I Think He Knows

'𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁' 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻'𝘀 𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆

𝗠𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲
𝐃𝐂: 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐞
☼

When I had come back to the exam room with the doctor's note for my patient since she had missed the day for this appointment, I saw her sitting crisscrossed on theexam table coloring in the lines very carefully. I smiled up at her mother saying, "someone is quite the artist." I glanced back at the girl and she was smiling too as she picked up the paper showing me what she had finished.

I lifted up my hand and she happily responded giving me a high-five back, "can I finish it?" She asked hopefully. "It's for you. You're my favorite doctor."

"Oh well you put it that way," I tapped my chin knowing I would say yes, either way, she put it. I knew Charlie wouldn't be angry if I was a little late tonight despite the fact I was the one supposed to cook the homemade pizzas for his old friend Willem and Willem's friends. "Of course."

It was my last appointment scheduled for today and I had the time as long as her mom didn't care. "Can I finish it, mama?" She requested and her mom nodded her head.

I rolled my wheeled stool next to the exam table, sat down, and wondered, "do you have another page I could color?"

Her head nodded enthusiastically as she tore out a page for me and set the box of crayons between us on the pleather surface of the table. Together we colored, creating whole characters from our colorings, hers was a magical unicorn with the power to teleport while mine was a prince who I based on Charlie. She seemed confused when I told her I planned to marry a boy but still excited for me, her mom was quiet in the corner and I briefly feared I made her uncomfortable telling her daughter about my fiance but when they got around to leaving her mom congratulated me sincerely.

Once I gathered my things and headed to my reserved parking spot, I dialed Charlie's number to explain my delay. When I opened the car door he answered with a shaky breath speaking quickly, "I think we should cancel."

My eyes grew wide at the anxiety I could hear in his voice, "wh-why? Is something wrong love?"

"I just... I don't think I can handle this dinner, Mason. It's too many new people," He told me and there was an odd tone in his voice, the one he used when he was trying to convince me of something. Like this wasn't the whole story as to why he wanted to cancel but I couldn't allow myself to dwell on that tone as he seemed in need of my comfort instead of my questions.

"Do you want me to text Willem that we can't have dinner tonight?" I wondered putting him on speaker as I backed out of the parking spot.

"Umm," He sighed. "That would be mean. We can't do that."

"Charlie if it's going to stress you one bit I don't want to put you through that. I'm sure he would understand if I explained-"

"No we will just have the dinner," He paused then, "just hurry home so you can calm me down. Okay?"

At the slight lilt of his voice, suggestive and alluring I felt my slacks grow right as a smile grew on my face. I thought of bending Charlie over the kitchen island as the pizza cooked. My foot laid a little heavier on the peddle, "I can do that sweetheart. I love you and I'll see you in just a few. Promise. Will you be nice and ready for me when I get home?"

He laughed, "yes. Love you, Mason."

☾☀︎︎☽