Page 38 of Romance Languages

The first course came out. Three different types of salads. Mixed greens, Caesar, and a Waldorf. Each one was fantastic. Grandma would have to make the final call, as I couldn’t decide. They brought out fresh rolls and butter balls. I took two and felt Mom’s eyes on me.

Next came the main courses. Grilled chicken, roasted vegetables, and the beef short ribs that had captured my heart. When Mom turned away to check her phone, I took an extra serving of them.

“Helena Burstyn just RSVP’d. She and Edward are a yes,” Mom said. “I’ve gotten mostly yesses. It’s going to be a full party. People want to celebrate you two.”

“Of course they do.” Grandma shimmied her shoulders. She was never one to shy away from praise. “Julian, are you going to bring your boyfriend to the party?”

I whipped my head up.

“Boyfriend?” Mom asked.

I choked down my short rib.

“Yeah. Julian has a boyfriend. I met him the other day. Seamus. They teach together.”

Now was the time to say something, to set the record straight. I needed a glass of water first, to clear the piece of meat stuck in my throat.

“Oh, don’t look so shocked. My eyesight may be going downhill, but I saw you two canoodling when I came upon you during my walk.”

“I’m not—Grandma, we’re not dating.”

“Jesus H, I’m so confused with your generation. You like to keep it casual. You don’t like labels. Well, in my day, you were either going steady or you weren’t, and you two are going steady.” She plopped a piece of broccoli in her mouth.

“I didn’t know you were seeing someone, Julian,” Mom said with a confused look.

“He’s cute! He’s a baseball player. He’s got a nice butt.” Grandma wiggled her eyebrows. Heat raced up my neck. I mean, she wasn’t wrong about Seamus’s butt…

“Oh. Well, I hope he can make it to the party.” Mom managed a supportive smile, but her initial reaction stuck in my craw.

“He’ll be there. You’re going to love him.” I flashed her a victorious smile. Watching her head metaphorically explode over the fact that I was dating a sexy jock was a victory that tasted better than anything we’d eat today.

Now I just had to pray that Seamus was up for a little ruse.

* * *

Seamus cameover that night for our next session.

“I have a favor to ask you,” I said. I brought two cold cans of La Croix to the living room and joined him on my sofa. Our sessions would be alcohol-free from now on. “I know what we’re doing is already a huge favor, so to ask you for another favor on top of this one is a lot…”

“Jules.” He put his hand on my shaking knee. “This isn’t a favor what we’re doing.”

“I mean, it is. It’s literally sexual favors.”

“A favor implies that you’ll owe me in the future.”

“And I will. If there’s anything you need from me, even if it’s ten years later, just let me know.”

He squeezed my knee, sending a jolt of calm and heat coursing up my body. What was I more nervous about? That I needed him to be my pretend boyfriend or that we were going to do more sex stuff after I shut up?

“What is this new favor?” His full lips rose in a lazy smile. Why did his smile have to be so transfixing? It was distracting.

“Will you pretend to be my boyfriend for my grandparents’ anniversary party?” I explained how Grandma had confused us for boyfriends in the park, and the lie began. “We’ll stick to thePretty Womanno-kissing rule, but maybe there’ll be some handholding.”

I flashed back to Seamus resting his chin on my shoulder in Renegade Park. It had been natural and comfortable and gave me a fuzzy feeling when I replayed the moment in my head.

“Sure.” He shrugged, as if I’d asked to borrow a pen.

“Really?”

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