“But why can’t I meet her?” Susan protested as he forced her out the door and shut it behind them.
Laurie stared at the door, listening to the rise and fall of muffled voices outside. She wondered why Finn hadn’t simply corrected his mother as to his girlfriend’s identity. Laurie deduced the mystery woman must work somewhere at Phantom Enterprises or Limitless for Susan to assume it might be Laurie. Maybe Finn didn’t want to say the girl’s name in front of her, though it wouldn’t have mattered—she hardly knew any of the other employees.
The door opened again and Finn slid through, shutting it behind him quickly to lean against it, white-faced, like he’d escaped from a deranged assailant. In three strides he was at Laurie’s desk, kneeling beside her chair, his hands together in supplication.
“You have to help me. Please.” His wild eyes darted from side to side.
“What are you talking about?”
He sat back on his heels and pushed both hands through his hair, leaving the strands poking in haphazard directions like straw. “You have to pretend we’re dating.”
“What?” She stood up and backed away, sending her desk chair rolling.
“Please. I’m desperate.”
“I can’t pretend I’m dating you. I don’t even like you.”
“I understand.” He held out both palms, still kneeling. “You don’t have to like me. I told her we were having a bit of a spat.”
“You told her what?”
“I had to tell her something—she heard us arguing before she came in the door.”
“Are you cuh-razy?” Laurie flung her arms around. “Why didn’t you tell her the truth? Why not introduce her to your real girlfriend? Are you dating some chick who’s afraid to meet your mother?” Laurie thought she might sympathize with her. Susan was a bit intimidating, even though she seemed nice.
“There is no girlfriend. Mum kept insisting that I needed to start dating, so I made up a relationship.”
“You lied to your mother?”
“I just wanted to make her happy.” Finn climbed off his knees and flopped into her desk chair, covering his face with both hands.
“Look, Finn, I’d like to help you, but…”
“Yes. Please.” He dropped his hands, folding them under his chin, his imploring blue eyes pinning her in place. “Just until tonight. Then you can break up with me.”
“I don’t know… I don’t like to lie.”
“You don’t have to.” He jumped to his feet, his voice rising with excitement. “You can say we haven’t been dating long.” He nodded his head, tapping a finger to his brow. “Which is technically true, right? If she asks how we met, be honest—we met through Bran and Steph.”
“Don’t you think she’s going to notice we don’t get along?”
“No worries. I’ll be so nice you won’t think I’m the same person. And since she heard us arguing, she won’t be surprised if we’re a little stiff.”
“Or you could come clean and tell her the truth.”
The blood drained from his face, his entire demeanor wilting. “That’s not a good idea.”
“Why did you lie in the first place? You’re a grown man. Your mom can’t make you do anything you don’t want to do.”
His fingers massaged his temples. “Listen, I’m not in the habit of deceiving my family, but Mum… She means well, but she worries about me. I think it’s because of the CF. Maybe she feels guilty or something—I don’t know. She’s determined I need someone else in my life or I’m going to be lonely and miserable.” He let out a long, slow breath. “All I wanted to do was make her happy.”
“How long has she been nagging you?”
He shrugged, scratching the back of his neck. “I don’t know. Maybe ten years?”
“Ten years!” She must’ve yelled it, because he jumped and stared at her like she might throw something at him. “You haven’t dated anyone for the last ten years? Why not?”
His hands tucked into his pockets as his lower lip pushed forward. “I have my reasons.”