Page 48 of Look on the Bright Side

“Oh, for God’s sake, why?” he asked. “That’s not necessary.”

“Right. But they’re nice, and I’m nice, and when nice people meet, they often want to spend more time together, enjoying each other’s company. It’s called friendship.”

“They’re not your friends.”

“Friends in the making,” she said. “Anyway, I thought maybe we could change tactics here. I feel bad lying to your siblings. Can we tell them? They’re so nice, and—”

“No. I’d look ridiculous.”

“Wouldn’t they understand, though? You’re doing it to make Noni happy?”

Another eye roll. He was going to detach a retina if he kept this up. “They wouldn’t understand, and it would become fuel for mockery, gossip and speculation, which is what I was hoping to avoid by asking you to be my…whatever you are. Besides, confidentiality is part of our agreement, Dr.Smith.”

“Yeah, about that. My whole family knows.” He sighed with immense irritation. “I told you I wouldn’t lie to them. For what it’s worth, my grandfather and brother are totally into it.”

“This is an arrangement between colleagues, Dr.Smith. Your benefit is professional. Mine is personal. Although I think it’s fair to say you’ll also benefit personally, if people think you’re dating me.”

She managed not to snort. “Yeah, okay. But if Sofia asks me to be a bridesmaid—”

“You’ll decline.”

“I was kidding.” She took a sip of water. “But don’t be surprised if I’m asked. I’ve been in ten wedding parties so far.”

“Why would you want to be friends with my sisters? Don’t you have enough of your own? How many friends do you need? Are you trying to prove something by the sheer number of them? Do they fill some empty hole inside you?” Irritation flew off him the way water flew off a dog after a bath.

“That’s very insightful. Yes, friends do fill an empty hole in me,” she said calmly. “The only difference between you and me is that I know there’s something missing. You don’t.”

“Possibly because nothing is.”

“Oh, there is, believe me, Dr.Satan. It’s not normal to be so…aggravated all the time. Especially with your family.”

“Family is the best place to be aggravated.”

“Why? What’s wrong with yours?”

He spared her a glance. “My brother is about as deep as a puddle,” he began. “His hobbies include eating tacos and watching baseball.”

Nothing wrong with that. They lived in Red Sox Nation, and who didn’t love tacos? “He volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters, too.”

Lorenzo’s head snapped up. “Is that true? How do you know that?”

“How do you not know that?” She sipped her club soda; Brian had slipped them their drinks like a ninja. “Your mom told me.”

“When?”

“At your house. That’s what happens when people talk.” Especially when women were clearing up after dinner. Anita had seemed very intent on listing the qualities of each of her children, which was awfully sweet. For Lorenzo, she’d said, “The hardest-working, smartest guy on the East Coast,” to which Sofia had retorted, “Don’t let him hear you say that, Mom! You have to say North America!” and they had all laughed, but not unkindly.

“Anyway,” Lark said, “I get it. You don’t have a lot in common with your brother, that’s clear. But your sisters—”

“Sofia is marrying a man with limited earning potential and will probably have a baby within the year. She has no goals outside of that. Isabella could’ve been a doctor, and took the easy way out by becoming a nurse.”

“I should tell every nurse in New England you just said that, then stand back and watch them come for you.”

“She’s smart enough. Just too lazy.”

“You’re the first person on earth to have called a nurse lazy. Maybe she wanted to actually take care of patients, not just stick her head in the door, read the nurse’s notes and make decisions from there.”

“At least she should get her APRN.” He paused as Brian returned with their dinners, and looked up and said “Thank you” so sharply that Brian nearly dropped her burger. Thankfully, he did not. The lad shot her a sympathetic look and melted back into the restaurant.

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