Page 22 of Falling for My Matchmaker

I blinked. “You’re—oh! Cool. That’s great.”

It came out a little too upbeat, like I was auditioning for Ally of the Year. Not because I had a problem. Just because...I hadn’t seen it coming.

I’d assumed. The way he stood. Spoke. Made eye contact. It all gave “straight guy who shops at REI.”

Which, honestly, was on me.

“I think I see him now,” Rob added, waving someone over.

And then I sawhim.

Nate.

In a fitted charcoal button-up, sleeves rolled up, hair slightly wind-tousled like he’d just stepped off a lifestyle blog. Holding two drinks. Calm. Cool. As unreadable as ever.

He walked up beside Rob and handed him a glass. Then turned to me.

“Diana,” he said with a nod.

I blinked. “Hi.”

Rob looked between us. “You two know each other?”

“Professional context,” Nate said smoothly.

That was it. No smile. No wink. No explanation.

I turned to Rob. “Well, congrats. You have excellent taste.”

Rob smiled. “Don’t I?”

They drifted off a moment later, and I stood frozen in place, still holding my untouched wine.

So.

Natewasgay.

Nate dated another super-hot guy.

I stared after them.

No hand-holding. No overt affection. But Rob had said “date,” and Nate hadn’t denied it. Hadn’t said a word.

Poker face, as always.

I took a long sip of my wine then muttered to myself, “Well. That settles that.”

It didn’t.

Not even close.

***

A few minutes later, I spotted Brad. Walking through the crowd like it parted for him. Navy sport coat, white shirt, easy confidence. Like he belonged here—or anywhere. He caught my eye, smiled, and raised his glass in a kind ofthere you aremoment that would've been swoony if my internal monologue hadn’t just short-circuited ten minutes earlier.

“Sorry I’m late,” he said when he reached me. “Didn’t know valet was a whole situation.”

“Don’t worry,” I replied. “You missed the part where I accidentally hit on someone’s boyfriend.”

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