“I’ll cut to the chase. Socially, this is a busy time of year for me. And, like I said, I’m tired of being alone during the holidays, going to all my company and client dinners and parties alone, enduring everyone’s sympathy and answering everyone’s questions about why a successful, nice-looking attorney is still single. And, for the sake of argument, we’ll say that you’re also tired of doing the holidays solo.”

“Go on,” I said.

“As one who would rather light a candle than curse the darkness, I say that we do something about it. What I’m proposing is a mutually beneficial holiday arrangement. For the next eight weeks we are, for all intents and purposes, a couple.”

I looked at him blankly. “Are you kidding me?”

“Think about it,” he said. “It’s the perfect solution. We don’t know each other, so there’s no deep stuff, no pain, no bickering. The only commitment is to be good to each other and to be good company.”

“And being good company means ending up back at your place?”

“No, I’m proposing a purely platonic relationship. Maybe we publicly hold hands now and then to sell the facade, but that’s the extent of our physicality.”

I shook my head skeptically. “Men can’t have platonic relationships.”

“In real life, you’re probably right. But this isn’t real life. It’s fiction. And it’s just until Christmas.”

“How do I know you’re not a serial killer?”

He laughed. “You don’t. You could ask my ex, but no one’s found the body.”

“What?”

“Just kidding. I’ve never been married.”

“You’re serious about this?”

He nodded. “Completely.”

“I think you’re crazy.”

“Maybe. Or maybe I’m a genius and everyone will be doing this in the future.”

I slowly shook my head, not sure of what to think of the proposal or the proposer.

“Look, I know it’s unconventional, but oftentimes the best solutions are. Will you at least consider it?”

I looked at him for a moment, then said, “All right. I’ll think about it. No guarantees. Probably not.”

“Fair enough,” he said, standing. “I’m leaving town tonight, but I’ll be back Monday.”

“That will give me some time to think about it,” I said.

“I eagerly await your response.”

“Don’t be too eager,” I said.

“It’s been a pleasure, Elise.” He smiled as he turned and walked away.

Chapter Two

CHAPTER

Two

Often what we see clearest in others is what we most avoid seeing in ourselves.

Elise Dutton’s Diary