Murphy's Law.

Five - reincarnation of tall, dark and handsome.

In true Carter style, Aaron and Jessa's engagement party was held at a manor house on the edge of town. And even I had to admit that Mom had outdone herself.

That didn't mean she hadn't driven us all insane for the week leading up to it, but the woman had done a good job.

I stood over to the side of the steps leading up to the front door, fiddling with my earring while I waited for my date to show up. I checked my phone again, glancing at Murphy's last text.

Murphy: Got you a date - wait for him outside. Murph.

I sighed, tapping the heel of my shoe against the pavement. The party had started fifteen minutes ago, and he was still a no-show.

Sighing loudly, I was just about to admit defeat and face in my mother when a car spun into the driveway, coming to a screeching halt in front of me. The valet instantly sprung forward to take the keys of the car, but I'm pretty sure he had never had the honour of parking a beat-up old sedan before.

"Watch the paint job," the driver said cheekily, tossing the car keys at the valet before sauntering over to me.

"I thought you said you'd get me a date?" I hissed.

Elijah Murphy just smirked back at me.

"You're looking at him."

"This isn't funny. You're not funny." I shook my head, turning to storm inside without him and face my mother.

"I'm not trying to be." He caught my elbow and spun me around "Look, everyone was busy. So it's me or nothing."

"I think I'm going to go with nothing. Go home Murphy."

"Come on Jack, have a heart. I borrowed a tie and everything," he said, turning those big brown eyes on me.

Okay, so maybe the puppy look hadn't quite lost its full effect.

I sighed, and gave him the once-over. "You're wearing jeans."

"Black jeans, no one's going to notice."

"Your shirts all wrinkled."

"Irons intimidate me."

"You -"

"Okay, okay that's enough on my appearance. I look like a piece of shit, I know. Can we just go inside now?" He offered me his arm, which I linked with an exaggerated sigh.

We climbed the stone steps to the front door and stepped into the foyer, Murphy whistling lowly when he saw the interior.

"Damn," he muttered, staring up at the chandelier.

"Stop being a tourist, and come on." I rolled my eyes, tugging him towards the French doors which led into the garden.

Naturally, as soon as we stepped one foot out onto the patio, my mother ambushed us.

"There you are, dear. I was beginning to think you had been stood up."

"Well, I wasn't," I said "Mom, this is -"

"Little Elijah Murphy, how could I forget?" She smiled, patting Murphy's cheek with a manicured hand "My, haven't you grown into such a handsome young man. So tall, so dashing. Wouldn't you agree, Jacqueline?" She winked at me.

My mother just winked at me.

"No, I really wouldn't," I muttered, and she shot me a glare "I mean, yeah he's...great."

I could practically feel the smugness radiating off him beside me.

"Well, we won't keep you Mom. You've got to get back to being the hostess with the mostess, am I right?" I forced a laugh "Come on M-Elijah."