Page 68 of Stupid Matchmaking Love

I snort.

Holly shoots me a venomous look and continues, “But all I can say is that Jace is pretty . . . gifted. Wouldn’t you say so, Cristina?”

My eyes go big as plates. Did she really just announce my past sex life to the entire room? “It’s been a long time since Jace and I dated. I’m sure you’d know best.”

She smirks. “From what Jace told me, it wasn’t worth remembering anyway.”

My feet jerk, and I splash the nail tech. “Sorry,” I mutter to her.

She shrugs like it’s no big deal, but that doesn’t stop heat from clawing at my cheeks. Not only did Jace tell Holly about us, but he insulted me?

Holly and Callie snicker, and I distract myself by asking Maya, “How’re things going with Logan? He seems nice.”

“He is nice.” Her chest bounces as the massage chair works its magic. “We’ve been talking a lot, and it’s weird, but . . .” A dreamy look crosses her face. “We’re already finishing each other’s sentences. It’s like I’ve known him my whole life.”

My heart grows a little bit, and a tear threatens to slide from my eye. “So you think the quilt was right in choosing him for you?”

“I think so. I mean, only time and the challenges will tell, of course.” A shy grin crosses her face. “And he’s also a great kisser.”

“You’ve kissed?” I say, like, What a scandal!

She giggles. “We’ve kissed. I mean we have adjoining rooms. It’s easy for one person to cross over and say hey real quick.”

Apparently their doors aren’t acting like mine—opening and closing on a whim.

Maya leans over so she can see Clarice. “How’re things going with Beau?”

Clarice dips her feet in the warm water and sighs. “Not nearly as well as this pedicure.”

My heart does this sad thumpy thing. “I’m sorry. Is he not talking to you much?”

“He’s not even looking at me.”

“But when the two of you were baking, you seemed to be so in sync. I mean, you got second place.”

“After that, it was kaput. I never should’ve pushed those Collins boys off on anyone. First I tried with Rowe, then Coco, and look what happened—I matched with Beau, and he doesn’t want anything to do with me.”

“I’m sorry this isn’t turning out the way you planned,” I tell her. “But the magic has a reason why it paired you. Maybe all you need is patience.”

“You don’t get to my age without a little patience.”

She shoots me a wobbly smile, and my heart aches for her. All Clarice has ever wanted is a boyfriend—or to set someone else up—and now that she finally has the chance to find happiness, the man’s not interested.

“If he doesn’t come around,” Maya says, “you still have your girlfriends and the church ladies. And you still have us.”

Clarice smacks her lips. “I’ll have to add Cristina back to the group chat.”

Maya lifts a brow. “Group chat?”

“Yeah, I was supposed to help her and her friends find boyfriends, but apparently I’ve been shirking my duties.”

“How could you, Cristina?” Maya teases.

“No clue.”

As the women begin our pedicures, Clarice asks me, “How are things with Rhett?”

“Just . . . fine. You know. Good.”