Clyde's POV
Kate and I are driving up to my parents' house, and I feel at ease with the surroundings. For the first time in a long time, I'm looking forward to spending the day with my family rather than dreading it, thanks to Kate's presence. As a mediator between me and my mother's matchmaking, Kate will be able to accomplish much more.
When I look over, I see Kate rearranging the bottles of wine on her lap. In addition to them, she had some pumpkin spice cupcakes in the back of her car when she left work late last night to pick them up. After I dropped her off this morning, she insisted that I get something for my mother, so I did.
Kate wore a cranberry red sweater dress and red heels to match today, which she accessorized with a red scarf. It is brushed to one side and braided over her shoulder, with her bangs held back by a silver barrette at her temple.
She has a darkening agent on her eyes that makes the brown in them appear richer and darker. I can't look away from her lips because they're such a deep red that they're almost the same color as her dress.
I chose a cream knit sweater paired with dark wash jeans for today's look, and I think it works well. Although my hair is short and lacks styling options, I use gel to keep it in place. We're getting close to my parents' house now, and my hands are twitching on the wheel.
"We need to figure out our story," Kate says. "This is what we're going to tell them. We'd been seeing each other for a few months, and I'd already told your mother, so I was waiting to tell the rest of the world."
She's right, of course. We need to be prepared for a barrage of questions from my family about our relationship.
"Have we been seeing each other for... six months?"
Kate nods as she turns her chair to face me. "Who was the first one to inquire?" She wants to know.
"At work, we'd just won a major account, and it was late in the evening. So my plan to celebrate with you turned into something much more," I said.
"Let me know about the first time we had our first date?"
"Um... I don't know."
"Do you mean that? Clyde? Do you lack the ability to imagine?"
I love the way she teases me.
"How about… in a concert or park?" Kate suggested.
"To tell my family that we went to a concert or went on a picnic would be dishonest. My friends and family are well aware that I'm not the type to behave in such a manner."
Even though I only give her a fleeting glance before returning my focus to the road, I can see myself doing both of those things with Kate in the future. I'd go to any concert or picnic with her if she asked me to.
Kate laughs and says, "All right, all right." I wait for her to look up at the sky.
"When you come to my house, let's pretend I cooked dinner, and we'll watch a movie. Then, after you fell asleep on the couch, we went out for breakfast the next morning. Then, on the second date, we had dinner, and a movie at your house was on the table. " I said we'd like to have a few more dinners out or at our place," I said.
I smile when Kate says, "Gosh, we sound boring," with a dramatic sigh.
"Okay, that'll do it, and you can bring me some food to work from time to time," I said. "We've also gone for long, moonlit strolls, and –"
She snubs me and laughs at my expression as she cuts me off.
"No one will believe we are a couple if you don't make some sacrifices for me!"
"So, does being in a relationship just require that?" I inquire because I am genuinely curious.
"I think so… What do you think about it? A relationship is something new for me, though. I think-"
"What's your dating history like? Was that your primary motivation for joining that online dating service?" I queried.
"I'm curious," she says. Yeah, I guess I'm just tired of working and being alone. Don't you want to be with someone…like a real relationship?
"I… The answer isn't clear to me. To have a real relationship, what should I do?"
"I think you have to be willing to compromise. Put the other person's needs and wants first from time to time. If you cared about the person you were with, it would be simple, in my opinion. Why wouldn't you want to make them happy and bring a smile to their face?"
"Yeah," I whisper.
My grip on the wheel tightens as I ponder Kate's comments. My chest is aching, but I know it's just my imagination. I can see myself and Kate getting along just fine. Even though Kate never asks for anything, I know that I would be happy to provide it if she did. My favorite thing about her is when she laughs and smiles at me. So perhaps my apprehension over committing is overblown.
All of our business lunches thus far have been strictly formal affairs. I'm not sure what would have happened if I had taken her out to celebrate with me one night. She deserves it, but I've always feared crossing the line and messing things up. I know she deserves it. I won't let her leave without a fight.
But how will this affect our relationship in the long run? First, we'll have to get all mushy and cuddly. Is it possible for me to pretend to be in a relationship with her today and then go back to work the next day as if nothing happened? In the future, what will happen if my parents call to inquire about our relationship status?
She has already signed up for that ridiculous online dating service searching for a man. How long will she put up with being my fictitious flame?
How long I can stand to be with her as my fictitious girlfriend remains to be seen. Maybe someday, we'll be a real couple. So, I mean, we'd run into each other at work because we're both so busy. Once or twice a week, I could take her out to dinner, and we could see a movie or do whatever couples do on dates.
As I approach the driveway of my parents' house, I can't help but smile as I see Kate standing there, waiting for me to pull in. The rest of today is an open question.