She didn’t immediately say no. “I do miss Rosemarie’s cooking.”
“It’s not too late. I could call ahead and put in a menu request.”
She hesitated, then shook her head. “No. I don’t have the strength to deal with my mom. If I go home, she’ll insist I take a date to the wedding. So help me God, if Tobin Wiseman tries to stick his tongue in my mouth, I’ll be the new Heaves.”
“What if there was a way to go home and get your mom off your back?”
“How?” She challenged him with heavy skepticism in her dark eyes.
The truth was, he had plenty of friends and family in Jasper Falls, but no one like Jo. Jo was his best friend. He wanted her there and couldn’t imagine picking a new place to live without her skeptical input and dry cynicism guiding him away from every money pit. Plus, he wanted to see her sister, Julie—even if that meant having to stomach Lance.
“Tell your parents we’re dating.”
She burst into laughter, as if the idea were too hilarious to conceive.
He scowled. “It’s not that unbelievable.”
“No, I know, but…” She laughed harder, holding her stomach and falling back in a fit of unladylike snorts and cackles. “Me and you… I can’t…” She wiped tears away from her eyes and blew out a breath. “Could you imagine?”
“Well, I clearly don’t find it as difficult to imagine as you do!” He got up and went to the kitchen to take an aspirin.
“Pat, don’t be mad!”
“I’m not mad. But I’ll also never offer to be your boyfriend again.”
“Oh, no. Whatever will I do without a fictional boyfriend?”
He narrowed his eyes and tossed back two white pills, chasing them with water. “You’re mean.”
“One of my best qualities.”
“I guess I’ll go to the wedding alone. Which is fine. I need to get laid.”
“You’re so cliché.”
“Why? Because I want to hookup at my brother’s wedding? Weddings are a great place to meet women.”
“You know everyone on the guest list.”
He shrugged. “Maggie could have some out-of-town relatives. I’m just looking for a one-nighter.”
“Guys are so gross.”
He shrugged. “If you feel so morally offended, you could prevent it by being my date.”
“I’d be saving a woman a night of regrets and probably an STD test.”
“Ouch.” He laughed. “Come on, Jo, please…”
“Don’t give me that look! You know it’s my kryptonite!”
He fell beside her on the couch and did his best puppy dog stare. “If your mom thinks we’re in a relationship, she’ll stop trying to fix you up with every unclaimed penis in Jasper Falls.”
“She’ll know we’re lying. Everyone knows we’re just friends.”
“I can be convincing. Before I decided to be a doctor, I toyed with improv. I could be the best boyfriend in the world, if the right girl ever gave me a shot.”
Something knowing flashed in her eyes. “You know she’ll be there with Lance.”
His playful mood evaporated. “I know. It’s expected.”
Jo studied him for a long minute. It was no secret he’d been in love with her twin sister Julie his entire life. But, as a young boy, he’d been awkwardly shy and scrawny. He was the redhead with freckles that all the girls immediately lumped into the friend zone. By the time he filled out and got over his awkward adolescence, Julie had started dating Lance—the town douchebag. They’d been together ever since.
It was something they didn’t discuss. Something he needed to put to rest if he ever wanted to move on and actually find a wife, preferably one who wanted him and was available. But he wasn’t ready to retire the fantasy of Julie in his bed, arms, and future just yet—even if it was delusional and impossible.
“You’d be doing me a favor, actually. If we pretend we’re dating, I won’t have to come up with excuses about why I’m still single.”
“Don’t do that to me. Don’t pull the favor card.”
He shrugged. “Please?”
She groaned. “I hate you.”
Sensing victory, he smiled. “Should we pack now or after we wake up?”
Chapter 2
The moment Pat turned the car onto Main Street his heart seemed to beat to a familiar tune. He was home.
“Wow,” Jo said, staring out the passenger window. “When did they install new streetlights?”
“Sometime last spring.” The old-fashioned lights gave the main road that small-town charm. It was an improvement from the hideous 1970’s poles they had replaced.
Jo scowled. “Why does everything look so different? I’ve only been away for four years.”
“A lot can happen in that time.” Unlike Jo, whenever he heard of something happening in Jasper Falls or anywhere in Center County, he felt an ache of homesickness. He loved their little town and was happy to see it modernizing and growing—so long as it didn’t get too big.
“Where did all these restaurants come from?”
He shook his head and scanned the lot at O’Malley’s. “Wanna stop for a drink?” He spotted his cousin’s hideous yellow Jeep.