Page 8 of Until Now

“I’m surprised, heagreed to come,” Michaela said walking into my office with a wide smile. She had been more than happy to make the phone call — seemed a little too excited, in my opinion. Confirmation that my chance second meeting with her cousin was, in fact, a setup. “I think his curiosity got the best of him. But, I told him, I wasn’t taking no for an answer.”

That was two days ago.

That’s how I ended up here… Eyes bore into my back from across the patio. I’m waiting for Lucy to finish my coffee while she tells me a story about something that happened on her way into work, but I’m not really listening. My focus remains on trying to calm the butterflies that haven’t left my stomach since Michaela told me he had agreed to meet me. “Isn’t that the guy you ran into a few weeks ago?” Lucy glances around me at where Nick sits. “Oh my gosh, are you dating now?”

“No.”

“Well, I’m happy to be of assistance in your meet cute.”

“We’re not dating!”

“Not yet,” she singsongs.

“Go back to your coffee, Luce.”

Taking a deep breath, I turn to face him for the first time since arriving. As I suspected, he’s staring right at me. His eyes hidden behind a pair of sunglasses, but I can feel the intensity. Deep breath. This is nothing. Just a friendly conversation.

In.

Out.

I chew on the end of my straw sitting across from him and we sit in silence for a few moments before, “Look, I need to get back to the shop. So, you gonna tell me what this is about?”

Harsh.

“Yeah, of course. Sorry.” Deep breath. “You are going to think this is crazy. I mean, it is…” He sits up a little straighter, interest peaked. “Normally, I wouldn’t do this. I don’t like doing this sort of thing, asking for help, but I need a huge favor. I mean, it’s big.” I chew on my bottom lip, considering my words. I wish he would take those damn sunglasses off. “I need a boyfriend.”

“Not sure what that has to do with me.”

“A fake boyfriend.” I wait for some kind of reaction, but he remains stoic. Baiting me. “Someone I can bring on vacation to get my mother off my back. I leave Wednesday. I’d pay you, whatever you want.” I visibly cringe at my own words. “Obviously, I will pay for all the expenses while you’re there. But, I can’t do this alone. My ex is going to be there and I refuse to let my mother set me up with someone. And, she will if I don’t bring my ‘new boyfriend’ as promised.”

Still nothing.

“I know this is weird, really weird. But, I can’t take anyone my family would know. They’ll see right through it. Michaela suggested hiring someone. When you came into the office the other day, everything just seemed to fall into place.”

“Even after I spilled coffee on you?”

“So, you admit it?”

Nick’s lips twitch, but he restrains the smile. “You’re insane.” He leans forward on his elbows. “Okay, let me get this straight. You want to pay some guy, me apparently, to be your boyfriend because your mom invited your ex on vacation?”

I squirm under his stare. “I’m glad you find this amusing.”

“Forgive me, but it’s not every day the Princess needs help from the peasant boy.”

“Princess?” I scoff. “You know nothing about me.”

“Oh, but I do. You and every girl just like you.” Nick stands from the table ready to leave. Before I can say anything, he continues, “I’m not an escort and I wouldn’t feel comfortable lying to your family.”

“You don’t know my mother.”

“Guess I never will.”

“But, this could help your family! It could pay for your brother’s school or give you and your dad a break from the garage.”

That stops him.

The family card wasn’t something I wanted to play, but Nick was my one shot at making this work. According to Michaela, Jimmy Davis is your typical blue-collar family man. Still lives in the same house he grew up in — a one-story, brick ranch home with a big magnolia tree in the front yard. His dad ran an auto body shop out of the small garage next door. When Jimmy took over, he renovated the garage to handle more than one car at a time. Jimmy was the ultimate role model, but he always wanted more for his boys. Wanted them to do the things he couldn’t, live the life he couldn’t.

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