Page 23 of Stupid Matchmaking Love

“Doubtful,” Derek grumps as he enters from the hallway.

I hand each of them their Bitty Beings, Derek last. “I’m so sorry about yours. I dropped the box and his head broke off. But it can be glued back on,” I say quickly.

Derek rolls his eyes. “And it could have actually been cute if you hadn’t ruined it.”

His words hit me like a blow. After the phone call with Glen, my insides have been scooped out, and I’m raw, tender to the touch—or insult, as it were.

“I’m really sorry,” I add.

He inspects it and sighs. “And you made it so lifelike, with the clipboard and everything.”

“I love mine,” Paige says, tapping it on the head. “She’s reading, and it’s so stinking cute.”

“So’s mine.” Maya places hers on top of the desk and turns it around for everyone to see. “Look, she’s doing my favorite pose.”

“I’m so glad y’all like them.”

Derek huffs.

Guess a beheaded Bitty Being isn’t enough to win him over. But I’ll get him to like me—one way or another.

“How’re we looking for today?” I ask Paige.

“Good.” Using the mouse, she clicks open a tab on the computer. “Maya has three facials, you have three massages, and Derek has four.”

Derek shoots me a smug look. “The last one just came in, and it’s too bad because I’m supposed to get off early for lunch with Peter.”

I nibble the inside of my cheek. Three massages. That’s barely enough to keep me busy for half the day. Not staying busy means time to think, and time to think means I’ll replay the conversation with Glen over and over, which will make me do things like question my life choices, decide I should send them money, forgive them for things they did.

“I’ll take the last one,” I say quickly.

So quickly that my three coworkers look at me, eyebrows lifted. I laugh nervously. “If you don’t want it, I mean. I don’t mind helping out.”

Derek looks me up and down before he sighs dramatically. “If you must.”

“I’d be doing you a favor.”

“Fine. You can have it. Is there anything else you need, boss?”

I let the insult roll off my back and take in the three of them along with the bright and cheery spa. “Just that I hope everyone has a great first day. Please let me know if there’s anything you need. In the meantime, I’ll be in the office doing scheduling.”

“That reminds me.” Maya lifts her finger. “I need time off next week.”

We just opened and she’s already asking for time off. It’s okay. I’m also a trained aesthetician. “No problem. I’ll be happy to cover for you.”

With that, I head into my office to decompress and get off this emotional roller coaster. But a thought strikes me—at least Rhett Maddox hasn’t appeared. Yet. Knowing my luck, he’ll show up just as I’m pretending I’ve got my life together.

Chapter 9

Cristina

“Thanks for taking this one,” Derek mutters as I pass him in the hall.

“You’re welcome. Tell Peter I said hey.”

“Okay.” One side of his mouth bends into a smirk. “Have fun in there.”

The way he says it catches me off guard, like he knows something I don’t. “I will,” I reply slowly, hoping he’ll divulge whatever secret he’s keeping. But when Derek slips on his jacket and heads for the front door, I figure it must be my imagination. “You have fun, too.”