IN YOUR DREAMS
Splickety Love “For Love of Chaos” Runner-Up
—
By Katherine Briggs
Geraldine entered her Manhattan high-rise. “Siri, call my best friend, Tori.”
“Sorry, I didn’t get that. I have ‘Best Friend Jessica,’ ‘Best Friend Sung Kyul,’ ‘Best—’”
“Tori.”
The phone rang, and Geraldine unwrapped her Versace skirt and blouse from the cleaner’s protective plastic.
“Hey, girl.”
Geraldine crossed her fingers. “Tori, I need a boyfriend ASAP.”
“Your parents invited you to dinner again already? You know Zach and Josh are at the anesthesiologist conference, and Jack’s been hired by a new law firm.”
Geraldine squeezed her eyes against a blossoming tension headache. “I’ve called everyone. I only need one available guy!”
“Let me double-check, and I’ll call right back.”
Geraldine stared through her arched window and waited.
“Girl, remember my best friend, Sarah? Her brother’s in town and agreed to pose as your boyfriend for your parents.”
He couldn’t be worse than Christmas’s CEO, right? Geraldine whimpered. “Meeting location?”
“Um, Burger King on 42nd.”
Two hours later, Geraldine idled her Lexus curbside to Burger King. She muted “Just The Way You Are” and studied the passersby. “Kirby Sanders,” she mused, then jumped when a finger tapped her glass. She swung her gaze and stared at a bushy beard.
She gasped. Punched the locks. Mace? He couldn’t be—
“Kirby,” the man hollered and motioned for her to unlock the door.
Geraldine grimaced and watched him buckle his seatbelt with fanfare. Kirby misadjusted his cap and…swiped crumbs off his t-shirt.
“So, Allie.” Kirby crossed an ankle over his knee, exposing Tardis socks. “I’ll take payment in a root beer, Reuben combo.”
“My name is Geraldine, and, whatever, sure.”
“Done.”
“We will dine at my parents’ estate.” Geraldine tightened her fingers around the wheel. “You’ll pose as my boyfriend. We’ll convince them of my happiness while maintaining a two—five—foot separation radius.”
“Are you unhappy? You need a burgnut, Meagan.”
“It’s Geraldine. Burgnut?”
“A hamburger embraced by donut buns. Delicious, American icon.”
“That’s disgusting.”
She felt his stare.
“Know what I think?” he said. “After this, we’ll be friends grabbing coffee.”
Her eyes narrowed. “In your dreams.”
Too soon, her parent’s house towered above them in wrought-iron gates, marble, and glowing lights.
Kirby’s breath left condensation on the window. “Whoa!”
“Touch nothing.”
Her parents waited in the columned foyer. Mother blew kisses to both cheeks and asked “The Questions.”
“Yes, Mother. I still meet with my sorority alumni. My career is wonderful. The apartment is great. And…” Geraldine suppressed a moan. “My boyfriend, Kirby.”
Kirby mock bowed, and Mother’s expression froze.
Geraldine quickly beamed. “He’s…an engineering manager.”
Kirby frowned. “I—”
Geraldine took his arm and pinched him. “I couldn’t be happier!”
Mother appraised Kirby. Her jaw tensed. “I see. Please freshen yourself before dinner.”
Geraldine led Kirby through the kitchen shortcut toward the bathrooms.
“We lied, Aaishah.”
“Geraldine. ‘Engineering manager’ forgives your fashion-immunity. And we’re already lying because you’re not my boyfriend.”
Geraldine tripped. She reached toward the counter for balance but grabbed a huge bowl of flour instead. The bowl tumbled to the floor, and the kitchen detonated in white powder.
Geraldine looked at her outfit and shrieked.
Kirby failed to cover his laugh. “Shake off the future bread and find clean clothes in one of the other thousand rooms?”
Geraldine nodded, headache returning, then glanced back. Kirby knelt in the hallway, wiping her floured footsteps with a towel. He saluted solemnly. “Good boyfriends always cover for their ladies, Lillian.”
Geraldine rolled her eyes and found her childhood bedroom. She donned an outdated suit that barely fit, and faced Kirby in the hallway. To her horror, tears filled her eyes.
Kirby gawked then offered the towel. “You still look awesome.”
She shook her head. “I’m never good enough.”
“Lies. Being perfect doesn’t make you good enough.” His eyes smiled, distracting from his overgrown beard. “It’s dinner time, Joelle. Gimme uno momento, and I’ll catch up.”
Geraldine smiled in bemusement, blinked her tears away, and faced the evening.
Across crystal platters, Mother assessed her. “Where is he?”
Kirby exploded into the dining room. “Late! Many apologies.”
Geraldine gaped as he sat and arranged the napkin on his lap. He’d tucked in his t-shirt. Combed his beard. No cap. Smelled nice?
He leaned in and mouthed, shower in a can.
Mother glowered. “Kirby, correct? Frankly, I find it difficult to believe you’re Geraldine’s new beau.”
Kirby laced his fingers atop the tablecloth. And…spoke with a British accent. “Isn’t she lucky? I said to myself, ‘Kirby, old boy, all Manhattan princesses are the same. Avoid loving again at all cost!’”
Geraldine prepared to melt under the table and run.
But he took her hand, and she met his sober gaze.
The horrendous British accent vanished. “You don’t know how awesome Geraldine is, Geraldine’s Mom. She once saved this guy down on his luck. He’d had a bad breakup. He was a messy slob—devilishly handsome and brilliant underneath, but Geraldine didn’t know yet. He needed help getting back on his feet. She gave him a ride. A Reuben sandwich and root beer. Became his friend. And I knew she was the kindest person in the world, and perfect to me.” Kirby cleared his throat and looked down.
Geraldine stared and didn’t release his hand.
Mother curved an eyebrow. “Goodness, Geraldine. You’ve been busy. I hope you’re remaining focused on the important things?”
Geraldine waited for the inevitable shame, but it didn’t come. “Yes, Mother.”
Post dinner, Geraldine and Kirby climbed into her Lexus. Geraldine swallowed. “Thank you, Kirby.”
“Anytime, Lizzie.”
“That’s not my name.”
“You’re not a Geraldine.” He scrunched his forehead in thought. “Jordan! Way awesomer.”
“Sure, Kirby. Whatever.” She smirked then bit her lip. “Would…you like to get a coffee?”
His smile filled the car. “Coffee and a plan for next year’s dinner with your parental units. We’ll raise the bar, Jordy.” He rested his palms behind his head and grinned. “I’ll pose as your fiancé.”
Jordan laughed and turned toward the coffee shop. “In your dreams.”
“In Your Dreams” originally appeared in Splickety Love 2016 – May published under Katie Lohr. Print and digital copies may be purchased here.
Photo by Vladimir Kudinov at Unsplash
