Reading over his last message, Jamison suddenly realized it gave too much away.
He felt a jolt of panic–had he let something slip?
He thought about deleting the message, but worried that Ivy had already seen it; withdrawing now would only make things more suspicious.
On the other side of the screen, Ivy stared at the chat, startled.
A…girl?
Wasn’t Dr. Handsome always convinced she was a world–weary, middle–aged woman? When did she suddenly become a “girl” in his eyes?
The way he said it sounded strange–almost as if he was doting on her like a boyfriend would.
Mrs. Smith: “Girl? Please, I’m old enough to be your aunt.”
Jamison frowned for a second, then broke into a grin.
She was playing coy again.
Dr. Handsome: “Old enough? How old is that, exactly?”
Mrs. Smith: “Definitely older than you.”
Dr. Handsome: “I’m forty. And you?”
Ivy’s eyes widened as she stared at the screen.
Dr. Handsome is forty?!
Mrs. Smith: “Forty? That’s peak midlife crisis territory, and you’re calling yourself ‘Dr. Handsome‘?”
Dr. Handsome: “Hey, forty’s the new thirty.”
Mrs. Smith: [eyeroll emoji]
Dr. Handsome: “So what’s your real age, then?”
Mrs. Smith: “Eighteen, obviously.”
Jamison couldn’t help but laugh, shaking his head in disbelief.
Ivy really was impossible–she’d make up anything, just to keen hi
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When she got no response, Ivy typed again: “Don’t believe me?”
Dr. Handsome: “Not unless you send a picture.”
Mrs. Smith: “Wow, didn’t think you were the type to hit up women online for photos.” Ivy couldn’t help but notice how different Dr. Handsome was acting tonight. He was nothing like his usual, aloof self.
Her instincts told her that if this conversation kept going, it would head straight into dangerous, flirty territory.
But maybe she was just imagining things.
She decided to cut to the chase.
Mrs. Smith: “What’s going on with you? Did you break up with someone? Or maybe you just got divorced?”
“Is that why you’re suddenly so free to flirt online?”
Jamison stared at the message, momentarily thrown off. Then he let out a quiet laugh.
Dr. Handsome: “Who said I ever had a family or a girlfriend?”
Mrs. Smith: “You’re forty and still single?”
Dr. Handsome: “Is that so hard to believe?”
Mrs. Smith: “You’re definitely lying.”
Before they could get any further, their phones started pinging nonstop–notifications from the “Stonks Only Go Up” WhatsApp group.
Ivy tapped into the group chat.
Bob: “Those two were just arguing on the forum, now they’ve both disappeared. I bet they’re off DMing each other.”
Dale: “@Mrs. Smith @Dr. Handsome, are you two having a private chat?”
Jay: “I’m with Bob on this one.”
Coach Murphy: “Are we about to witness a match made in the group?”
Ivy scrolled up to catch up, then jumped in to deny everything.
Mrs. Smith: “Please, I wouldn’t date some middle–aged guy.”
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Jay: “Middle–aged? Is Dr. Handsome that old?”
Dale: “No way, Dr. Handsome’s still young. And, honestly, he’s pretty good–looking too.”
Jamison saw Dale’s comment just in time and quickly shot him a private message, worried he’d let something slip about his identity.
Dale saw the DM and just called him directly. “Dr. Ludwig, you and Mrs. Smith–don’t tell me you’re actually meeting up in real life?”
Jamison put Dale on speaker, set the phone down, and kept typing on his keyboard. “No,” he replied flatly.
But then he hesitated. He did know Mrs. Smith’s real identity. They’d met plenty of times, in fact.
If he was being technical, maybe they had met up in real life.
Dale pressed on. “Really? Because, man, every time you two chat, the vibe is just… weird.”
“Weird how?”
“I don’t know, it’s like you’re bickering, but in a cute way. Like a couple.”
Jamison pursed his lips, frowning at the thought.
Back in the group chat, Mrs. Smith tagged Dale. “Hey Dale, is Dr. Handsome really forty?”
Dale saw her message just as he was talking to Jamison. He covered the phone and asked, “Dr. Ludwig, what do I say? I swear… Mrs. Smith is totally into you…”
Chapter 127
Chapter 127