The Doctor and My Fake Baby

My best friend was pregnant, so of course, the first thing I did was drag her to my ex-boyfriend's hospital for her check-up.

Dr. Leo Shen looked up as I practically bounced into his office, Chloe trailing nervously behind me. A slow, knowing smirk spread across his face as he took in my ridiculously wide grin.

"Yours?" he asked, his tone completely deadpan.

I stopped short, the giddy bubble of my excitement popping. "Huh? What did you just say?"

He leaned back in his chair, enjoying my confusion. "Is the baby yours?"

"No," I said, shaking my head automatically.

"Then what are you so happy about? You're showing off every tooth in your head."

I was speechless. Utterly speechless.

1

My best friend was pregnant, and I was going to be a godmother. This was, without a doubt, a cause for monumental celebration.

Which is how I ended up dragging her into Leo's office. It was Wednesday during the lunch hour, his shift, leaving the room blissfully empty except for him. The thought of getting to be an auntie was intoxicating. I could already picture it: a tiny, chubby human I could spoil rotten and then hand back the moment it started crying. It was going to be the absolute best. I was so lost in this fantasy that my grin was probably splitting my face in two.

Still recovering from his initial jab, I decided to restart, puffing out my chest with the kind of pride usually reserved for Nobel Prize winners. "Leo, my best friend is pregnant."

A flicker of amusement danced in his eyes, a clear sign he was going to continue messing with me. "Mine?"

"What?" I blinked, my brain rebooting. I glanced at Chloe, then back at the man who had occupied far too much of my headspace for the past two years. A little huff of indignation escaped me. "What kind of joke is that? Of course not yours!"

"So," he leaned forward, steepling his fingers, the picture of cool professionalism except for that glint in his eye. "Is it yours?"

"What?" I was floored again. The man was speaking my language, but I couldn't seem to process the words. He'd already asked me this, and my brain still couldn't compute the sheer absurdity.

"Is the baby yours?" he repeated, his expression unwavering.

"No," I shook my head again.

"Then why are you grinning like you just won the lottery?" he said, echoing his earlier sentiment and leaving me, once again, completely lost for words.

Before I could formulate a comeback, he went on. "And if it's not mine, and it's not yours, what are you doing in my office?"

That lit a fire under me. "Leo, does your family own this hospital? Since when do I need your permission to be here?"

"They don't," he replied smoothly, not missing a beat. "The Dean’s name is Shaw. My name is Shen. No relation."

2

I let out a couple of pointed, frustrated hums. "Well, there you go. You're a doctor. I brought Chloe here for a check-up. It’s what people do at hospitals."

Leo’s smile finally broke through, warm and genuine for a second. "Riley, anyone who didn't know better would think you were the one who's pregnant. I don't remember you ever looking this happy when you were with me."

I couldn't help but roll my eyes. "I'm going to be the godmother, Leo. I'm allowed to be excited. Just because you're incapable of joy doesn't mean you can't let other people celebrate."

A faint blush crept up his neck. "Riley, don't talk nonsense."

I was enjoying myself far too much, about to fire back with another jab when the office door swung open. A man in a white coat walked in, and my good mood evaporated, replaced by a cold dread.

Oh, God. It was over. It was all over.

All three of us—me, Chloe, and Leo—shot to our feet, a triangle of sudden, awkward tension.

"Dr. Evans," I managed to say, my voice a squeak.

"Dr. Evans," Leo said, his tone respectful.

"Dad," Chloe whispered, her voice barely audible.

Leo's head snapped toward me, his face a perfect mask of confusion. His eyes were wide, practically screaming three giant question marks.

Dr. Evans is Chloe’s dad? he mouthed silently.

I ignored him. Chloe had just called the man "Dad." What more confirmation did he need?

"Riley? Chloe? What are you two doing here?" Dr. Evans asked, his brow furrowed with concern. "Is everything alright?"

Chloe’s hand found mine, her grip like a vise. I shot a panicked look at Leo, frantically trying to use my eyes to tell him to hide the patient file on his desk—Chloe's file. But he just stood there like a deer in headlights, completely missing my desperate telepathic signals.

Useless. My teammate was completely useless.

3

"Dad… I…" Chloe stammered, her eyes darting around the room. Then, she took a deep breath and delivered the line that would seal my fate. "Riley's pregnant. I'm just here with her for her appointment."

My knees went weak. I felt a sudden, intense urge to drop to the floor and bow before my best friend's treachery. Chloe, Chloe, Chloe. How could you? I come here to support you, and you throw me right under the bus.

She gave my sleeve a tiny tug, her eyes pleading with me to play along.

Fine. For the sake of twenty-three years of friendship, from scraped knees on the playground to navigating our first heartbreaks, I’d take the fall.

My face flushed a deep, humiliating red. I squeezed my eyes shut. "Yes, Dr. Evans. It's me. I'm… I'm pregnant. I asked Chloe to come with me for support."

Chloe let out a shaky breath of relief. I did, too. Okay. The lie was out. Surely her dad wouldn't suspect anything now, right?

Just as I thought we were in the clear, the door opened again. "What's going on? Is there a party in here?"

"Dad," I croaked, a new wave of panic washing over me.

"Dean Shaw," Leo said, his voice laced with shock as he glanced from the newcomer back to me. Your dad? he mouthed, his eyes wider than before.

I didn't have time to answer him.

"Dr. Shaw," Chloe whimpered, stumbling slightly. I had to grab her arm to keep her from collapsing into me.

This wasn't just a complicated situation anymore. This was a five-car pile-up of awkwardness. A full-blown disaster zone.

"Well, Bill," Dr. Evans said, a huge smile spreading across his face as he turned to my father. "Congratulations. Looks like you're going to be a grandfather."

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