Page 60 of The Matchmaker
“Katie!” Noah calls over from where he stands with Adam in front of the dartboard. “Are you watching?”
“Yes!” I say, turning to him.
“Mam, don’t look.”
“What?” Gemma glares at him from her seat by the bar. “Why can’t I look?”
“Because you do it weird.”
“How is it weird? I’m just looking.”
“Mam.”
“Oh, for the love of—” She spins around to face me, doing as she’s told. “Why do you get to look?”
“Because he thinks I’m cool,” I tell her, and she scoffs, reaching for Nush’s cocktail only to almost spit it out at the first sip.
“What the hell is in that?” she coughs.
Nush looks affronted. “Rum.”
“How much rum?”
“Well, it’s arumcocktail, Gemma. I don’t want to be stingy.”
I tune them out, slumping over the bar to watch Noah line up behind the throw line, his tongue peeking out between his teeth as he concentrates.
“Just like I showed you,” Adam says, adjusting his arm. “Remember your stance.”
Noah shuffles at Adam’s words, planting his feet on the ground before he takes a breath and throws. Those of us allowed to, watch as the dart bounces harmlessly off Jack Doyle’s left nostril and falls to the floor.
“Not too shabby,” Adam says, but Noah’s shoulders slump.
“I’m bad at it.”
“You’re not bad at it,” Adam says. “Katie’s bad at it.”
My mouth falls open. “It’shard.”
“Very bad at it,” Adam mock whispers and Noah smiles a little. “You’re just moving too fast,” he says, shaking the kid’s shoulders until he loosens. “Take your time and let yourself go still. Then throw.”
“That’s what I did.”
“It was. But go even stiller this time. You’ll get there.”
Gemma has another sip of Nush’s cocktail, makes a face, and then takes a gulp. “Who’s that?” she asks me.
“Who’s who?”
“The guy who keeps staring at you.”
I frown, turning to face the crowd. “What are you—”
Callum.
He’s standing on the other side of the room, just inside the door, with a slightly lost expression, like he’s completely out of his element. Gemma didn’t exaggerate the staring thing. Our eyes meet as soon as I turn around, and I quickly spin back to the bar, my heart flipping over in my chest.
“Do you know him?” Gemma asks, watching me curiously.
