I Wanted to Impress My Classmates at Our 20-Year Reunion, So I Hired a Handsome Actor to Be My Plus-One – What Happened There Left Everyone Speechless
"Do you want me to pretend we're together?"
"No," I said. "I don't want to lie more than we have to. I just want one night where I don't feel like I'm apologizing for existing."
Norton nodded. "Then look back when she looks at you like she won."
My eyes burned. "You make that sound easy."
"She's very good at cruel."
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"I didn't say easy. I said possible."
He signed the contract.
"Steady witness," he said. "No grand romance. No lies we can't walk back from. We have a deal, Daphne."
***
On Friday night, I changed dresses three times before choosing the navy one with the silhouette that made me feel seen.
When Norton knocked at 7:00, I opened the door before I could lose courage.
In the car, he glanced at my shaking hands. "Want to rehearse?"
"No. If I rehearse, I'll sound rehearsed. I was horrible at drama."
"We have a deal, Daphne."
At the high school, music spilled from the gym. The reunion banner hung over the doors.
My hand tightened around my purse.
"I can't do this."
Norton turned off the engine. "You can, but you don't have to pretend it's easy."
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I looked at the bright gym doors. "She wants me to walk in small."
"Then don't."
So I got out.
Norton offered his arm.
"I can't do this."
I took it.
The second we stepped inside, people turned. A few whispered, and my 17-year-old self reached for the nearest exit.
Then Miriam appeared.
She moved through the crowd like she owned the air. Mark followed half a step behind her, older than I remembered and less sure of himself than I expected.
"Daphne," Miriam said, spreading her arms. "You actually came."
The second we stepped inside, people turned.
"I did."
Her eyes moved to Norton. "Well. You brought someone."
"This is Norton."
Norton held out his hand. "Nice to meet you."
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Miriam ignored it and looked him up and down.
"Someone's doing charity work."
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