She laughs. “You’re bossy.”
“You call it bossy, I call it getting what I want. Since I saw you outside of Keith’s wedding last week, you’ve been on my mind, so I’ll be your date, no problem.” What’s your next desire I can fulfill?
“It’s not going to be all Christmas carols and eggnog at this dinner,” she says, rubbing her thumb against her fingernails one at a time.
“Will you be there?”
She cracks a small smile. “Yes.”
“That’s all I need.”
Relief enters her otherwise worried eyes and she smiles wider. “Listen, there’s more I have to tell you.”
“We have ten days to get to know each other because I have no intention of letting you slip away again.”
“For the date, you’ll go home with me to meet my mother who believes I have a boyfriend, but I don’t, so I’m looking for a stand-in to take home for Christmas. You fit the description of what I have told her, and—” She looks around at the other men as if she is casing out her options in case I back out. I’m not. I actually see helping her out with this as a unique opportunity to get closer to her. But now, I’m curious.
“Why does your mother think you have a boyfriend, and why do you feel I can pull off acting as if I’m someone you have already described to her?” I inquire.
“Long story, but you fit the description of the man I’ve told her about.”
“What have you told her about this man?” Curiosity has the best of me. I want to know more about
Astalia and the reason her nerves are in a tight bundle every time I see her.
She pulls at a spiral of her hair and starts twisting it. “She thinks he’s tall, dark, handsome, and that he’s a professor at Clark University. And, she thinks we’ve been together for four months. For now, you can just tell her you’re a professor, and I’ll tell her we broke up after Christmas.”
My smile grows so big that I know I’m grinning widely. “I actually am a professor in Clark’s engineering department. So, it sounds as if you described me to your mother before you ever met me. I told you this was meant to be.”
She pushes my shoulder and responds, “Get out of here. No, you’re not.”
“I really am.” I pull up Clark’s website, go to the engineering department and show her my name and picture on the professor’s page.
She squeals. “You’re everything I need!”
“I know,” I say and mean it. Standing up, I reach my hand out to hers. “I told you, you wouldn’t be talking to anyone else today. Let’s go.”
She takes my hand and stands to her feet. “You might want to talk to some of the other women in here before you make your decision. Meeting my mother is not for the faint at heart.”
“I came in here to get you. I can handle your mother.” I lead the way out of the speed dating room.
“Are you guys leaving?” the hostess asks, looking confused.
“Yes, I found what I was looking for,” I say confidently.
“Where are you going, Stalia?” one of the women in the speed dating room yells out. She has a shocked look on her face.
“That’s my cousin,” Astalia says to me before turning to the woman. “We’re going to the bar, Jayne. I’ll be out there when you’re done,” she says as she smiles at me.
We sit a few seats down from Santerían. He looks away from the game on the TV, nods, and shoots me an approving thumbs up.
“You want a drink?” I ask.
“I’ll take a coke.”
“Can we get the lady a coke?” I ask the bartender.
“Coming right up!”