My Fake Boyfriend Turned Real: The Unexpected Love Story

I Hired a Fake Boyfriend for Our Family Dinner – It Turned Out to Be the Best Decision of My Life

Lara hated going to family events, especially once Emily, her sister, started making light of her lackluster romantic life. Lara makes the decision to rent a lover for the evening in order to endure her father’s birthday dinner. She had no idea how a romantic comedy would end.
Although I like my family, I used to dread going to family get-togethers. My sister Emily would always find a way to make fun of my single status whenever we were together.

She went too far the year before at Thanksgiving, setting aside a spot at the table for my “imaginary boyfriend,” complete with a napkin bearing a drawing of my face. Around the table, people were laughing, and I tried to grin.

She would always reply, “It’s funny, Lara!” if I brought up the incident.
It was not at all humorous.

It’s almost my father’s birthday, and we were supposed to celebrate with a family supper.
When we got coffee, I told my friend Kate, “There’s no way I can sit through another one of those events with my family.”

“I’m telling you now, Emily probably has something up her sleeve already,” I said.
“Then just hire someone out for the night!” Kate laughed and stirred her coffee.
“Hire a man?” I let out a cry.

Indeed! My sister used an agency to do it. She looked for the agency because she didn’t want to attend her ex-boyfriend’s wedding alone herself. Look, everything is done legally, and the guys fulfill your requests to the letter.”
“It’s not… sleazy?” I asked, searching for a more appropriate phrase.

“No, Lara,” with a chuckle. “You are aware of my sister. She is really refined and poised! If she didn’t believe everything was legal, she wouldn’t have moved forward with it.”
This is how I came to hire a date for the family get-together. Through the same agency that Kate’s sister used, I was able to find Jake. He seemed to know exactly what I wanted, and he was personable and easy to talk to.

We convened several times prior to the meal to clarify our account, as I didn’t want Emily to discover any irregularities.
“So, the story is that we met at a mutual friend’s party, hit it off over their dog, and have been dating for three months,” Jake added with a grin. “Sounds about right.”
Opening our Chinese order for supper, I retorted, “Look, any story involving myself and a dog are winners.”
“And I’m an architect with a passion for cooking, right?” he replied.
“Exactly,” I replied.

We had practiced the story so much that I was beginning to think it was true. All the same, Jake had said it, and I loved the notion, so I started to wonder whether he was really an architect with a love of cooking.
“You don’t need to get to know him too well,” Kate said over the phone on the day of the family dinner, when I was doing makeup. “Just enough to be familiar and comfortable through the night.”
I went into my parents’ house with Jake’s hand in mine. Everyone in my family gasped in unison; my mother even grinned and raised an eyebrow at our arrival.

Instead, my sister leaned in to smile at Jake since she was never one to pass up a chance.
“Blink twice if she’s forcing you to be here,” she added. “Everyone is aware of how challenging it is to be with Lara. I feel sorry for you since you have to cope with that.”
Jake smiled at me and gripped my hand tighter, drawing me closer just as I was about to break.
His tone was calm yet authoritative as he urged, “Listen,” to Emily. “Will you behave in this manner the entire evening? Do you feel envious of your sibling?

Emily’s cheeks flushed red, but Jake proceeded before she could respond.
“Because anyone would be lucky to have someone as amazing as her.”
My sister stumbled, “Um, no, that’s not what I meant,” and followed my mother into the kitchen.
After that, dinner went remarkably smoothly. Jake enthralled my parents with tales from his travels and even sparked a conversation on architecture and the need of belonging in spaces with my brother Mark, who is known for being aloof.

“That’s not how I’ve ever thought about it,” Mark remarked, raising his wine glass.
Jake said, “People usually don’t,” and accepted the roast potatoes I had offered him. “But it’s important.”
“You’re very different from the usual guys that Lara dates,” Emily replied. “It’s like you’re too good to be true.”
I gave her the eye roll.
But Jake?

Emily was forced to concede as Jake skillfully and humorously parried her punches. I noticed that I was genuinely observing him and questioning whether this was all actually happening.
When we lit the candles on my father’s birthday cake and sung to him for dessert, that’s when things really started to change.
Emily had to add another sarcastic remark, of course, about how easily “relationships” may fizzle out.
Jake lifted his drink to his torso.
With his eyes meeting mine, he remarked, “I’d like to propose a toast.” “To begin with, happy birthday, sir! To the man of the evening! I hope you have all the happiness you deserve in this new chapter.”

He took a moment to allow each person sip from their drink.
However, I also want to raise a glass to the most amazing woman I’ve ever met. You’re smart, compassionate, and have the cutest laugh ever, Lara. Since the first time we met, I have been incredibly impressed by you.
I wasn’t prepared for how hard Jake’s remarks affected me. I shook glasses with him, tears starting to build up in my eyes. Feeling that this was a real relationship, my parents smiled.
My sister seems surprised as well.
I took Jake aside after the toast.

“I’m grateful,” I murmured gently. “You’re an amazing actor, but I don’t know how I can ever repay you for that.”
Jake softened his eyes and clasped my hand.
“Lara,” he responded, toning down my tone. “You know, I wasn’t acting. All of what I mentioned was accurate. From the first time we met, I’ve been in love with you.”
Heart palpitating, I fixed my gaze on him.
“But we only met because I hired you for this night,” I responded.
He gave a shrug while grinning a little.
“Yeah, life is funny like that, isn’t it?” he replied. These things can occur when we’re not seeking for them. I want to give things a formal try. I mean, with you.”
Grinning, I nodded.
“I’d like that too.”

We ate big chunks of cake after joining the family.
It’s months later, and Jake and I are still happy together. I hired Jake, but we never really told the family. He was the boyfriend who surprised me and won me over, as far as they were concerned. And that was accurate in a way.
“You’re telling me that only I know the truth?” Kate enquired as we sat wearing face masks in my living room.
“Yes,” I answered. “You know how Emily is, so Jake and I didn’t want to be honest with my family. This will give her a field day. She hired him since her poor younger sister was unable to find love on her own.”
Kate said, “But you did find a boyfriend.”
“I did,” I said. “And he has also departed from the organization. That means he means business. That’s unfamiliar to me.
I returned home for tea with my parents a few weeks later. They knew about Jake, so I wasn’t dreading going there for once.

However, Emily shared something with me there. As we worked on the dishes in the kitchen, my sister turned to face me.
“I apologize for being so rude,” she said. And when Jake came over for Dad’s birthday, I didn’t mean to treat him so badly. It reminded me of a few things.”
“What do you mean?” I enquired.
“I split up with Paul, but I didn’t tell you this. He wasn’t away on his father’s birthday for work. We’ve been separated for several months now. I have been resentful of your joy.”
My sister was carrying the weight by herself, which baffled me, but at least she was talking to me now.

I’m not sure how long my sister will be this vulnerable, new version of herself, but let’s wait and see.
How would you have responded in that situation?