Page 78 of An Overdue Match
As soon as I say his name, his eyes jump and lock onto mine.
Words seem like an inadequate conveyance for my feelings, but they’re all I have. Hopefully they’ll be enough. “Thank you for seeing me clearly when I couldn’t see myself. For speaking truth to me when I could only hear the lies. For never giving up on me and showing me what it means for my heart to be intentionally pursued. You’ve given me your strength when I’ve been weak and hope when I’d all but given up. Tai Albert Davis—”
Tai’s face lights up at my use of his middle name. I’ve never let my tongue curl around the syllables before, while he never misses an opportunity to remind me of mine—ofours, really.
My palms run up his chest, my fingers interlocking behind his neck. “I’m in love with you too.”
He smirks, his expression toeing the line just this side of gloating. “Albert and Victoria. I told you it was meant to be.”
I huff out a laugh as I bring my hands forward to frame his face. “Shut up and kiss me.”
“Your wish is my command, Madam Librarian.”
I roll my eyes, but as soon as Tai’s lips touch mine, my lids slide shut. Everything else fades away; the freestanding shelves of periodicals surrounding us, the low-pile square-patterned carpet under out feet. I’m transported to a place that transcends time and space. There’s just me and Tai and this kiss that romance writers wish they could capture on the page. It’s heat and heart. Passion and devotion. A culmination, while at the same time just a beginning.
A throat clears behind us, and I jump away guiltily. I am, after all, on the clock, and this is a public library.
“Looks like the matchmaking librarian has finally met her own match.”
34
I wince and turn slowly. My day of reckoning has arrived. Stacey stands in the center of the aisle, her hands planted firmly on her hips. A few envelopes peek out between her fingers, her name addressed across the top in my familiar script.
Her expression gives nothing away. The jig is up, but is she mad that I’ve been meddling? And how did she figure out the secret admirer letters have been coming from my pen?
“Hello, Stacey.” My smile wobbles.
“Evangeline.” Her gaze flicks to Tai.
So does mine.Help!I try to silently communicate.
He gives me an encouraging smile and nods his head slightly toward Stacey.
I sigh. Looks like this is the day for facing the hard things.
He presses a kiss to my cheek. “I’ll text you my parents’ address and what time dinner will be. Nice to see you, Stacey.”
“You too, Tai.”
Tai hooks his thumbs through his belt loops and strides toward the front of the library and the exit. When he disappears past a bookshelf, he takes my excuse of not facing Stacey with him.
Knowing it’s time, I turn to her, but I can’t bring myself to look higher than her nonskid work shoes. “Are you mad?”
“I think I’ve earned the right to be the one asking the questions here.”
The words bite, but the tone ... I still can’t decipher her feelings. “That’s fair.”
“Why Caleb Chapman? You’re writing letters to me pretending they’re from him while also sending him notes that are supposed to be from me. I got that right, didn’t I?”
I hang my head even farther. “Yes.”
“Okay. So, why Caleb? Why’d you think we’d make a good couple? You and I don’t really know each other that well, and I’m assuming you probably don’t know him any better. Am I wrong?”
“You’re not wrong.”
“Were you bored? Are our love lives nothing but a game to you?”
My chin shoots up, and I finally meet her eyes. They aren’t throwing daggers at me like I deserve, but neither does she appear on the threshold of thanking me for my interference. If I played poker, I’d never want to sit across the table from Stacey. Her expression gives nothing away.
