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Regrets and longing
Last Updated:
2025-01-11 16:03:00
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Pretend 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
Last Updated : 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.
Last Updated : 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
Last Updated : 2025-01-12Pretend to be mine Lazy afternoon
Avon woke to the warm afternoon sun streaming through his kitchen windows, illuminating the dust motes dancing in the air. Lucia's head was still nestled in the crook of his shoulder, her body relaxed against his. They'd somehow shifted in their sleep, now lying almost flat on the couch. His stomach growled, protesting the lack of sustenance since their pier excursion. The hot dogs and cotton candy had been a delightful snack, but they wouldn't sustain him forever.Lucia stirred, squeezing her eyes shut as she turned into his chest, away from the sunlight. She kissed his chest, and the gentle caress sent warmth spreading through his body. "Mmmngry," she mumbled into his collarbone.He stroked her hair, his fingers tracing the remnants of the temporary flower tattoo on her cheek. "Hmmm?" he replied, his voice low and husky.She lifted her head, her eyes still sleepy. "I'm starving."He smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "You're speaking my language now."Lucia pulled his head d
Last Updated : 2025-01-13Pretend to be mine “Low-key,high-feelings”
Lucia and Nolan and their deputies huddled and came up with an acronym (Supporting Teens Through Arts Rehabilitation, or STAR, a name she and Nolan knew they’d be mocked about forever), a deadline (the city council meeting in July), and a schedule of community meetings to hopefully garner support. This all meant Lucia was at work until eight or nine the whole week, and spent a few more hours working at home on her couch every night. She probably would have worked a few hours less that week if she hadn’t been texting with Avon in between every meeting, but she couldn’t help it. His texts always made her smile, made her relax after tense moments, and sometimes made her blush. Him being so far away was starting to make her go crazy. Why couldn’t she drive straight to his house from one of her long workdays to get rid of some of her frustration in the best possible way? Why couldn’t she wake up with him in her bed in the mornings, so at least she’d have those five minutes befo
Last Updated : 2025-01-13Pretend to be mine The space between
Nolan narrowed his eyes at Lucia as she walked into the office on Monday morning, her usual bright smile noticeably absent. "Coffee. Let's go," he said abruptly, already heading toward the door. She hurried to catch up with him, her purse bouncing against her hip. "What's wrong?" she asked, but Nolan just shook his head and kept walking. It wasn't until they were outside, walking down the sidewalk, that he finally spoke up. "What's going on? Were things bad this weekend? Was Avon an ass about you needing to work?" he asked, his voice low and concerned. Lucia sighed, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside her. Had her poker face gotten that bad, or did Nolan know her that well? "No, he was great. He was great about everything. It's just...we're both busy next weekend, so it's going to be a little while before we see each other again, that's all," she said, trying to downplay the situation. But Avon wasn't buying it. He steered her toward a nearby coffee shop, expertly navigating
Last Updated : 2025-01-14Pretend to be mine The weight of uncertainty
His irritation washed away when his phone buzzed in his pocket. He grinned at the text from her: a picture of a pile of doughnuts, arranged and stacked like a wedding cake.Look at what they had at the community meeting!He walked into the hallway to text her back.They obviously don’t know you that well. None of them have sprinkles.After two more texts, he gave up on the party and disappeared out the back door to get to his car. He called her before his car was out of park.“Hey!” she said, that warm sound of laughter in her voice. Was she laughing because of his texts, or was she out with other people?“Hey! How was the meeting?”He heard noise and chatter in the background. When she said a muffled, “Be right back,” the noise receded. So she was with other people.Not that she wasn’t allowed to go out when he wasn’t there, but he’d sort of pictured her sitting home on the couch missing him.“It went really well, I think! I hope we have lots of parents and teachers on our side. Get
Last Updated : 2025-01-14Pretend to be mine Finding solace
He was glad he finished with appointments early that day. Hopefully, he could leave the office without running into anyone. He didn’t want to see or talk to anyone. Well, there was one person he wanted to both see and talk to, but that was impossible. She was far away from this hospital right now.Except . . . she wasn’t that far, was she?He made it to his car without talking to anyone and drove straight to LAX.Lucia was still depressed from the meeting on Sunday night. Even though she’d huddled with Nolan and the mayor on Monday morning, she was convinced they had no chance of victory, at least not this time. The people here had too much influence. They were rich and they cared less about the poor. She knew who the city council was more likely to listen to.She got home that night and shed her dress, bra, and heels as soon as she walked in the front door, too tired and discouraged to bring them into her bedroom. She changed into yoga pants and a hoodie and stood in front of the
Last Updated : 2025-01-15
Latest chapter
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
Pretend to be mine After the fall
It was a Saturday morning. Lucia say down in front of the balcony letting her hands run through her hair. “He misses you, and he’s not doing good,” she heard a voice say behind her.She turned around and saw Diana standing a few feet away from her. She smiled and held out her hand for Diana to sit next to her.“What are you doing here? Should you even be here?” she asked as she kissed Diana on the cheek.“I’m fine. Martins drove. He's in the car , talking to his boss. I don’t want to talk about me. How are you doing?”“I’m okay,” she said as I looked into her phone.“No, you’re not. I know you, Lucia, and you miss him just as much as he misses you.”“I’m so mad at him, Diana. How could he do that to me? How many times do I have to tell him not to keep things from me before it sinks into that thick head of his?”Diana smiled at her and then looked at her. “Sometimes, we don’t always make the right decisions under pressure and stress. Need I remind you of a few times you didn’t make
Pretend to be mine Reflections and reconnections
The house felt empty without Avon. She heard Asher cry, so she walked upstairs to get him from his crib. It had been days since she’d seen or talked to Avon. Every second and every minute of each day was killing her slowly. Days had passed since she had left Avon, and she couldn’t shake the feeling of emptiness that settled in her heart. She missed him. She missed their talks, their laughs, and their quiet moments together. As she sat in her Mum’s living room, watching Asher play with his toys, she couldn’t help but think about Avon. She’d been so angry with him, so hurt by what she thought he'd done. But now, as the days went by, she was starting to feel like she’d overreacted. She thought about all the times Avon had been there for her, all the times he'd supported her and loved her. She thought about the way he looked at her, the way he made her feel like she was the only person in the world. Just then, her mom came into the room and told her that Avon was on his way over
Pretend to be mine Shattered lives
Avon could hardly sleep that night. He kept trying Lucia’s number but it kept going to voicemail. He knew she needed time but he only wanted to make sure she was safe. A part of him was relaxed when Lucas called and told him she was at her mom's with their baby.Dr Kim on the other hand watched Avon run out of the mansion chasing after Lucia. Her plan had not worked. Avon had not fallen into her trap and instead, he had gone after his wife. Kim's face twisted in anger and frustration. She had been so sure that her plan would work. She had been so sure that Avon would fall for her charms. But now she watched Avon disappear into the night. She realized that she had underestimated him. She had underestimated the strength of his marriage and the depth of his love for Lucia.Kim's anger turned to furt as she taught of Lucia. That woman had ruined everything. She had foiled with her plans.She had been with other married men and she was always the one to leave the situationship. The men n
Pretend to be mine The seductress
Dr. Kim was a force to be reckoned with. She was a brilliant doctor, a talented researcher, and a stunningly beautiful woman. She knew how to use her charms to get what she wanted, and she always got what she wanted. Kim grew up in a wealthy family, where she was always given everything she desired. She was spoiled, but she was also intelligent and driven. She worked hard to become a doctor, and she was determined to be the best. As she navigated her way through medical school and her residency, Rachael developed a reputation for being flirtatious and seductive. She would bat her eyelashes, flash her bright smile, and use her charm to get what she wanted from her colleagues and professors. Her love life was a series of conquests, each one more thrilling than the last. She would pick up men at bars, at parties, and even at work. She loved the thrill of the chase, the excitement of seducing someone new. But despite her many conquests, Kim had never been in a serious relationship.
Pretend to be mine Teething pains
Lucia paced back and forth, trying to comfort Asher as he screamed her head off in the morning. She bounced him, walked him around the house, sat down, rocked him in the rocking chair, and nothing soothed him. Avon came up behind her in the living room and took him from her. “What’s wrong, ash? Daddy’s here.” Lucia rolled her eyes because sometimes Avon thought he was the cure-all where he was concerned. When he didn’t stop screaming, he looked at her. “He may be teething. Run your finger along his gums and see if you feel anything,” Avon said. She took her finger and put it in Asher's mouth. “Yep, I feel a lump right here,” she said. ‘Aw, my poor baby,” he pouted as he kissed his head. “I’ll go and get the baby Tylenol. That should help her him better.” Lucia followed Avon into the kitchen, and she took the Tylenol from the cupboard. She gave Avon his dosage and they sat with him on the couch. “I can take him, sweetheart. You have to get up for work in a couple of hours.”
Pretend to be mine A night out and a love that endures
The next morning, Lucia awoke before Avon. As her was still at his parents’ house and after the party last night, they had sex all over the penthouse, taking advantage of the fact that Asher wasn’t here to interrupt them. While she stood in front of the mirror, she put her blonde hair up in a high ponytail. As she brushed her teeth, Avon stood in the doorway of the bathroom in nothing but his pajama bottoms, with his muscular arms against the doorframe. “What?” she smiled. “Nothing. I’m just admiring your beauty before we part ways in a couple of hours.” She spit in the sink and rinsed her mouth before walking over to him and placing her hands on his bare and sculpted chest. “I hate the fact that we aren’t going to see each other until tomorrow.” “I know. Me too,” he said as he held her face and kissed her lips. “I'll be home before you know it” Avon said. After Avon left for work, Lucia pulled out her phone and dialed Diana's number, excitement building up inside her. Hey, g
Pretend to be mine A new face
Lucia was sitting in the hospital cafeteria, sipping on a cup of coffee and scrolling through her phone, when she noticed a commotion at the entrance. A group of nurses were gathered around a new doctor, chatting and laughing with her. As she watched, the doctor caught her eye and smiled. She was tall, with long, curly brown hair and piercing green eyes. Lucia felt a pang of unease as she realized that she was staring at Avon, her gaze lingering on his face. Just then, Avon walked into the cafeteria, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on Lucia’s. He smiled and made his way over, but not before noticing the new doctor. "Hey, who's that?" Avon asked, nodding towards the doctor. Lucia shrugged. "No idea. Must be new around here." Avon's eyes narrowed slightly as he watched the doctor, who was now chatting with a group of nurses. "I'll go introduce myself," he said, standing up. As Avon walked over to the doctor, she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. There was some
Pretend to be mine A night out
Avon sat at his desk, staring blankly at his computer screen as he tried to focus on the task at hand. But his mind kept wandering to Lucia and their baby boy. It had been weeks since she gave birth, and he knew she was still adjusting to motherhood.As he thought about it, an idea struck him. He picked up his phone and dialed Lucia's number, a smile spreading across his face as he waited for her to answer."Hey, beautiful," he said, trying to sound suave. "How's my favorite mom doing today?"Lucia laughed on the other end of the line. "I'm doing okay, I guess. Just trying to get some rest while the baby sleeps."He chuckled. "Well, I have a proposition for you. How would you like to be my date for dinner tonight?"There was a pause on the other end of the line, and for a moment, he worried that Lucia might say no. But then she spoke up, her voice filled with excitement."I'd love to! It's been ages since we've had a night out just the two of us."He grinned, feeling a sense of relief
