Page 4 of Forty, Flirty & Fake-ly Yours

"Hospital board. She says engagement parties are better than Lifetime movies for drama."

"Your whole family is a Lifetime movie," I mutter, turning to Alex. "And I'll have to miss your proposal too. Douglas made it clear my attendance tonight is non-negotiable."

"You know what your other problem is?" Connor says as I grab my jacket.

"I wasn't aware we were still cataloging them."

"You're trying to solve an emotional problem with logic. Love doesn't work that way."

"Which is why I created SecureMatch—to take emotion out of the equation."

"How's that working out for you?"

Before I can answer, Alex raises a hand, the other gripping the ring box like it might explode.

"Okay, we’re good. Proposal plan is a go. See y’all at La Famiglia later.”

"Don't propose with emojis," I warn him on my way out.

“I promise I’ll only use about three—tops,’" Alex calls after me. “The ring, the heart, and-“

I let the heavy oak door cut off the rest of that terrible idea and head for the elevator. I’ve had forty-five years to find a romantic partner, and we see how well that turned out.

And now, I have exactly three hours and twenty-two minutes to work out, shower, dress, and somehow find a date impressive enough to convince Douglas Franklin that SecureMatch's CEO hasn't lost his touch.

My phone buzzes again:

“BREAKING: Tech's Most Eligible Bachelor Still Single: What's Wrong With Seattle's Dating App King?"

I press the elevator button harder than necessary. Clearly, tonight’s workout plan just changed to include anger management.

2

CRASH.COM

Midtown Seattle,WA

ROSALIND

The problem with being a professional matchmaker at forty-one is that everyone assumes it's easier for you to crack the code on love. That you've figured it all out after decades of watching relationships bloom and wither.

Spoiler alert: it's not.

Matching hearts is far easier than navigating your own wreckage, especially when you're old enough to know better but young enough to still want it all.

Speaking of wreckage, tonight’s Thursday Night Singles group is looking emptier than before the marketing campaign I started two weeks ago.

Two weeks of trying to convince Seattle singles to spend time getting to know one each other. Two weeks of handing out flyers, running social ads and talking to people at the local coffee shop in the hopes that someone—somewhere—might sign up for our matchmaking services.

With the state of the dating world the way it is now, that’s few and farther in between.

Which is why I’m gritting my teeth and bearing it tonight.

I stand from my seat. "And that's why the key to finding your soulmate is staying open to the unexpected," I tell tonight’s dwindling group. I focus on the twelve faces around me. “Sometimes love arrives in surprising packages. And you never know what special package is waiting for you.”

I smile, hoping the expression doesn’t falter.

“That’s all. See you all next week.”

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