Page 69 of The Do-Over

With a gasp, I tried to take the phone back, which was useless because he was bigger and faster. To deter me, he stood and grinned down at me.

“I don’t have any plans for Easter,” he said. Then after a beat, “That sounds like fun. Lilah and I would love to come. Can we bring anything?” Another beat. “We’ll see you then.”

He held the phone out to me. I took it, all the while staring at him like he was an alien. After all, who on earth would volunteer for this torture?

“How hard was that?” Mom said in my ear. “Really, Persephone, sometimes you make things so much harder than they need—”

“Bye, Mom,” I said, hanging up while she was still talking. I gawked at Nate. “What did you just do?”

Nate shrugged, still smiling. “We didn’t have plans, and I thought I could help you out at the same time. I have to go. Lilah’s waiting in the lobby. Let me know the details.”

I watched him as he walked away. Yup, an alien. An alien that looked really good in a t-shirt, but still an alien.

“The plan is to eat and get out as soon as possible,” I said, leading Nate and Lilah to the front door of my parents’ house. A giant springtime wreath covered half of it. In fact, the whole front porch looked like an Easter basket had exploded over it.

“It will be fine.” Nate patted my back reassuringly.

I was not reassured. “You don’t know these people.”

Mom opened the door before we even rang the doorbell.

“Thank you for having us.” Nate handed her a bouquet of flowers he may have purchased at the grocery store. It was like giving Martha Stewart store-bought dinner rolls.

“Oh, aren’t these lovely,” she said politely. It was then she noticed Lilah who, as usual, had been allowed to choose her own outfit. “Well, don’t you look… festive.”

The rabbit ears wobbled as Lilah took a bow. She was dressed head to toe in a rabbit costume, bushy tail and whiskers included. I’d tried to encourage a dress, but she would have none of it and I’d finally given up trying to convince her otherwise. Someone should be comfortable at this lunch. It sure wasn’t going to be me.

“Is lunch ready?” I asked.

“Persephone, really. You just got here.” We followed as she led us to the living room where everyone was gathered. Phee waved and Joel Allen gave us a finger gun salute. “Why don’t we all relax and visit in here.”

Relax. Visit. Sure. Great plan.

“Lilah, I think the Easter bunny left you a little present here.” Mom took her hand and led her over to a small colorful basket on a table.

As I began to follow, Nate caught my arm and tugged me back. I turned to face him, struck again by how nice he looked in the pale yellow dress shirt and tie he was wearing. No t-shirt and jeans today. “Smile. It’s going to be fine.”

I attempted a smile. “I can’t believe I put you in this position again. I’m so sorry.”

“You didn’t do anything. I volunteered, remember?” Absently, he brushed a piece of my hair that had fallen across my cheek.

The touch was small, light, but I felt it everywhere just the same. God, he was really, really good at this fake boyfriend stuff. What would he be like as a real boyfriend? I probably wouldn’t be able to withstand it.

“Right. It will be fine.”

With a smile, he caught my hand and pulled us further into the room. Toward my family and probably my doom.

Mimi sat next to Nate at lunch and proceeded to monopolize his time and most of the table’s conversation. The few times Mom tried to break in, Mimi steered the discussion right back to safe waters. Honestly, that woman deserved a Nobel Prize for her work in Outsmarting My Mother at Every Turn.

Finally, when Mimi had to refill her wine glass, Mom pounced.

“I have a little announcement, since you’re all here. I’ve decided to go back to work part-time and work with your father. I’ve found that I have extra time on my hands. What with Phee being busy and Persephone pursuing other ventures…” Mom’s smile was a little thin.

What did that mean? Pursuing other ventures?

“Nate, Persephone says you work in real estate development? We should get together and talk more about that. I’ll be looking for property to invest in.”

Nate shot me a confused look. I’m not sure what my face said, probably abject misery, but he smiled and played along. “That sounds great.”