Page 108 of The Matchmaker
“A hangover is not that bad,” she says. “There could have been food poisoning. Or a murder.”
“A mur— Nush!”
“No, like a fun one,” she insists. “Like in Clue.”
“Oh my God. Stop talking.”
And it’s not just one hangover judging by the line outside the pharmacy this morning. Nush fell over herself apologizing to me and is being extra attentive, but all that means is she’s been following me around for the last hour.
Then there’s Gemma and Adam who are as far away as two people can be while still being in the same space, with Adam doling out ice creams cones and Gemma staying firmly several picnic tables away, pretending not to notice him. Something must have happened last night, but between making up with Callum and making sure all the drunk people got home, I’d missed whatever it was.
“Any word from Glenmill yet?”
I shake my head at Nush’s question, stomach tightening with that familiar worry. I’d been expectingsomethingby now.
“Well. I’m going to do another loop with the petition,” Nush says decidedly.
“Don’t annoy people, okay? Especially if they’re hungover.”
“It hurts me when you doubt my charms,” she says, completely serious, and wanders off to get her clipboard.
I turn my focus to Gemma, who’s peering out at the water with an absent expression, her iced coffee untouched beside her. She’s so in her own head that it’s only when my shadow falls over her that she even notices my approach.
“Hey,” she says, peering up at me.
“Hi. Did you sleep with Adam?”
“What? Katie!”
“Well, I don’t know,” I say, as she huffs, drawing her dress down her legs like she’s all prim and proper all of a sudden. “It’s not like you don’t know the guy.”
“We had a nice night,” is all she says.
“And?” I prompt, flopping down next to her.
“And nothing. I’m just happy my boob tape stayed in place.” But even as she speaks, her eyes flit to Adam by the cart and promptly away again.
“Did you fight?”
“No.”
“And you didn’t sleep together and wake up regretting it?”
“No and stop talking so loud,” she hisses.
“Then why are you ignoring each other?” I ask.
“We’re not,” she says. “But Noah’s here.”
“So? He’s seen you speak with Adam before.”
“This is different.”
“No, it’s not! This isn’t the big thing you’re making it out to be. You know Adam. Noah knows Adam. It’s kind of the ideal situation, if you think about it.” I scowl when she doesn’t move, my frustration spilling over. “Fine. If you won’t talk to him, then I will.”
She latches onto my wrist so hard I yelp. “Don’t you dare,” she warns, but I just shake her off. “Katie?Katie.” Gemma scrambles to follow me as I stride up to the cart.
Adam glances up when I approach, looking confused before he spies Gemma behind me. Then he just looks awkward.
