"You know the Sanders' have a lovely son about your age." Therese said.
Tiffany glanced up from her laptop at her mother, a knot of dread forming in her gut. "What?" Here we go again.
"You know, Julian. Julian Sanders? You could bring him to Samantha's wedding."
"No, I don't think so." Flashes of that one college party they'd both gone to went through Tiffany's head. Beer kegs, weed stank and pervy comments at her friend. Definitely not.
"Samantha suggested it. You know we're just worried about you."
"Mom, please."
"Because she's getting married and she's only twenty two and you're already twenty six and that clock's ticking, you know." Therese set down her coffee mug onto the dining table and sat down, scooting her chair so she was inches away from Tiffany. "And I want grandkids one day. Is that too much to ask?"
Tiffany rolled her eyes and turned back to her laptop. She was only home for a weekend, but already she was despairing at the hours and hours of nagging that were to come.
"It's because you're working all the time." Therese gently folded the laptop closed. "You'll never find a man if you're so focused on work. There's other things to life besides spreadsheets and presentations and I just want what's best for you, honey-"
"Mom!" Tiffany always had to yell to get her mother to stop. "I have a boyfriend!"
A huge smile came over Therese's face. "Well why didn't you just say so? What's his name? What's his job? Are his parents-"
"I actually have to go like right now." Tiffany stood up and shoved her laptop into its case. "To, uh, meet my boyfriend." She grabbed her coat from the back of her chair and bolted to the door.
"That's great, sweetie! You should bring him around for dinner!" The door slammed shut before Therese could finish her sentence.
***
That was truly the dumbest thing she'd ever done. Tiffany leaned her forehead against the window of a trendy coffee shop, decked out in wreaths and twinkling Christmas lights, signaling the post-Thanksgiving season. Her boots crunched in the snow as her breath fogged up the window. She bit her lip, thinking through the possible avenues of action she could take.
She'd called up three different rent-a-boyfriend services, and all three had been booked up due to the time of year. How was she ever going to find a fake boyfriend before Sunday? She kicked at the packed-down snow and shivered.
"Tiff?"
She looked up at the familiar voice.
"Tiffany Page! It is you!" A man about her age stood next to her, his hands stuffed into his coat pockets to hide them from the cold.
"Joseph?" She wrapped an arm around him as he spread his arms for a hug. "It's been what, six years? You look good!"
She looked him over, starting from the bright yellow pom pom that adorned his tuque. His messy black hair fell to his eyes, which were cool gray behind his thick-rimmed glasses. His smile showed a row of white teeth with a chip in one of his incisors. He stood at six feet tall, teenage lankiness turned into lean muscle that was hinted at under his wool coat and confident stance.
"What have you been up to? You work in like advertising now, right?"
Tiffany nodded. "Just work and more work. What are you doing these days?"
"Believe it or not, I do SFX makeup for TV. You in town to visit your parents?"
"I'm here to go to my cousin's wedding."
"Which one? Danielle?"
"Samantha."
"Already? Great for her!"
Tiffany looked him over once again, biting her lip as her gears turned. With his high cheekbones and strong jawline, he'd turned into a decently handsome man. "Hey, are you still single?"
Joseph nodded. "Never could hold onto a relationship."
"Wanna grab a coffee real quick?"
* * *
Tiffany sat with both hands around a steaming mug that smelled deliciously of caramel and cinnamon. She eyed Joseph, who was stirring three sugar packets into black coffee. When she squinted, she could make out the skinny, awkward kid who'd been her best friend in high school. His posture had gotten much better and his high school fidgeting had transformed into restless energy.
A wave of nostalgia and wistfulness rose up in her, and she regretted not reaching out after they'd turned about twenty. They'd gone to different schools, she to some fancy liberal arts college out of state, and he to the city's public university. She'd been too focused on being the best in her class and being successful that her social life had gone out the window. But seeing him again now, it was like she was in high school all over again, chatting easily about work and her plants, and even their inside jokes were still funny. But she had business to attend to.
"So, about my cousin's wedding."
"Yeah?"
Tiffany took a deep breath. Suddenly the awkwardness of six years out of contact made her fingers shake. "I lied to my mom that I have a boyfriend. And I need someone to bring to Sam's wedding."
Joseph's eyes widened, and he leaned back a bit in his chair. "I bet Therese has already called up your whole family with the news."
"Oh, god, yeah." Tiffany slumped in her seat. "The wedding's on Sunday and so... Would you please pretend to be my boyfriend for the weekend?" She clapped her hands together and held them in front of her face. "Please?"
Joseph scratched his chin and looked out the window at the bustling city street. "I don't know, Tiff."
"I'll pay you!" She blurted. "Please! I need this!"
He pursed his lips, making an exaggeratedly thoughtful face. "Tell you what. I'll do it for free."
"Thank you Joseph-"
"But." Joseph held up a finger. "You have to do whatever I tell you to for the weekend."
She paused, thinking of the implications. But she was desperate, and she was sure he wouldn't make her do anything illegal. "Deal." She held out a hand and they shook on it. "So do you wanna meet my parents?"
* * *
"Well I never would have believed it!" Therese clasped her hands together. "It's been too long, sweetheart!" She crushed Joseph in a big hug, practically lifting him off the ground.
