The Girl Next Door | Baby Daddy

5.2 | Mrs. Wheeler

"Ben, you would not believe how many numbers Tuck and I have gotten today!" Danny exclaimed as him and Tucker returned to the apartment, dragging the blue stroller with them.

"I mean, some of them were fake numbers, but they still count!" Tucker declared.

"Wait, you took the stroller out?" Ben questioned, glancing at Emma, who was on the couch in between me and him.

"Turns out, the baby part is optional!" Tucker chuckled, taking the wadded up blanket out from in the stroller, exposing it was empty under the blanket and visor. "Ben, you've got to get in on this!" Tucker encouraged, tossing the blanket back into the stroller.

"Can't." Ben responded, dreamily looking at Cassie. "I've got a wife now."

"Wait, how long were we gone?" Danny wondered.

"First a baby and now a wife? Man, why don't you ever tell me about this stuff?!" Tucker whined.

I shook my head, rolling my eyes. "We're pretending to be married so Ben can get a promotion at work." I explained and Tucker and Danny nodded along in understanding.

"Oh, that reminds me!" Ben reached into his pocket and slipped out a small silver object. He held up the metal hoop, which was garnished with three faux diamonds that shone just as brightly as authentic stones. "I picked this up on my way home from work. Now I can officially ask: Cassie Perrin, will you do me the honor of being my wife?"

My eyes widened and I covered my mouth with my hands. "Ben!" I gleefully gushed, laying my hands over my heart sentimentally. "Nothing would make me happier!" I extended my left hand and he slipped the wedding ring onto my finger. Strangely enough, it fit perfectly.

"Wow, you really are a good actress!" Danny commended as he watched the display.

"Thanks. It's a good thing, too, because we're having lunch with Ben's boss tomorrow. We've actually been working on our backstory. You know, in case he distracts himself from his narcissism long enough to ask."

"Ooh! How about you're both spies that met when you were sent to assassinate each other! But you met, and fell in love! You're now laying low as an actress and bartender!" Tucker raved excitedly, rattling off something that sounded like the plot of a cheesy action movie.

"Yeah, and when we're not busy being Mr. and Mrs. Smith, we tame dragons in our mansion basement!" I added sarcastically with fake enthusiasm.

Tucker pouted. "Okay, you don't like my idea. You don't have to be mean about it."

"Our story is that we grew up together as inseparable best friends." Ben started. I laid my head on his shoulder like I had done earlier, gazing up at him musingly. "But I was also hopelessly in love with her."

"I'm sure that's gonna be hard for you to play, Ben." Danny commented knowingly.

"It took me longer, but there was always a part of me that knew he was the one." I added and Tucker and Danny nodded along, seemingly amused.

"Wow, you guys might actually be able to pull this off!" Tucker encouraged.

"Thanks, Tucker!" I said as I lifted my head from Ben's shoulder and dropped out of my character as if none of that had even happened. "I need to go raid Riley's jewelry box for something gotty that looks like something your mom would give to me." I announced to Ben, standing up and heading towards the door. "See you later, babe!" I joked, turning around just before I stepped into the hall.

###

"Pretending to be his wife?" Riley repeated somewhat awkwardly after I had told her mine and Ben's plan to get him the promotion he wanted. "Are you sure that's such a good idea?" She seemed oddly wary of the scheme, which was surprising since usually, she was somewhat amused by mine and Ben's shenanigans.