Because this entire week hasn’t been weird enough, getting to day twenty-eight has been nothing but trials and tribulations of details, packing, dress buying, and other sundries. Tonight’s date will consist of calling my parents later who are currently vacationing in the Grand Canyon. That follows dinner with Jax, my best friend and Baltimore business partner, and Johanna my younger sister, neither of whom are happy with me right now since the cat is officially out of the bag.

I’m getting married.

My life will be so different in less than a week.

Weirdness abounds.

I’m getting ready slipping my heels on when the doorbell rings to my parents’ house.

“Coming!” I call out and jog down the hall to the door. Peeking out the peephole I see Milo standing in the doorway. He’s handsome with his suite jacket on, hands in pockets scanning the street while I watch him like a voyeur. I don’t think I’ve seen him wear anything else outside the hospital. T-shirts and lounge pants during sleepovers don’t count, nor do track pants when I learned he’s an avid swimmer who goes to a pool near the hospital five days a week. He’d probably get along better with Will since Jax is more into weightlifting but there’s nothing to do about that now.

I crack the door open.

“Hello Piper.”

“Hi.” I feel strangely nervous. It’s not as if I haven’t dated or had boyfriends before, but this time I was marrying one. My parents would be appalled if they knew the truth about our arrangement but even Natalie agrees this is the best option. The better for when we have the interview with the Immigration office.

“Can I come in?”

“Oh sure.” I step back into the hall letting Milo pass inside shutting the door behind him.

“Nice house. Good neighborhood.”

“My parents have lived here since they were married.”

“I can tell.” Milo passes by me, his face studies the walls lined with pictures of my sister and I growing up doing goofy things captured for all time. He takes in the knick-knacks my mother has collected from their various trips to Maine and Arizona.

“Your mother likes a lot of turquoise.” He says gently running a finger down a statue they picked up in Mesa last year. He’s been in the house two minutes and that’s what he’s gotten out of all this.

I laugh anxiously, “Yeah. We must have a whole attic filled with Native American artifacts.”

“It’s nice.” And I follow him walking deeper into the house. I feel like he’s inspecting it more than I’m actually giving him a tour and I wonder if we’ve passed, if I’ve passed some test he’s created.

“I’ve only ever lived here and in Austin for a brief time.”

“Diana mentioned that. The brothers who own gyms.”

“Yes, my friends Will and Jax. You’ll meet Jax tonight. I run the women’s program and half the gym space.”

“Where’s your bedroom?” He turns eyebrow raised in a challenge.

“My what?”

“Bedroom Piper. I want to see where you’ve been sleeping since childhood.”

“O-okay.” I walk Milo down the hall to the back corner of the house. My room overlooked the small side yard between our house and Diana’s aunt and uncle’s house.

We enter my childhood bedroom and I start to see it with new eyes, different eyes as Milo takes in the dance and gymnastic trophies lining the shelf on my bookcase.

“Do you still do it?”

“Do what?” I ask over his shoulder.

“Dance.” I hadn’t thought about dance in a long time. I stopped when I was sixteen after an ankle sprain prevented me from competing.

“No, not really. I did ballet until I was sixteen.” The trophy he’s holding is my first place finish the year prior when I was fifteen at nationals. It seemed like a lifetime ago I had resigned knowing I would never dance for the NYC ballet company.

“You have a lot of pink in here.” He remarks dryly replacing the trophy, fingering a faded pink toe shoe ribbon. He backs me up to my bed. His eyes follow me and my legs bump the bed behind me.

I swallow a breath.

“I’m a girl, I like pink. Sue me.”

“Oh, I’m going to do more than that. I’m going to eat your pretty pink pussy before dinner because I like my dessert first.”

I’m rendered completely jaw droopingly speechless as Milo pushes me back and I land on my bed in a flounce of skirts. He gets down on his knees, eye level with my waist and pushes my knees apart.

“Is this practice?” I bite my lip ready to chew the skin raw. This is supposed to be a temporary thing even though I agreed to the sexy part because really, who in their right mind could be celibate for a year or more married to Dr. Milo Lazare.

“I like to make sure I study all the appropriate material. Now lay back and legs up.”

“This is so weird.” I mutter as Milo arranges me on my bed close to the edge. My dress is bunched up and I can barely see his dark head over the poof of skirts between my thighs. I can’t stop thinking doctorly related thoughts but this is nothing any doctor would do.

“Relax Piper, I want to make you feel good.” I exhale a breath I didn’t realize I had been holding when I feel his hands trail up my legs. The closer he gets to my center the wetter I feel. Wet silk constricts as he pulls my panties to the side. I shift on the bed and a hand sneaks between us resting on my stomach.

“Easy Piper.” I feel like he’s trying to calm me before the storm. He’s a hurricane with his desire and I don’t have a place to find sufficient shelter or escape from him. My underwear is so wet I’m squirming and uncomfortable.

Warm breath caresses me and his thumbs rub the indentation between my pussy lips and my legs. I try controlling my breathing and he continues with his tender ministrations. The stress of the past few days leaks out from my eyes as silent burning tears. I want this, I want all of it, but I can’t help the overwhelming feelings surrounding the deception of those important to me.

“You are way too tense for a happy bride to be Piper.” I feel the ends of Milo’s hair caress my thighs. His nose nudges me and I feel a tight pressure as his fingers open me wider. I’m ready to freak out because few have seen me like this, open and exposed.

“Every part of you is so pretty to me.” He murmurs delivering the airiest of butterfly kisses against skin.

I can’t stop the moan from my lips when his tongue laves my core. “You’re pretty studious aren’t you?” I try to make a joke but stop when his tongue licks me again from bottom to top. I’m so so wet, embarrassingly wet for Milo who is groaning into me with each lick of my cunt pressing his tongue deeper and rubbing his whole face into it.

“You’re pretty delicious.” He says going to town eating me out like he’s been starving for days. The sensations make me writhe on the bed but he holds me steadfast. I come on an open mouth cry when his tongue dives deep met with his finger curling inside me pressing up and stroking me until I’m strung out. It’s insanely hot and I feel as though I’ve sweated through my clothes.

I try grabbing for Milo and his hands catch mine holding them as he licks and sucks me back down my heart beating fast and furiously leaving me slightly out of touch with reality. My limbs are jelly and my mind disconnected, my only thoughts are a stream of consciousness I can’t control for once.

I lay quiet catching my breath, eyes squeezed shut. I hear Milo shuffle around and return from the bathroom outside my bedroom. A warm cloth presses against me and water falls between my cheeks. Milo cleans me up and goes to my dresser opening drawers. I bask in the moment when I feel his hand grab for my ankle. He slips on a new pair of underwear, soft and lacy.

I lean up to look at his face handsome as ever. His voice is tinged with an accent as if he’s forgotten how long he’s been living here and says, “There, good as new.”

He gives me a hand and picks me up. I wobble on unsteady feet following him out into the living room.

“We should hurry or we’ll be late for dinner sweetheart.” His hand cups my cheek pulling me in for a light kiss on my lips where I can still taste myself faint and musky.

“But before I forget.” He slips something out of his pocket and lowers himself in front of me on one knee.

“M-Milo?” I’m unable to form a coherent thought except for the one that registers Milo Lazare down on bended knee. I imagined this a hundred different ways as a little girl growing up, I never once thought it would be right after a man pleasured me to perfection without expecting a return or a man who I agreed to marry to fulfill a Visa requirement. It was surreal.

“Piper Jane Scott, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?” I could collect flies with my mouth hanging open.

“I-yes. Yes, Milo.” He slips the heavy ring over my finger and I don’t even look at it running my hands into his hair and pulling him down to fuse his smart ass mouth to mine.

“Excellent. You make me happy.” Milo hugs me tight and I feel a huge wave of responsibility for making him happy. It’s not a burden but more of a promise of things to come. I like it and can’t stop grinning like a loon. He must think I’m crazy but doesn’t comment.

Speechless he walks me out to his car. I lock up the house and get in letting him close the door for me. My hand feels different wearing a ring on it. I practically feel branded but don’t say so instead clenching my hand afraid the heavy thing might fall off.

The drive to the restaurant doesn’t take long and before we know it we’re seated at a table.

“Cat got your tongue?”

I turn toward Milo whose been watching me all this time. I’m blown away, not yet recovered thinking about where this is all leading. Marriage obviously and I stare at the sparkling hardware adorning my finger. It’s huge. A single round diamond in a sturdy setting. It’s not flimsy thing you wear occasionally, this thing looks like it’s the tank of all rings and meant to be worn everyday, even at the gym.

“I had it made custom.”

“Hmm. It’s heavy.”

“Platinum but the setting is weighted to balance so you can wear it all the time and not worry about it even at the gym.”

“It’s beautiful and thoughtful. Thank you.”

I don’t have a chance to respond further when Johanna and Jax join us rushing inside.

“Sorry I’m late. My boss is a prick.” Johanna picks up the wine menu ordering a bottle of something we’ll both drink.

“I wish you would quit that job.” I tell her but we don’t have time to talk about her employment woes because Jax is here too.

Jax leans in for a hug and to shake Milo’s hand. “Jax Holden. The best friend. I’m guessing you’re the fiancé?” He greets Milo eyes glinting.

I scowl.

“Stop being so domineering Jax.”

“Sorry love old habits. Besides if the doctor here isn’t good to you I’m going to beat his ass back to whence he came.”

I cringe looking at Milo whose eyebrows have risen.

“I’m guessing you finally told them?”

Shrugging I explain,“I had to tell someone besides Diana.”

“Gosh look at the sparkler!” Johanna grabs my hand approving twisting it up and down letting the diamond catch the light from every angle possible. Jax nods approvingly.

Milo smiles big and takes a drink of his wine before answering. “Don’t worry Jax, I’m a eat dessert first kind of guy. I’ll take care of our girl here.” I wish my eyes could set him on fire right now.

“Glad to hear it. I like him Pip.” Jax chuckles and before I can decide who to kick first the waiter comes to take our order.

Dinner goes well. I suspect my sister is keeping her own council about this. We still have to call my parents and tell them. Johanna let me know I owe her because now mom would set her sights on her for a big family wedding. We had a fifty dollar bet what color the bridesmaid dresses would be. I said pink. Johanna said violet and Milo joined in doubling our bet saying turquoise. Jax wisely sat this wager out saying black goes with everything especially funerals when my dad found out.

I was relieved to get along and when dessert came Johanna used her phone to dial our parents. It rang once before they picked up.

“Hi girls! Jax, and oh who is this, Piper?” Mom is shrewdly asking.

I point to Milo and speak. “Mom and Dad this is Milo.”

“Hi.” Everyone chimes in exchanging pleasantries. My parents glance at each other and before I loose my cool Milo takes over holding my hand.

“I’m so glad we were able to catch you, Mr. and Mrs. Scott. I’ve fallen for your incredible daughter. I know this quick but–” My breath hitches with his pause. Should we do this? We agreed to do this, but still. Nerves silence me watching for their expressions.

“I would like to ask you formally for her hand in marriage. I know this seems quick and I haven’t been able to properly meet you. My mother would be so mad at me right now but I simply can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with her.” Milo finishes by kissing my hand. My hand sporting a two caret whammy which my mother’s keen eyes don’t miss for one second.

“Are you sure about this Piper Jane?” Dad asks. I only seem capable of nodding.

“Honey, it’s so quick.” Yeah, understatement of the year, Mom.

“I know but we just can’t wait.” I say close to choking on the words. Johanna who is sitting next to me grabs my hand under the table to squeeze reassuringly. She knows our parents are stabile, loving people who just happen to have really rigid roles about marriage.

“Feenie…” my dad uses my mother’s nickname for Josephine stopping her protests. “They’re young. In love.”

“I know. When did this all happen?”

“A week ago.”

“Six months ago.” Clearly our simultaneous answers don’t match making them frown.

“Silly me. I meant six months ago.” Mom narrows her eyes and Milo saves me filling in the details.

“I met her at the hospital over Christmas. Things only now escalated and when a man knows what he wants… well I can’t wait. I’m sorry.” Milo is appropriately apologetic. My dad seems fine, my mother does not.

“Don’t worry Scott family. I’m watching him like a hawk.” Jax chimes in with a smile walloping Milo on the back for show and Johanna winks.

“This is so rushed.” My mother bemoans. This is the same woman who tried setting me up on blind dates and has bought a trunk full of baby clothes with little Native American moccasins from their travels. My mother is weird like that.

“I feel better already Jax.” My dad says knowing my childhood and completely plutonic best friend would have to approve of Milo to stick up for him. He just doesn’t know how fresh this is or that they just met tonight. Thank god for Jax.

My mother is tapping dad on the shoulder and he waves her away like a buzzing bee. “Honey don’t you think we should go home?”

“Nonsense dear.”

“You don’t think…” I hear my mother whispering through the phone. Of course she would jump to the obvious conclusion.

“No mom, I’m not pregnant.” My face burns with embarrassment.

“Well of course not sweetheart. We’re saving babies for when the gym stabilizes and you can take more time off.” Milo smiles hugging me under his arm. I swear his accent thickened and he grins through the kick I give him under the table. Amazing man that he is. He would probably pat my stomach in some romantic gesture if I let him. I don’t.

Jax and Johanna ignore us drinking their wine.

Deserters.

The whole thing seems quickly forgotten. Mom and Dad plan to stay in Arizona and promise to bring back plenty of Navaho and Pueblo artifacts for our home as honeymoon presents.

Awesome.

“Well as soon as we get back we are having a family dinner. And another wedding ceremony. We can meet Milo’s parents.” Insistent my mother is chatting away and mentions teal dresses which is close enough to turquoise making us laugh except me. I’m wondering how the heck we’re going to get through two family ceremonies on opposite sides of the Atlantic. Milo seems nonplused about the whole thing which makes me freak out even more.

“I agree Mr. and Mrs. Scott.” Milo is charming, perfect, and without a doubt winning my parents over. I hate lying to them and wonder how they’ll feel a year or two from now when this all falls apart.

Milo drives us home leaving me on the doorstep with a kiss that leaves me breathless and Johanna my nosy sister staring from the porch window like she’s watching a video on tumblr. Jax texts me to say we’ll talk at work. I feel like a train ran me over and it’s only going to intensify from here on out.