“My parents have recently become more fixated on my romantic life than usual,” he went on. “They’re convinced they need to find me a significant other at all costs.”
He glanced at me like he was waiting for me to add something. Maybe object.
I only nodded. Some things were apparently universal. “You met my sisters, so you know I totally get it. Overbearing families are super annoying.”
“They are,” Nathan agreed. “Super.”
I giggled. His brown eyes sparkled behind his glasses.
“There’s an event I have to attend in a few more weeks. A gala for the hospital, then possibly some other events as spring approaches. My parents will be there, along with my brothers.” Nathan paused as he ran his thumb over my knuckles. “In the spirit of ‘helping’ me with my social life, I wondered if you’d be willing to accompany me as…my girlfriend. At least, that’s what I’d tell them to relieve the pressure. And in return, you can consider the next six months of rent paid, even if you decide to leave. It will hopefully give you the time to find a job you’re suited to.”
My jaw practically hit the floor. “Really?”
Nathan just squeezed my hand. “Yes, really. I’d be grateful. Clearly, I need some assistance when it comes to situations likethese. Think of it as a lesson. I’ll treat you like my girlfriend. And you can tell me all the things I do wrong. I…I think maybe we understand each other, Joni. Would you agree?”
Oddly, I did. I shouldn’t have. We were about as different as it got. Nathan was a surgeon who was probably going to have a line of hot, equally accomplished women trailing after him the minute he said go. I was going to be lucky if I ever did anything besides serving drinks again. He was smart. I was…well, maybe I was too. But also, maybe not. I still wasn’t sure about that one.
No matter what, though, he was right. There was something about this odd, awkward man I understood deep down. And even more strangely, he seemed to get me too.
“It’s a deal,” I said. Until I realized something else.
“What is it?” Nathan demanded immediately. “What’s wrong?”
Dread lodged itself in my stomach like an anvil. “I can’t go to a gala, Nathan. The only dresses I own are the ones I wear at the club. Everyone will think I’m your call girl, not your girlfriend.”
Nathan recoiled, then looked me over, like my schlubby PJs were no different than Rochelle’s silver outfit I’d worn just a few weeks earlier.
“Er—we’ll have to get you a dress,” he agreed. “I’ll pay for it, of course.”
I bit my lower lip. “Are you sure?”
I didn’t want to take that too, but there was no way I could afford anything better than the ten-dollar sidewalk sales on St. Mark’s Place.
“Call it part of your compensation,” Nathan said as he took his hand back.
Relief coursed through me. “All right.” Out of habit, I took another bite of pasta, and once again, could barely keep it down. “Oh God, that really is awful.”
Nathan hadn’t touched his. “Can I request one more favor?”
I took several gulps of water to wash down the horror show on my plate. “Depends on what it is.”
“Please don’t cook for me again. If you want to do something nice, I like the Greek place around the corner. They have very good souvlaki.”
I grinned and was rewarded with yet another rare sighting of the Nathan Hunt light show when he smiled back.
“My dude,” I told him. “That is a promise I can definitely keep.”
THIRTEEN
THINGS A GOOD (FAKE) GIRLFRIEND SHOULD DO
#1 Uh…
“No, no, no. Try it again.”
After the disastrous dinner I’d made him last week, we’d ordered dumplings and gone over a game plan to prepare for the gala I was supposed to attend. First, he was taking me to get a dress for the event and then wanted me to accompany him to dinner with some of his work colleagues as a sort of practice run for our fake relationship.
Before that, however, we had to get a few things straight.
