Free The Arrangement by Hilary Hamblin

know me or my story. Where my parents are unknown, middle-income people compared to the richness of the people around me. Somewhere I can blend into the background and escape the expectations of the small town.”
    “Expectations like the ones your parents have about who you should marry?” Eli met her eyes with his and held her gaze steady.
    “Yeah.” Suddenly she felt as though Eli could read her mind. A blush crept onto her cheeks. What would Eli say if he found out her interest in him was only a distraction created to keep her parents happy? He seemed like a nice enough guy. Was it really fair to trap him in such a scheme?
    She shook her head. It was the only way. She could not help it if someone innocent got caught in the mix. Her parents should have thought about that before they insisted that she leave Ben and attach herself to this lawyer. Besides, was Eli not like her parents anyway? Had he not played along with their dinner scheme last week?
    She worked to reset her motives. She could not get caught up in Eli’s ideas and future plans. He’s a means to an end, that’s all, she reminded herself. Glancing at her watch, she realized the time had almost gotten away from her for the second time that afternoon. She had agreed to meet Ben in half an hour, and it would take her a little more time than that to get to the restaurant.
    “Oh, Eli,” she groaned, hoping she sounded regretful, “I promised my lab partner I would meet her so we could review our notes for our test next week. I really need to go.” She recited the “out” she’d rehearsed several times before arriving at the coffee house.
    Eli looked at his watch, too. “I didn’t realize how late it was. I’m sorry for keeping you so long.”
    In unison they scooted their chairs from the table, picked up their now empty cups, and moved toward the nearest trash can. Realizing they were reaching for the same thing at the same time, their eyes locked for a moment and they laughed.
    “You first.” Eli gestured toward the garbage can.
    “Thanks,” Evie replied, uncomfortable for the first time that day.
    They started to part ways in the parking lot without another word when Eli called to her, “Hey, Evie.” She pivoted toward him. “I know you and Ben just broke up, but I was wondering…would you like to have dinner sometime?”
    What a hypocrite, she silently chastised him. He talks about his ex’s interest only in his name, and isn’t that why he’s asking me out, for my name? A quiet voice calmed her before she could comment sarcastically. But isn’t this what you wanted, Evie? Isn’t this part of the plan?
    Realizing Eli was still waiting for her response, she plastered on a shaky smile. “Sure, why not? It will make my parents happy, and maybe it will help me forget about Ben.” She regretted those last words when she saw the momentary pain on Eli’s face.
    “I’ll call you then and see what night works,” he promised before adding, “Evie, I really enjoyed getting together today. Thanks.”
    “Yeah, me, too,” she answered softly as guilt gnawed at her. She walked quickly back to her Beemer and peeked toward where Eli climbed into his sedan. He was so different from Ben. She guessed growing up in D.C. as the son of a politician had taught him how to carry on a conversation with anyone and how to appear to have a good time no matter how bored you were. Ben could never carry off even a half-hour coffee meeting with someone with whom he had nothing in common.
    She grimaced as she remembered the pained silence that filled the room during his few visits with her parents, a prime example of his inability to carry on a light conversation. Ben wanted so desperately to make something of himself, to offer the life to her and their future children that he never had. But current events bored him while the latest ballgame of whatever sport completely enthralled him. Her parents’ interest in sports never moved past the college’s