Page 29 of Magic & Matchmaking
She didn’t respond, and I groaned, then made my way up the steps, lungs burning. I knocked on the door, but she still didn’t answer. I sighed and leaned my back against the door, then slid down into a seat,still breathing heavy. So that was it then. That was her answer. She’d literally run away from my romantic gesture.
It was ironic. I could have any woman I wanted—except for the one woman I actually did want.
My throat grew thick, and I sank my head into my hands. Draven was right. It was too much. It was overwhelming. What had I been thinking? It was the bard in me. All those romantic songs I sang got to my head, and I’d lost touch with reality.
The door swung open, and I fell backward into Emma’s house as she screeched. My head thwacked against the hard floor, my vision growing fuzzy as Emma’s face appeared over me.
Her hands flew up to her mouth. “Riven, I thought you were gone.”
“Nope.” I grunted, slowly sitting up and touching the back of my head, now sore from banging into her floor.
She gripped my arm, trying to help me to a stand at the same time as I tried to yank my arm away. I just needed to get out of here and get some space. Then maybe we could talk and salvage our friendship at least. She lost her footing and slammed into me, both of us tumbling back to the ground, her body now flush with mine.
And just like that, I was back in the tea shop, my body pressed to hers, my mouth on hers, my hands gripping her hips.
She squeaked and scrambled off of me. “I’m so sorry. I wasn’t trying to do that. I wasn’t trying to do anything.”
I winced at the reminder, pushing myself to a stand as she backed into the wooden kitchen table that sat behind her.
“It’s okay if you want to end our fake relationship,” she said. “I understand.”
I blinked a few times.“What?”
She waved her hands in front of her. “That’s why you’ve been so distant since that kiss. Because you have some woman you’re trying to impress? The picnic I just saw? Who’s the lucky witch?”
Understanding hit me. She thought I was interested in someone else, that I was trying to go back on our deal. And she was upset about it. Relief flooded me, and I almost laughed.
Instead, I took a step forward. “Emma Thorne, are you jealous?”
Her jaw locked. “No, of course not. I’m happy for you. As long as you’re happy.”
“I am happy,” I said.
“Good,” she said back.
I took another step forward. “Do you want to know why I’m happy?”
“Not particularly.” She raised her chin, and I smiled. “I thought we were friends. Friends tell each other these things,” she finished quickly. “I’m assuming it has to do with this mystery woman you forgot to tell me about.”
“It does,” I agreed.
She swallowed thickly. “You could have just told me about her instead of sneaking behind my back. The tea shop probably senses you’re interested in someone else.”
I took another step forward, close enough now that I could reach out and grab her.
“Well, I can tell you about her now if you’d like.”
Curiosity flashed in her eyes, but she didn’t say anything.
“She’s very pretty,” I said. “The most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
Her lips pressed into a thin line.
“She’s also very caring. She takes care of everyone all the time, but she’s not always as good at taking care of herself.”
“Well, I guess it’s a good thing she has you,” Emma said, an edge to her tone that I wasn’t used to.
I ticked off my fingers. “She’s smart. She makes me laugh. She snorts sometimes when she laughs too hard, which she’s mortified by, but I think it’s adorable.”
