日 : 2025-01-10Pretend to be mine Good news and Good company
Sure enough, she ran into him on her way into the building, a pink box in his hand. “My hero!” she said as she handed him the coffee she’d bought him. “How did you know I was going to bring doughnuts?” He eyed his coffee and the grin on her face. “I had a hunch.” She popped open the box and took out hers. “Just what I needed.” He tested his coffee for temperature, not taking a sip yet. “We all know you got lucky this weekend. Do you need to flaunt it?” She just grinned and took a big bite of her doughnut as he followed her into her office. “Before I forget, did you hear anything? Normally, I wouldn’t have even had to ask, but with you gone this weekend . . .” His voice trailed away as she shook her head. He sat down in one of the chairs in front of her desk. “Okay, we’ll talk about that in a minute. First: the weekend went well, I’m guessing?” He sipped his coffee and reached for his own doughnut. “It did, thank you.” She pushed all of her anxieties from the night before away
最終更新日 : 2025-01-11Pretend to be mine “Text message mayhem”
Diana had a side job and business was thriving, which meant she always had great stories. Lucia laughed throughout the tale of graduation dress shopping for a whole family. Unfortunately, now that she’d been given permission to start thinking more about the Avon situation, it was all she could think about. “Should I ask him?” Lucia asked, midway through her second drink. “I guess that depends on how much you want to know the answer,” Diana said. Wednesday afternoon, Avon’s phone buzzed in his pocket while he was in the middle of an appointment with Nolan and his mom. He grinned, almost certain of who had just texted him. He and Lucia had been texting each other all week, both in innocent and creative ways, though she’d been strangely silent today. He fought the urge to pull his phone out of his pocket and concentrated on Nolan. When Abby and Nolan were walking out the door, she stopped and turned around. “Your friend Lucia’s been so helpful. She’s gotten me in touch with hel
最終更新日 : 2025-01-11Pretend to be mine Regrets and longing
Lucia spent the rest of the afternoon first furious at Avon, then at herself. Why had she decided to text him in the middle of the day on a Wednesday, for God’s sake? Did she have to do this right when she was about to go into three back-to-back meetings where she had to concentrate and be diplomatic and pay attention? Shouldn’t she have waited to talk about this in person? After the last of her meetings, not only did she have to drive her boss home, but she made her sit in the driveway with her and talk about their transportation plan for fifteen minutes. She felt like she was going to crawl out of her skin. She was angry that she had gotten so invested in a relationship that had lasted all of thirteen days, angry she’d done all of that for something that wasn’t even a relationship in the first place, angry at Avon for being such a jackass, angry at Avon for being such a great guy for ninety-eight percent of those thirteen days, angry at herself for being on the point of tears
最終更新日 : 2025-01-11Pretend to be mine Unexpected encounter
Avon only did this work when he was forced into it or had nothing else to do to keep him occupied, and Lucas knew it. “So I’m guessing from the look on your face that you didn’t go to San Francisco last weekend? Did you even try to fix it?” Avon kept his eyes on his computer and attempted to keep his voice level. “Leave it alone, Lucas.” Of course he’d thought about trying to fix it. But what was the point? Lucas stood up, thank God. “Fine, keep brooding. But you’d better have pulled yourself together by the time we go to San Francisco this weekend.” Avon head shot up. What the hell was he talking about? Why the hell would he be going to San Francisco? Lucas laughed. At, not with him, he was pretty sure. “The American Association of Pediatric Hospital Medicine Conference? We planned it, like, two months ago? We’re the only two junior peds from this hospital who get to go? We leave tomorrow?” Avon laid his head down on his desk, lifted it, and banged it back down. Luckily, th
最終更新日 : 2025-01-12Pretend to be mine Reconnection
Avon was pretty sure he was going to like Diana. She seemed cool. “Hi,” he said, once they were alone. He touched her bare arm and this time didn’t let go. “Can I, um—can we talk for a minute?” Now that he’d seen her, he couldn’t just walk back to his barstool. She looked in the direction that Nolan and Diana had disappeared in, and then back at him. Shit, was she going to tell him to go away? “Sure,” she finally said. He grabbed her hand and pulled her deeper into the corner. “Look, I’m sorry about what I said. In the texts, I mean. I wasn’t thinking,” he said, once the din around them was a little quieter. He wanted to step closer but didn’t want her to back away. She squeezed his hand. “No, Avon, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have started all of that. It wasn’t . . . I didn’t want . . .” He looked down at her. That strapless dress she was wearing . . . he wanted to pull down the neckline and kiss her in that hollow between her breasts. “I wasn’t,” he blurted out. “I mean, I’m not.
最終更新日 : 2025-01-12Pretend to be mine Rekindling Joy
“I’m growing to like elevators quite a bit,” she said as the doors opened for his floor.He fumbled in his pocket for the door key and realized two things. One: he wanted to pick her up and throw her on his bed again. Two: he really had to pee. Shit. He’d better make it quick.He pulled her inside the room.“Don’t move. Give me one second. I’ll be right back.” He flew into the bathroom and hoped that the look on her face hadn’t been irritation or—oh God—a change of heart. Maybe she’d remembered she was mad at him? That thought made him zip his pants quickly, in case he had to convince her to stay.When he opened the door, she wasn’t standing in the entryway where he’d left her. She hadn’t left, had she? He looked around the room and . . . holy shit.She was propped up against the pillows on the bed, wearing that leather jacket, those heels . . . and nothing else. He unbuckled his belt.“I thought I told you not to move?” he asked her as he approached the bed.She nodded, her fingers
最終更新日 : 2025-01-12
最新チャプター
Pretend to be mine Epilogue
Asher had long since moved out, starting his own family with his beautiful wife, Sophia. Ellie, now a stunning young woman, had grown into her own, spreading her wings and exploring the world.As the seasons changed, Avon and Lucia found themselves surrounded by the next generation of their family. Asher and Sophia's kids, Ava and Ethan, were the apples of their grandparents' eyes. And Ellie, well, Ellie was busy making her own dreams come true.“Look at you,” Avon said as he walked through the door.“Hi, Dad.” Ellie smiled as she turned around and looked at him. He took in a deep breath as he shook his head. “You’re so beautiful, Ellie, You look just like your mother did on our wedding day. Where did the years go? My little princess is all grown up and getting married,” He said as his eyes started to swell with tears.“Daddy, don’t. You’re going to make my mascara run and then mom will kill you.”“You’re right, and we can’t have that.” He smiled.“I can’t believe I’m getting marrie
Pretend to be mine All grown up
Few years later….. Asher, now a handsome and confident 18-years- old, stood tall at 6’1” with broad shoulders, chiseled features and a bright, charming smile. His once-messy brown hair was now styled neatly, framing his bright blue eyes that sparkled. He stood by the door way with a suitcase in his hand. Lucia couldn't help but feel a lump form in her throat as she looked at her son. How had time flown by so quickly? It seemed like just yesterday she was changing his diapers and singing him lullabies. Avon put a reassuring arm around her shoulders. “Hey, its okay,” he whispered. “He's going to do great things. We're so proud of him.” Lucia nodded, trying to hold back tears. “I know, I just can't believe he's leaving us already.” Asher smiled, his eyes shining with excitement. “I'll be back, mom. I promise. And I'll stay in touch.” Ellie, who had been quietly observing the scene, suddenly piped up. “I'm going to miss you, Asher! Who's going to play with me now?” Asher chu
Pretend to be mine A night out
Lucia was busy getting the kids ready for bed when Avon walked into the house, a smile on his face."Hey, beautiful," he said, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "I've got some news. Dr. Smith from work is having a party this weekend and he's invited us."Lucia's eyes lit up. "That sounds like fun! What's the occasion?"Avon shrugged. "I'm not sure, but I think it's just a general get-together. He's renting out a private room at a restaurant downtown."Lucia nodded, already thinking about what she would wear. "That sounds great. I could use a night out."Avon grinned. "I'll make sure to get a babysitter for the kids. We can make it a date night."Lucia smiled, feeling a flutter in her chest. She loved spending time with Avon, and a night out without the kids sounded like the perfect way to recharge.The day of the party arrived, and Lucia spent hours getting ready. She curled her hair, put on a new dress, and did her makeup. Avon whistled when he saw her, making her blush."You look stun
Pretend to be mine New Year’s Day
The New Year’s Day sun streamed into Lucia’s cozy living room, painting golden stripes across the floor. Avon, Lucia’s husband, was already up, his hands busy making pancakes. The kitchen buzzed with happy chaos. Six children – two of Lucia’s and four of her sister Susan’s and Carolyn’s – tumbled over each other, giggling. Their shrieks of laughter mingled with the sizzle of the pancakes and the clinking of mugs. Eight year Lily, Susan’s eldest, was carefully arranging tiny plastic reindeer on the windowsill. Her younger brother, six-year-old Tom, was attempting, with limited success, to build a tower out of pancake batter. Baby Ellie , was gurgling contentedly, clutching a bright red ball. Across the room, Carolyn’s children, ten-year-old Chloe, seven-year-old Ben, and Asher were engaged in a boisterous game of hide-and-seek. Susan herself bustled into the kitchen, her cheeks flushed with the cold morning air. Behind her trailed her husband,carrying a large,decorated cake. Carolyn
Pretend to be mine Merry Christmas
Five months later… Baby Ellie had been born. Avon took his family to dinner. Christmas fast approaching and Asher was excited to see Santa Claus. They sat in the restaurant, waiting for their food. Asher was sitting next to Avon, and Ellie in her stroller close to Lucia. Asher was coloring a picture. Asher kept looking at the group of men who were at the next table. They kept looking over at Avon. Avon noticed them looking at Lucia , but he didn’t say anything. The waitress walked over and set our their food down in front of them. “Asher, eat your food,” Avon said. “I will, Daddy, don’t worry,” he responded as he kept looking at the table next to them. Avon knew those men were staring at my his wife. After Lucia has Ellie. She got more attractive and her skin was glowing more than usual. Avon had a problem with those men. But he'd toned it down, and he didn’t embarrass Lucia as much. Out of the clear blue, Asher looked at Lucia. “Mom, those men keep staring at us and that’s ru
Pretend to be mine A medical Trip
Avon walked into the living room, where Lucia was sitting on the couch, reading a book. Asher was playing with his toys on the floor, and Lucia’s belly was noticeably rounded with their unborn baby. “Hey beautiful,” Avon said, giving Lucia a kiss on the cheek. “ I need to talk to you about something.” Lucia looked up from her book curious. “What is it?” Avon sat beside her. “I’ve been invited to attend a medical conference in Chicago with some other doctors, including Dr. Kim. It’s a great opportunity, but you have to be careful. You’ll be traveling with other doctors, but you still need to watch other for yourself. Avon smiled, reassuring her. “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. I’ll be with a group of doctors, and we’ll be staying at a hotel in the city. I’ll be perfectly safe.” Lucia nodded, seeming to relax a bit. “ okay just promise me you’ll be careful .” Avon promised, then turned the conversation to Lucia. “How are you feeling ? Will you be okay taking care of Asher and …?” He g
Pretend to be mine Diana's big day
Three months later…. The sun was shining brightly on the day of Diana's wedding. Lucia was bustling around, making sure everything was perfect for her bestfriend's special day. She had been looking forward to this moment for months, and she couldn't wait to see her friend walk down the aisle and marry the love of her life. Avon was helping Martins get ready, making sure his tie was straight and his shoes were polished. Asher, who was now able to walk, was running around. The area faced the breathtaking sunset. At the end of each seated aisle, scented candles hung from naked tree branches. Spread down the aisle was white leaves, as far as the eyes could see, slightly moist so they wouldn’t crack when you stepped on them. Diana had a small group of close family and friends dressed in beach attire for comfort. On either side of the aisle, they sat in white chairs set up for them on the sand. Just then, Diana appeared , looking stunning in her white wedding dress. Lucia's eye
Pretend to be mine Asher is one
It was Asher's first birthday and party. Lucia and had spent the last two months planning for his birthday. Lucia worked from home and occasionally went into the office. Caterers had been in and out of the house all day, preparing for Ashers party. He had just started walking and took his first steps. His first word was “dada” and Lucia was not happy with that. All around the house were balloons that were hanging everywhere, Avon walked up to Asher's room, where Lucia was getting him ready for the party. The minute he saw Avon, he said, “Dada” and smiled. As soon as Lucia put on his dress on him, Asher walked over to Avon and hugged his legs. “Can you keep an eye on him while I go and get ready?” Lucia asked. “Of course I can,” Avon said as he picked up Asher. Avon took him out of the room and went downstairs. He smiled and pointed when he saw the balloons. “Those are for you,” he said as he kissed his cheek. Asher looked at Avon and then screamed to hold one. Avon
Pretend to be mine The proposal
“I’m so sorry. Please tell me you forgive me,” he begged as he buried his face deep into Lucia's neck. “I forgive you, but we need to talk,” she said. “I know, and I’ll do anything to make things right. I love you, and I missed you so much.” Lucia broke their embrace and placed her hands on his face. “I missed you too,” age said as she kissed him. “Come sit down and have some coffee and the hangover cocktail I just made.” “You know I hate that stuff.” “I know you do, but it works and you have to be feeling pretty lousy right now.” “I am,” he said as he rubbed his head. Lucia picked up the glass with the cocktail in it and sat down on his lap. He wrapped his arms around her and as she brought the glass to his lips. “Drink.” she smiled. He looked at her, made a face, and took a sip as she tilted the glass. He took it from her hand and chugged it down as fast as he could, then placed the glass on the counter. “Where’s our baby?” he asked. “He’s at my mom's with Dian
