Page 30 of Prickly Pair
“Wow. What a way to be welcomed to Whynot.”
“It was something else. Did wonders for my ego, though.”
“Oh, I bet. It would for me too.” My phone rattled in my purse and I fished it out, glancing at my messages before putting it on Do Not Disturb.
Avery
Why is your location moving right now? Where are you going?
June
Yeah, you’re supposed to be relaxing
Me
Y’all are a bunch of stalkers. I’m going on a date with Matthew. I’ll report back later
Avery
DR. SEXY!!!! WHEN WERE YOU GONNA TELL US???
I tucked my phone away with a giggle.
“What is it?” Matthew asked.
“Just June and Avery wanting to know more about our date. I did keep it to myself, but I’ll be telling them everything. In detail.”
“I figured as much. I’m under council review.”
“Yep. Although they already like you. Especially since you helped out with Laura.”
His expression softened. “Yeah, well, it was the least I could do. How have things been there?”
“Better,” I said. Last year, Laura had cut her hand helping at Whynot Bloom, and we’d rushed her to the ER. Matthew had been there, and it was at that moment I really started having a crush on him. He’d been so good with her. Laura was June’s niece, and by all accounts, also Avery’s and mine. We loved her and she’d become ingrained in our lives. June’s brother had his share of struggles being a single dad. He’d done a lot of work in therapy, though, and that was helping a lot. “June’s mom is still nuts, but Ethan has been doing a lot better. He’s bouncing back and he’s been a really good dad. I think June still does too much, but Dallas and Madi have helped balance things out.”
“The three of them are really good together.”
“They are,” I agreed.
Finally seeing June relinquish her resistance to being loved was one of the best things I’d ever witnessed. She deserved it. So did Madi and Dallas.
“Tell me about you,” I said. “I mean, I know you, but not everything. Like how’d you pick Whynot? And what kind of hobbies do you have? I have a million questions.”
“I like to run,” he answered. “Dallas and I have started going on runs together since he’s as into it as I am. Aside from that,Magic: The Gatheringis one of my painfully expensive hobbies. I play online with a group I’ve known since I was like nineteen. I don’t get to play quite as much anymore with my work schedule—but still, I love it.”
“A nerd,” I whispered. “The glasses should have given you away.”
He smirked. “Mm-hmm. Well, now you know my secret.”
“One of them. So . . . Whynot?”
His brows pulled together. “It’s not exactly a good first date conversation.”
“Oh.” I didn’t know what to say to that. I didn’t want to press, but his tone . . .
Matthew sucked in a breath. “I guess I’ll tell you. And if you want me to drop you back off at home, I understand.”
“It can’t be that bad,” I said.
