Page 11 of So Wrong It's Right

He opens the cupboard, sees his cup gone, and shakes his head. Meanwhile, Megan looks like she is trying to do an Algebra problem in her head. This is about to spiral out of control.

Be cooler, Stella.

“Do you want some coffee?” he asks. In addition to being Mr. Control and Mr. Last Century Ideas About Female Office Administrators, he is also Mr. Emily Post. Yes, he thought I should run and get him coffee whenever he asked, but yes, he does always offer to get some for me when he is in front of the pot.

I should say no, but I do want a cup of coffee. I might as well have a well-caffeinated descent into the level of hell my sister is going to make my life when she discovers I made up a fake boyfriend. I also can’t wait to see Christopher’s consternated expression when he realizes I’ve brought him along with me into that hell. “Yes, please. Thank you for asking.”

He sizes up my dress and pulls out the daisy mug.

Huh.

“Stella, are you planning on introducing us?” Megan asks.

I’m still trying to figure out what it means that he matched my mug to my daisy dress and is preparing my coffee the way I like to take it, two creams, one sugar, when I remember that I need a handbasket and an ice machine. Because surely, I cannot keep this ruse up much longer.

“Yeah, sorry. Where are my manners?”Where is my meteor crashing through the sky to strike me dead so I don’t have to live out the next ten minutes of humiliation?Because surely I cannot keep this ruse up much longer. “Dr. Lockwood is subbing for Dr. Anderson this week.” I take the coffee he offers. “This is my sister, Megan.”

They do a round of polite how do you dos. In which Christopher so helpfully offers his first name.

The delight on Megan’s face is priceless. And by priceless, I mean it’s going to cost me. “Stella has told mesomuch about you,” Megan enthuses.

I hold my breath.

“She has?” Christopher answers, looking askance at me. Which has been the only way he’s looked at me since about Tuesday, so I’m used to it.

“Of course I have,” I say, picking at a nonexistent piece of lint on his sleeve, trying to make it look like I touch him all the time. Which earns me another quizzical look from him, but an “aww” from my sister.

“Yes! She has. And I really want you to come to the wedding. Two weeks from tomorrow.” Judging from the beaming, Megan thinks Christopher is a good match. I don’t quite see it. Well, okay, under the thick glasses and too perfect hair, he isn’t ugly. Okay, he is probably handsome. But that doesn’t make him a good match.

I’m pretty sure everything about me rubs him the wrong way. He sighs a lot. Because I am so taxing or something.

“I’m honored. I...I’m sure Dr. Anderson will be back before then.”

“So?” Megan shakes her perfectly coiffed head and puts her sensibly manicured hand on his arm. “You don’t live that far away. Surely you can stay with Stella the night before. Say you’ll come. I want you at the bridal table.”

“You want me at the bridal table,” he repeats.

I really should intervene here. My lie is about to implode spectacularly, but I’m kind of enjoying the comedic value of Christopher and Megan not being able to size each other up. He’s probably really curious about the crazy woman who just invited him to stay the night at her sister’s and sit at a family table at her brother’s wedding.

Looking at them together, I think they might have dated each other under different circumstances. He probably really likes Megan’s classical beauty and he’ll really like the way she clutches her pearls whenever confronted with anything that isn’t a neutral color or issue.

“Of course I want you at the bridal table.”You total stranger, you. “What I don’t understand is why Stella didn’t tell me you were in town—”

Shit. “Oh, Megan. Look at the time. We really need to get back to work. I’ll call you.”

Megan pushes back at the door. “I’m not leaving until Christopher promises to come to the wedding.”

“I...if...” He looks to me for guidance, so I make the universal “my sister is crazy just agree with her so she’ll leave” face to him. “If it’s that important to you, I’ll come to the wedding.”

I lean my back against the closed door and wait for him to comment. Because how could he not?

“Your sister seems friendly.”

“Yes, well, she’s been a little erratic as the wedding gets closer.”

He nods. “I’ve noticed some women do.”

“It’s a big day.”

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