Page 20 of Eternal Hoptimist

The walls were a robin-egg blue and covered in framed photos of us kids like a shrine to our childhood years. The entire house belonged in a time machine heading back a couple of decades. My parents had done little cosmetic updating to the interior over the years.

Nate scooped another chunk of lasagna onto his plate. “Yeah, thanks, Ma.”

She smiled as she dropped another piece of garlic bread on Nate’s plate. The man’s stomach was a black hole.

“Olivia, how are you and Brooke settling into your new place?”

While Olivia talked about life in nearby McMinnville, my mind wandered to Ethan and seeing him after dinner.We’d been texting daily since making our arrangement last week. When Ethan had volunteered to be my romantic alibi and date at work events for the next two months in exchange for my legal knowledge, I could barely comprehend the idea.

Sitting across from him at the speakeasy, my mind had raced to find reasons to dismiss it immediately. I prided myself on my quick thinking, but instead, I’d thought about why it wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world.I would get the credibility of “dating” someone and portraying it as a serious relationship to score some necessary brownie points at a critical time. I wouldn’t have to worry about trying to meet someone while working hard on the LD Development condo project. Ethan’s idea would let me meet the ridiculous unofficial requirement for partner promotion while proving myactualskill with my new clients.

I obviously didn’t know Rosie, but I liked the idea of helping someone important to Ethan. It was an easy trade, and I couldn’t shake the feeling I was getting the better end of the deal. If I were honest with myself, I was excited to have a reason to stay in contact with him.

“Earth to Parker.” Nate kicked me under the table.

“Huh?” I found my entire family staring at me.

“I asked if you’ve found a date for the fancy work fundraiser you have coming up.” Mom passed around dessert plates, then started slicing a pie.

“I’m figuring it out.”

“What about that young man at the brewery?” Dad suggested as he eagerly hacked off a generous bite of pie with his fork.

Mom smiled at him. Clearly, she’d told him to suggest it.

“Ethan?”

Dad nodded. “Impressive thing they’ve put together. The brewery has been bringing more visitors to town.”

“Such a nice man. I’ve been in there several times, and he’s always been friendly. Carolyn McNeill speaks highly of him,” Mom said in a way that was anything but casual.

I forgot she was close with Tyler’s mom. “That’s nice,” I said while focusing on the cherry pie and hoping the conversation would move on.

“As far as she knows, he’s single. She said he dates men too. I think he’d be an excellent date for your fundraiser. He can talk to anyone and knows how to keep a conversation going,” she said.

I nearly laughed at her gall but didn’t want to give her the satisfaction. “I can’t believe you’re trying to set me up. I’m a grown-ass man.”

“Don’t you use that language with me, Parker Ray Dunn.”

“Oooh. You’ve been middle-named.” Nate smirked at me.

“You think you’re safe, Nathaniel Lewis Dunn?”

Olivia bit back a laugh but wisely stayed silent. Mom shot her a warning glare.

I ground my teeth together, but Mom had that steely expression. The one I’d perfected in the mirror back in law school and regularly used at work.

“I’ll find a date,” I said in a tone allowing no room for argument. At least among people withnormalboundaries.

“I just want you to be happy, dear.” She smiled sweetly.

We stared at each other like an old western showdown.

God, I hoped Ethan never had to deal with my family. They would have wedding invitations ordered within a day.

“You know who’s got to be happy? Nate here.” I squeezed the back of his neck. “Can you believe one of your children is getting married? Have you picked a date yet, bro? What about a location?”

His glare promised a slow, painful death as my mom seized the subject change with gusto. Dessert passed in a blur of a hundred questions and repeated answers of, “I don’t know yet, Mom.”

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