Page 79 of An Overdue Match
I, however, do nothing to hide my contrition. “It may seem like I was moving the two of you like pawns, but I assure you, I wasn’t playing a game.”
“What were you doing then?”
“On the surface, just what it looks like. Matchmaking. I studied the library patrons’ check-out histories and attempted to set people up based off their reading preferences.”
“Based off—” Stacey shakes her head, eyes widening in disbelief. “Wow.” She snorts. “And to think it actually worked.” She says this last part under her breath.
I blink, not sure I heard right. “It worked?”
Her expression softens. “Probably not like you were expecting, although I’m not quite sure what you were thinking would happen.” She points to a worktable in the corner and we sit.
“Caleb came into Cotton-Eyed Cup of Joe with one of your letters in his hand. I recognized the handwriting at once and showed him my own letters. We started talking and put two and two together. I was impressed with his reaction. Instead of getting upset, he cracked jokes.” She smiles, remembering. “I’ve always appreciated a man with a good sense of humor.”
I can’t help but smile as well. Itworked. I made a real match.
Stacey sees my grin and frowns, a stern slant marking her mouth. “Just because it’s going well for the two of us doesn’t mean people—Caleb, myself, whoever else’s lives you meddled with—couldn’t have gotten hurt by what you did.”
I bank my happiness and lift my palms. “You’re absolutely right. I shouldn’t have tried to play matchmaker without consent. I promise I won’t do it again.”
She gives me an uncomfortable amount of eye contact before saying, “Good. Even though I’m sure there’s more to the story, that’s what I came down here to say.” She stands. “And now that you have a love life of your own, I’m even more assured you’ll stop messing with everyone else’s.”
“That’s it? I’m really off the hook so easily?”
The corner of her mouth twitches as if she’s holding back a smile. “Caleb is taking me to Knoxville to a surprise date destination so I’m having a hard time holding on to my outrage with all this giddy anticipation inside me.” She leans forward, her palms planted on the table and her face mere inches from mine. I can smell the peppermint gum she’s tucked into her cheek as she stares me down. “If, however, Caleb breaks my heart, I’m blaming you and we’re picking up this conversation right where we’re leaving it off.”
“Fair,” I squeak out.
She straightens and smiles again. “Well, I’m off to get ready for my date. Sounds like you’ll be doing the same here shortly as well. See you around, Evangeline.”
I wave weakly, both happy for a successful match and Stacey and Caleb’s budding romance but also a tiny bit frightened that they won’t work out and Stacey will come back to finish the conversation.
“What was that about?” Hayley says from behind a bookshelf, startling the living daylights out of me and causing my heart to knock against my ribs in an erratic rhythm.
I jump-turn in my seat, my hand pressed against my chest. “For goodness’ sake, Hayley, you have got to stop sneaking up on people like that.”
She grins unrepentantly as she steps into view. “What did Stacey want?”
“Oh, uh, nothing really.” I haven’t filled Hayley in on my side endeavor, and I sure as shootin’ am not going to change that now. But by the way she’s staring at me expectantly, she isn’t going to just leave it be without some sort of crumb to nibble on.
And of course, because my brain likes to snowball,crumbreminds me ofdinner, which reminds me of Tai’s parents, which creates a tiny knot of dread in the pit of my stomach.
I chew on my bottom lip. “Hayley, you know Tai’s parents.”
“I faintly recall my own aunt and uncle, yes.”
“Funny.”
She smirks. “I thought so.”
“What are they like?” I chew on my lip some more.
Hayley’s eyes brighten. “Tai’s bringing you to meet them.”
I nod.
Hayley takes the seat that Stacey had vacated, then reaches over and squeezes my hand. “You have nothing to worry about. Aunt Missy and Uncle Walter are really very sweet. I mean,she’s a little overbearing and protective of Tai, but that’s more with his health than anything else.”
“What do you think their reaction would be to—” I wave weakly at the direction of my head.
