Page 58 of Stupid Matchmaking Love

For half a beat, I wonder what it would be like to kiss him, to press my mouth to his and let his big arms pull me in.

And then Mina shouts, “Enough! Ten minutes left. Any couples still fighting thirty seconds from now will lose five points.”

The tent goes silent, and we stare at her.

Mina’s hair has been doused in flour, and her face is splattered with it, too.

I stifle a laugh and say to Rhett, “Maybe we should finish our cookies.”

He stares at me for a long moment before nodding. “Maybe we should.”

We drop into a frantic rhythm—he attaches, I pipe, we swap trays, spin, repeat. It’s messy, but it’s ours, and time flies before Mina claps her hands and says, “Time’s up! Put everything down.”

Chapter 18

Cristina

“Will the couples please present their cookies? That’s if you have anything presentable,” Mina adds, her voice strained.

We each place our cookie samples on the table stretched out in front of us.

No one escaped the food fight—especially not Mina. But even though we might be covered in flour, the cookies look good for the most part—some are cut a little roughly, but they still look presentable.

Sort of.

But it’s not just how they look that matters. It’s what they taste like.

“To help me judge,” Mina says, “I’ve recruited two people to help. Can all of you please welcome Pane and Stone Maddox, co-owners of the resort.”

We all clap as Pane and Stone enter. They take one glance at the flour-caked contestants—me included—and then exchange an amused look.

“Your cookies will be judged not just on taste, but on presentation,” Mina reminds us. “Couples, please stand by your cookies.”

Rhett and I take a step forward. Our cookies are last, which is great since they’ll for sure taste the worst. Nothing should save us from being awarded the least amount of points—ten.

The three judges begin at the other end of the table, each one taking a small bite of cookie, letting the flavors melt on their tongues, and then moving on.

When they reach us, I shoot Rhett a little victory look—We did it—and hold my breath, waiting for the judges to bite and spit, maybe choke.

Each judge takes a bite. Mina chews, her expression unreadable. But Stone and Pane nod to one another.

Wait. That’s not the reaction I expected. Where’s the choking? The spitting out of the cookie? The begging for water?

But none of that happens.

My heart pounds as the judges walk to the front of the tent, turn their backs to us, and huddle, whispering. After two minutes of us contestants shooting each other silent glances of worry and hope, the trio turns back around.

“We have decided,” Mina announces. “All of you did an amazing job—food fight aside,” she says, eyeing me and Rhett in particular.

I’m guessing from here on out, our challenges won’t include anything that can be thrown.

Mina clasps her hands. “From what I’ve seen of the magic in Mystic Meadows, truth tends to be amplified.”

From the corner of my eye, a light flickers. My gaze zips over, and at our station, the tablet glows.

Huh.

Before I can process what that means, Mina continues. “Each couple showed amazing partnership and collaboration. As I watched, I saw the beginnings of true companionship start to bloom. But there can be only one winner of the challenge. All of the cookies were good, but one couple’s cookies were exceptional. Rhett and Cristina—”