Page 87 of Pucking Your Best Friend

“You think so?” He tapped his chin thoughtfully with his index finger. “Yeah, I guess the truth is often bad for business.”

“It’snotthe truth!”

“Madison, I don’t know why you’re so upset. You have your signs, I have mine.”

“But our sign isn’t bad for you! Yours, on the other hand…”

“Oh, yes,” he replied coolly. “It’s bad for my mental health.”

“I’m sorry to disappoint you, Connor, but that’s beyond help!”

He snorted. “Stop putting up your stupid signs and I’ll keep my flyers to myself.”

Flyers? Plural? Oh God, how many of them had the troll printed? “What’s your problem?” she shouted in frustration. “Do you hate love or something? Did some poor girl break your heart and ever since, you want everyone else to be unhappy, too?”

He raised an eyebrow, amused. “Broke my heart…”

“Well, what is it then? There’s nothing wrong with making your clients aware that we can help them get over their divorce.”

Connor’s brown eyes suddenly blackened and the smile fell from his face. “Myproblemis that you’re talking rubbish! That you’re promising lightning from a clear blue sky. All these apps and dating sites with their psychological tests are utter nonsense.”

She gasped. “That’s not true.”

“Yes, it is,” he replied coolly. “You’re selling a lie. And I can’t stand it when lies turn into money.”

“It’s not a lie! Our site works. We have a questionnaire created by a renowned psychologist! And Hailey, who has a damn degree from Caltech, programmed the algorithm.”

“Ah,” he uttered tonelessly. “What I heard was: Santa gave me a bow and arrow and now I’m playing Cupid with other people’s money. Matchmaking works about as well as rain dances, Madison! Now, could you please scram? Some of us have real jobs.”

“You…”

“I know,” he replied curtly and disappeared into the office.

She stared after him, her mouth open. It was no wonder he was alone and a divorce lawyer! He probably enjoyed watching other people’s relationships disintegrate.

“God,” she whispered, annoyed, dropping the crumpled flyer on his doorstep as her phone rang. “What?” she answered tersely.

“Maddie, I’ve run out of food in the house.”

She sighed heavily and closed her eyes. “I’m sorry, Dad. But there’s a supermarket less than five minutes from you. You could even walk there.”

She heard her father let out a gasp. “I’m not dressed for the supermarket, Maddie.”

“Then put something on,” she advised him patiently. “Dad, I have to work, so…just go shopping.”

“Oh…no. That’s all right. I’ll just go without today.” Then he hung up.

She stared at her cell phone in disbelief.

No! That was unacceptable. She was tired of everyone in her family doing whatever they wanted and counting on her to pick up the pieces. She had forgotten how a family should normallyfunction, but the weekend at Matt’s parents had reminded her, and…enough was enough.

Matt was right. She had to start fighting for herself. She had to stop avoiding arguments. Things couldn’t go on this way.

With trembling fingers, she pressed the call button. Her father answered after two rings.

“Have you changed your mind?” he asked hopefully.

She pressed her lips together so tightly that her jaw threatened to burst. Had he done that onpurpose? Was he trying to make her feel guilty so he wouldn’t have to overcome his inner demons?

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