Page 52 of Stupid Matchmaking Love

“Welcome to Mystic Meadows’s very first magical matchmaking competition,” Mina announces, her hair almost as big as her smile.

The ten of us stand in a huge tent that’s been erected specifically for the competition. There are five baking stations set up, and the whole place is giving off strong Great British Bake Off vibes.

“How have our couples been getting along?” Mina probes. “Callie and Jeff, why don’t you tell our audience how the past day has been.”

Mina’s assistant—whose name I haven’t caught—pivots the phone that’s live streaming the event toward the couple.

Callie gives the audience a huge smile before turning her attention to Jeff. “It’s been great.”

“Have y’all been getting to know one another?” Mina asks. “Jeff?”

He and Callie exchange a look—her cheeks flush, and he drops his chin bashfully. “I’ll say.”

Is it just me, or is there a huge innuendo in his words? It’s not just me, right?

I glance over at Rhett, wiggling my eyebrows, clearly signaling my questions to him, but he just shoots me a confused look.

See? He can’t read eyebrows. We’re not some stupidly fated couple.

Note to self: Teach Rhett eyebrows.

“And what about you, Jace and Holly? How have y’all been getting along?”

Holly is wearing—I kid you not—a pink dress that looks like it was last worn by a stewardess in 1950, and over it is a delicate eyelet-lined apron.

Jace answers, “We’ve been getting along great, Mina.”

“And what would you say, Holly? Is Jace the man of your dreams?”

Holly looks him up and down. “He’s getting there.”

Jace shoots me a smug smile. News flash! I don’t care if he’s happy. He’s a jerk.

I scoff in retaliation.

“I want to hear from Clarice and Beau next. Have you two been getting to know one another? Been spending time with your soulmate?”

Clarice stands on one side of their station and Beau on the other. Uh-oh. I think the body language speaks for itself.

“Um, we haven’t had a chance to spend a lot of time together,” Clarice admits, her expression falling.

My heart breaks just looking at her. All Clarice wants is a good man to love, but she got stuck with a young buck who’s not interested. It hurts my heart so much.

Mina’s smile never wavers, however. “Well, you’ll have plenty of time to get to know each other—and dare I say, tonight’s challenge will be a fantastic kickoff to that. Moving on to Maya and Logan. How was dinner last night?”

“It was good,” Maya says enthusiastically.

“Yeah, Mina,” Logan adds. “The sparks are already there.”

“Wonderful! That’s what this time is all about. And last but not least”—mischief flashes in her eyes—“let’s hear from our wonderful Rhett, who is co-owner of the resort, and Cristina. Tell us, did you two swap secrets last night?”

She shoves the microphone in my face. “Um, well . . .” I’m not about to blab about Rhett’s sleepwalking, but I also have no idea what to say. I shoot him a look that says Help me, and he bends toward me.

“We’ve slowly been getting to know each other, Mina.”

Her gaze bobs from me to Rhett and back, and so I nod. “Yep. Slowly but surely, we’re getting there.”

“Perfect,” she announces, moving back to the center of the tent.