SM: It was great until I lied to my mother. I don’t even know why I lied. Now I have to come up with another lie to cover it.
Jake: What did you lie about?
SM: I told her I was seeing someone.
Jake: And you’re not?
SM: No.
Relief washed over Jake as he realized just how much he didn’t want her to have a boyfriend. He didn’t have long to consider the implications, however. Her texts kept coming.
SM: She’s always on my back to get married and have kids, and I’m too busy with work right now. But that just doesn’t cut it with her.
SM: There’s this big reunion coming up and she basically threatened to set me up with one of my cousin’s fiancé’s friends. So I said the first thing that came to mind to take THAT off the table, and I put myself in deeper shit by saying I’m seeing someone.
SM: Now she’s insisting I bring him to the reunion. What am I supposed to do when I show up alone?
Jake: Do you have to go?
SM: My mother is queen of the guilt trip. It’s only four hours away and on a weekend, and she lets me sleep in my old room, so I don’t have to get a hotel. If I didn’t go it would break her heart. And my dad’s. And honestly, that’s who I care about more.
SM: I’ll tell her he had to work.
Jake: What if you tell her it didn’t work out?
SM: Then she’ll try setting me up with one of the fiancé’s construction worker friends. I don’t speak construction worker.
SM: I’ll just tell her he works weekends.
There were going to be single guys at the family reunion she wasn’t related to. Jake’s inner caveman didn’t like that. If she went alone, there was no guarantee one of them wouldn’t hit on her, or worse; one of them would charm her, and “Tuxedo Mask” would just be the faceless guy from the convention. She’d forget all about him. Well, he’d acted as a deterrent at the convention. Maybe she could use one at this reunion?
Jake: That might not be enough. What if you took a fake boyfriend?
SM: You mean a guy that pretends to be my boyfriend? Where would I get one of those?
Jake: I’ll do it.
SM: But… I don’t even know your name!
Jake: We can fix that. At least I’m not a total stranger.
SM: I don’t know…
Jake: Let me buy you coffee, and we can talk about this in person. If you decide you want to use me as a buffer, I’ll go with you. No funny business, just selling it to your parents so they get off your back.
SM: You know the coffee shop across the street from the network building?
Jake: Yup.
SM: I’m done with work at 5. How’s Friday?
Jake: Works for me.
SM: Maybe you should bring your mask, so I know it’s you.
Jake: I’ll find a way to let you know.
Jake put his phone away and wiped his palms down his jeans. His dinner beckoned from the table, but he wasn’t very hungry anymore. What would happen when he showed up to the coffee shop and she recognized him? Would she reject himagain?
