Page 109 of The Matchmaker
“No,” I say. “I’m telling you right now, that this can’t happen. You two either need to just kiss or—”
“Noah!” Adam says suddenly, and I shut my mouth. “It’s Noah! Hey, buddy!”
Gemma and I turn to indeed see a startled-looking Noah standing by the cart. And I can understand why. I don’t think Adam has ever said the word “buddy” in his life.
“What can I get you?”
“I just want some ice cream.”
“Sure thing,” he says in an enthusiastic, very not Adam voice. Gemma looks like she wants the earth to swallow her up, but she manages to smile at her son when he turns his questioning gaze toward her. “Here you go!”
It’s kind of creepy, actually. I decide I don’t like happy Adam.
Noah doesn’t either, judging by the long, wary look he gives him. “Thanks,” he says finally, and goes off with his cone.
Gemma shakes her head. “I promised Nush I’d help her with the petitions,” she says before either of us can say anything, and spins around, her dress fluttering around her knees as she strides off.
I turn back to Adam just in time to see him gazing after her. Men.
“What did you do to her?” I snap, and he startles.
“I didn’t do anything.”
“Then why are you both acting like that?”
“It’s not me,” he says. “It’s her. I’m just following her lead.”
“What if she’s followingyourlead? How long have you been into her? Wait.” I hold up a hand as he opens his mouth. “No, don’t tell me. I don’t want to know.”
He grimaces, scratching the back of his neck as he glances over my shoulder, to where I know Gemma is. “Do you think it’s weird?”
“No,” I say truthfully. “If anything, it’s only weird how not weird it is.”
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“It does,” I say. “If you really think about it.”
“Look, I don’t know,” he says quietly, as another couple comes up looking for ice cream. “She’s barely said two words to me all day, and if she doesn’t want this, then I’m not going to pressure her.”
“But—”
“Drop it, Katie, yeah? Let’s just get through the weekend. What can I get for you?” He says the last bit to the people waiting and I step aside, smiling warmly at them even as I’m frowning on the inside. What’s the point of hosting a goddamn matchmaking festival if you can’t even matchmake?
I’m starting to make my way inside to check in on those hiding from the sun when I spot Noah sitting in the exact same place Gemma had been moments before, gazing out at the same lake with the exact same expression.
The genes in that family arestrong.
“Hey.”
Noah glances over at me, eyebrows rising in greeting.
“Having the best time ever?” I ask, and he smirks, turning his attention back to the lake.
“It’s not so bad,” he says, as I take a seat beside him.
“Enjoying the ice cream?”
“It’s okay.”
