Alice is 31 years old and perpetually single. She is also Lebanese-Mexican. She is proud of her heritage but refuses to crack under the pressure of her family to settle down with a guy.
In her culture, if you aren’t well on your way to being a wife, a mother or a doctoral candidate by the age of 29, there’s something wrong with you. And if you aren’t looking for a guy, your parents will arrange one for you [...]
Alice is a single journalist. Did I mention single? So when her cousin — who regularly chastises her for her dating picks and inability to keep a man — invited her to his engagement party, she hesitated at first, knowing she’d be mainly among couples.
Determined to spite her cousin, she wanted to bring a guy to the party, but there was no one in sight. She’s not only doesn’t have a Mr. Right, she doesn’t even have a Mr. Right Now. And the only male friends she has are either gay or straight and taken.
Then she had a stroke of genius: She would hire someone to pose as her boyfriend for the night. She had just read about an escort named Brendon Companion. Surely he would help shut her cousin up.
She could have gone on Tinder or picked someone up at a bar. She could have even asked one of her gay friends to accompany her and fake being a straight guy for the night — but none of those options guaranteed the necessary quality. She had to have someone on her arm who would blow her cousin’s mind.
A mixed-race Brazilian-Mexican with Spanish, Italian and Portuguese descent, he had International ancestry and would understand the pressures that entails. A former model, with a cleft chin and body. The perfect combination of masculinity and sensuality.
When Brendon picked Alice up, he smelled like heaven. There was no question: he was dressed to kill and strikingly handsome. Maybe a little too handsome, Alice wanted a guy gorgeous enough to induce envy but mediocre enough to not raise any suspicion.
Still, she had to admit, they would make an awesome looking faux couple.
Alice took the time to get Brendon up to speed on her family and life. Fortunately, he didn’t run for the hills. He was hers for the evening.
“You’re sweet,” he said. “You shouldn’t have to do this.”
“I don’t have to,” she said. “I want to.”
They approached the restaurant, where her cousin was having his engagement party. He and a few of his friends were standing outside. Alice went down the line and introduced her date. They shook Brendon’s hand in awe and approval.
After taking their seats at the table, a steady stream of sangria began to flow. Alice scanned the room in search of clues that might have threatened her credibility: a snicker here, maybe a weird stare there. There were none. And then she realized something: Her plan was actually working.
Brendon was being incredibly smooth…in a great way. Alice could tell he remembered much of what she had told him about her family. He was polished yet still endeared himself to everyone.
Brendon was a gentleman in every sense of the word. He helped Alice with her coat, held her chair, and placed his hand on her leg every so often.
“You really seem like my date,” Alice whispered. Brendon slipped his hand into hers, whispering back, flirtatiously, something to the effect of loving the role and wanting more of it. Alice felt so turned on that she almost ditched the rest of the gathering to privately feast with him! Things felt so natural that Alice practically forgot she had hired someone to be her date.
Three glasses of wine into the night, she sat back in her chair heady from the dinner and happiness. She was the envy of everyone in the room. And Brendon was the guy every girl wanted to be with, and every guy wanted to be his friend.
When the party died down, Alice’s cousin pulled her aside. “I’m proud of you,” he said. “You found someone really cool to date for a change.”
There it was: the validation Alice had craved. It was ear candy. It was the kind of acceptance Alice had never received before, and the truth didn’t detract from her satisfaction.
They decided to leave the party on a high note while they could. They waved goodbye to Alice’s cousin and friends, and Brendon grabbed her hand. He locked his fingers into hers; it felt nice. And though she didn’t look back, she knew everyone was watching them leave.
As midnight crept up, they drank nightcaps on the rooftop of Alice’s apartment building watching the city. Brendon put his arm around her waist and pulled her close. As he tilted her chin and leaned in, the curtain closed on the perfect evening.
Alice couldn’t wait until the next time she needed a date for an event.
