Page 100 of The Matchmaker
She grabs the glass from my hand, and a bottle of wine with the other.
“You can be off duty for one night,” she says to me when I linger.
“I’ve got to go find Gemma.”
“Then find her. Find her and come back here and get yourself on the dance floor. Everything’s under control.”
“Granny—”
“Go,” she says, shooing me away as I kiss her on the cheek. Ignoring the gathering crowd, I push my way through the now very packed pub and back outside.
There’s only a small trickle of people still signing in and I hurry over to the reception desk, the sweat I got from working at the bar cooling uncomfortably on my skin.
“Is Gemma here yet?”
Bridget hesitates, not even looking at the long list of names before her.
“What?” I ask. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” she hedges. “She’s probably still getting ready.”
“She should have been here an hour ago! Has her match signed in?”
“Yes, but you should probably know that— Katie!”
“I’ll go get her,” I say already striding away. “She can have cold feet tomorrow.”
“But she’s—”
“Just stall him if he comes looking!” I call, and hurry up toward the village.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
The evening sky is a faint pink color, and the air is warm and dry. We couldn’t have hoped for better weather, but I barely have time to take it in as I make my way back to Nush’s salon. The blinds are closed, but the door is unlocked when I try it and I let myself in, spying Gemma’s purse where she left it on the counter.
“Gem?” I head toward the back, taking in the scattered makeup and curling tongs before knocking on the bathroom door. A thin strip of light is visible underneath. “Gemma?”
“I’m peeing,” she calls.
“You’re late.”
“Doesn’t stop me from peeing.”
I roll my eyes, moving away to give her some privacy. But when a few more minutes pass and she still hasn’t come out, I start to get antsy.
“Are you doing more than peeing?”
“Don’t ask me that!”
“It’s only me out here,” I remind her. “You can tell me. Girl code.”
“I’m fine.”
“Then come out, will you? You’re giving me stress hives.”
“You’re so dramatic,” she huffs, but I finally hear some movement and, a second later, the door flies open.
My mood instantly changes.
