Desire for My Boyfriend's Dad

RILEY The cutlery in my hands shook as I stared in complete shock at my boyfriend, Dean, and a little box on the table. The moment between us seemed to stand still. There were no noises from the waiters moving around us and no clear vision of other tables with other couples. We were in our own little world. My mind flashed back to this morning, going over every little detail. Did I miss something? I wondered. A sign that told me this was going to happen. I woke up to a bouquet of my favorite flowers, lilies of the valley, and a note from Dean. ‘Morning, love. Good luck with the surgery. We have reservos at Il Porcellino. It’s important.’ Those words cemented themselves in my mind. After six years of dating, it could only mean one thing—a proposal. My mood instantly changed. I texted a picture of the flowers to my best friend, Quinn, and she responded with a puke emoji. She never really liked Dean. Mainly because he took up most of my time. I couldn’t help that I was madly in love with this guy. Ever since medical school, we have been inseparable. I quickly got dressed and made it to work in record time. I was a senior resident at Heartstone Hospital Center, hoping to become an attending physician this year. This surgery was the ticket—a high-profile case with a heart transplant. I'd been prepping for weeks, and the most challenging part wasn’t the surgery. It was keeping my patient on the straight and narrow. He was an older gentleman who had been a diamond donor to the hospital. How I lucked into getting this surgery was happenstance. Let’s just say I caught him in a compromising position involving an apparatus sticking out the back part of his body. From there, I guess if he could trust me to perform a quick extraction, he trusted me with his heart. After a successful heart transplant, I left the hospital feeling like I was ten feet tall. Nothing was going to ruin my mood now. To prove that I received a call I’d been waiting for for months. I’ve been trying to get my dream apartment at this highrise, only a mile from my workplace. My application has finally gone through, and I could move into my new apartment by the end of the week. I couldn’t help but scream out loud as the people in the hospital halls looked at me funny. I felt as if my heart would burst from the good fortune I had today. Everything I ever wanted was within my grasp. I have a perfect relationship, a perfect position soon, and a successful surgery under my belt. All that was left on my list was marriage and kids. Kids could still wait, but marriage should be knocking at my door. Returning to the restaurant, I watched Dean’s lips move, and I couldn’t understand what he said. He slowly moved his hand over mine, lowering it to the table. The warmth of his hand brought me back to the present as I blinked hard to focus. I let out a little laugh. “I’m sorry, what was that,” I asked. “I said you look really beautiful tonight, Pooh Bear,” Dean said with a smile. Though I could tell, he was nervous. Every now and again, he would rub his hands down his thighs, and his eyes would shift back and forth. “Thanks,” I smiled back. “I feel like today’s a special day, especially with the surgery.” “Right, I guess congratulations are in order,” Dean said with a smile. “I heard about the surgery.” Really? Is that what he wanted to say? I couldn’t help but glance at the little box on the table. I swallowed hard, hoping the conversation could include what was inside it. I was obsessing over it, wanting him to just open it. “Yes,” I said, pulling my thoughts away momentarily. “Wait, how did you know about the surgery? Didn’t you just get back from your trip?” Dean smiled and shrugged. “Oh, you know, anytime the hospital has a successful case with a diamond donor, my mom has to tell everyone.” I laughed, knowing how right he was. His mother was the co-CEO of the hospital. I didn’t know exactly who the other person was, but I didn’t really care to ask. I did know, however, that she hated the person, so their name never came up in conversation. I’m sure a Google search could solve that mystery, but it wouldn’t help my current dilemma. What the hell is in that box? No matter what we talked about, my eyes kept glancing at it. Nerves started to affect me to the point I had to excuse myself and go to the bathroom. I quickly called Quinn, and she picked up unusually fast. “What happened? Do you need an out? Should I start a fire? Poison his food,” she rapidly spat out. “What the hell, Quinn,” I countered. “Why do you always have to go to the extreme?” She laughed. “Hey, it’s best to get the worst out of the way. What sup, girlie?” “I think tonight’s the night.” She gasped before moaning, which was weird. “Are you guys finally going to have s*x?” “What are you talking about? We’ve been together for six years. We had s*x. Multiple times, Quinn.” “Really,” she asked with a hint of disbelief, “because usually when a girl has s*x with her man, she gives her overly sexed best friend all the details. I’ve never heard one story about Dean. I don’t even know if you all kiss.” “Quinn!” Why did I call her? “Fine, I guess I have to believe your word. So what’s so special about tonight, Riley?” I still didn’t like the way she asked it, but against my better judgment, I told her. “I think Dean’s going to propose.” There was nothing but silence from the other side of the phone. Though, every once in a while, I could hear groaning or moaning, or maybe she was speaking to someone in the background. I could never tell with Quinn. I waited with bated breath for Quinn’s response. I don’t know why I expected something resembling a squeal of excitement. I waited another minute and decided to keep going. I wasn’t good at awkward silences. “This makes sense, right? It’s on the list of things I want to do before I’m thirty, which is less than two years away, and honestly, we’ve been on this route for a while now. I think it’s a great step forward in our relationship.” I stopped giving Quinn time to respond. I knew she would be against it, but I’ve always included her in my big decisions. She was there when I decided to give my virginity to my high school boyfriend and was there when I broke up with him for giving me chlamydia. She was there when I applied and got into medical school. She was there when I decided to go steady with Dean. She was the closest thing to family since I didn’t have any. We were both orphans since we were kids and became friends in the orphanage. Many times, we were adopted but always ended up back there. So, in truth, we were sisters from the beginning. I knew nothing about my parents, just that my mom couldn’t care for me. She left me at a fire station with a necklace and a teddy bear that said, ‘Mommy Loves You.’ I was lucky to have both in mint condition still. “Quinn,” I said softly. “You’ve never been this quiet before. It’s scaring me.” “Have you made your list,” she asked, and I laughed at the fact she remembered. She always made fun of my lists, but every decision I’ve ever made had a list. I weighed the pros and cons like it was life and death. I wasn’t a prune, but I like to know if my actions had merit. “I’ve made many over the years, and the pros outweigh the cons every time.” “Well, I’m hoping at least s*x is on the pro list,” she laughed, causing me to do the same. “I don’t know what to say, really, Riley. If you’re happy, like really happy, then I’m all for it.” I squealed for the both of us. “But don’t expect me to be nice to him suddenly. I have an image to protect.” “Fine. Can you at least not sigh every time you see him,” I pleaded. “It hurts his feelings, you know.” Quinn groaned. “It’s my favorite thing to do when he’s around.” I could hear someone in the background. It sounded as if they were out of breath. “What is that,” I asked her, trying to listen. For a moment, I thought I heard a man groaning when it hit me. “Quinn!’ “Hey, you called me, remember,” Quinn said defensively. “I’m not going to stop myself from receiving pleasure just to hear you talk about dude. Don’t stop, Marvin. I’m far from finishing.” “You disgust me sometimes,” I said jokingly. “I have to go anyway. I’ve been in here too long.” “Fine. Have fun getting married to the world’s most boring guy. Love ya!” She hung up before I could yell at her. She’ll come around. I thought as I made my way back out to the table. I stopped and hid behind the partition when I saw Dean talking to the waiter. He handed the box to the waiter, who disappeared in the back. I hurried back to the table, excited about the next part. The old hide the ring in the glass trick. Unoriginal, but who was kidding? I didn’t really care. “I was about to send someone for you,” Dean said, helping me in my chair. “Sorry, I had to take a call,” I said. “With Quinn.” Dean’s smile slightly faltered before he cleared his throat. “Well, I hope everything is ok. Anyway, I ordered champagne to celebrate.” The waiter showed up with two glasses filled to the brim and placed the bottle in the chilled stone. The waiter bows and gives me a wink before moving along. I wonder if everyone here knows. I noticed no ring in the glass, but I figured maybe it was in the bottle. I liked this idea even more. “Cheers,” Dean said, raising his glass, “to a successful surgery and having a bright future in the hospital-” “And checking off lists.” We clinked glasses, and I quickly down the drink and replenished my glass. “Let’s also drink to us.” I finished my glass before refilling it. Not much left. “Woah, slow down there, tiger.” “Sorry. I guess I still have nerves from the day.” “Right. Well, I think we should talk about us,” Dean said, taking my glass of champagne and placing it to the side. He grabbed my hand as I sat up in my chair. His hand was shaking, which was so adorable. This was it. This was the moment. “I think we should break up.”