Page 46 of Matchmaking On The Menu

“That’s not ominous at all.”

“He’s new,” Quadri continues. “People notice new. Someone will know something.”

Shelly raises a finger. “I volunteer as tribute.”

“You always volunteer,” I say.

“Because I’m dedicated to the cause.”

“The cause being?”

“Your love life.”

I make a face. “This is not my love life.”

Shelly raises an eyebrow, then looks at the space where he disappeared, then back at me.

“Sure.”

I hate that tone.

“I’m serious,” I insist. “This is nothing.”

My body immediately betrays me by remembering exactly how his hand felt on my waist. Cool. Great. Love that timing.

“This is absolutely something,” Shelly says.

“It’s not.”

“It is.”

“It’s not.”

“Dannica.”

“What?”

“You’re arguing.”

I pause. Oh no. She’s right.

I am arguing, which means I care. It also means this is a problem. I exhale slowly, forcing my shoulders to drop, and my brain to catch up with the rest of me.

“This is a distraction,” I say finally.

Shelly tilts her head. “From what?”

“Everything,” I say, gesturing vaguely at the world at large. “The diner. Life. Responsibilities. All the things I actually have to deal with.”

Quadri watches me carefully.

Mary shoots me a sympathetic smile.

“And?” Shelly presses.

“And I don’t have time for distractions.”

That sounds reasonable and logical. It sounds like something a person who has their life together would say. It also sounds like a lie. Because the truth is, for those few minutes, nothing else existed, and I haven’t felt that in… I don’t even know how long. No, wait, I haven’t ever felt that way.