Page 98 of The Matchmaker
“Do you know what would be fun?” I say. “Helping us out. I need someone out here to collect empty glasses before we open the outside bar. And then you can…” I trail off as a beautiful blonde-haired woman in a short, sparkling silver dress steps outside the pub, a glass of white wine in her hand. I swear to God, everyone within a few meters of her immediately turns her way. She must be used to the attention because she barely notices as she glances about with vague interest before joining the line for the wishing well.
“Is she famous?” I ask, growing excited. “She looks famous.”
Harry scoffs. “You think every person with good posture is famous.”
True, but she hasgreatposture.
“Maybe she’s a model or something? I bet she has a massive following. Do you think she’ll post about us?” I glance back at the flower wall, wondering if I can subtly drag her over to it, when Harry makes an amused, slightly strangled noise in the back of his throat.
“What? What’s—” My mouth clamps shut as I turn around to see the woman still waiting in line, only now with Callum standing right beside her. I haven’t seen him since yesterday when he kissed me not two feet from where we’re standing now, and while I know it’s because we’ve both been busy, a small, immature part of me can’t help but think that this is also some kind of punishment.
“I’d take him,” Richie says casually, and Harry grins at me. “Unless that’s her match.”
“That’s not her match,” I say sharply.
“Does she know that?” Harry asks, as she puts a hand on Callum’s forearm. He laughs at something she said, and I stare at them.
“Your neck has gone all pink,” Harry adds gleefully. Richie just looks confused.
But before I can do anything like stomp over there and make a scene, Callum glances up, his eyes immediately finding mine. As he does, the woman’s hand drops away and she turns back to the well, and Callum gives me a look that says he knows exactly what I’m thinking, and heads inside the pub.
“Do you need to cool down?” Richie asks politely, and I leave Harry to explain what’s going on as I follow Callum back inside. There are so many people inside that I lose track of him immediately, and I’m so focused on finding him that I don’t even notice someone slip out from behind the bar until Adam almost walks into me.
“And where do you think you’re going?” I ask, spying the gym bag clenched in his hand.
“I just need to head out for a second.”
“You what?” I spin around as he sidesteps me. “We’re starting in twenty minutes! Who’s minding the bar?”
“I got Nush to fill in.”
“You putAnushkabehind the bar?”
“She wanted to help. I gave her your punch recipe.”
“Adam—”
“I’ll be back in a bit, I promise. Everything’s under control.”
Everything isnotunder control, and he can’t just leave me here alone, but before I can correct him, he slips off around the back of the pub and disappears.
Well, that’s just superb.
I slip inside, trying to keep smiling because everyone is smiling. They’re smiling and excited, and I need them to stay that way because I refuse to let everything go wrong.
“Nush.”
“Hi!” Anushka beams at me from behind the bar, looking like she’s having the time of her life as she adds decorative sugar around the rim of the punch bowl. “It’s going well, isn’t it? There are so many people. Has Gemma met her match yet?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know if he’s even here yet. Actually, I don’t thinkshe’seven here yet. And what about you?” I ask. “Did you meet Ryan?”
“Yeah.”
“And,” I prompt, when she doesn’t continue.
“Oh.” She makes a face. “I didn’t really like him.”
“What do you mean, you didn’t like him?”
