Page 2 of Matched By Mistake
Maggie reached over to squeeze her friend’s shoulder. “It’ll be great. You are really tuned into what people want and Nico is a genius.”
“He is. I wish he was here today.”
“I know. But I’m here. I know I’m not Nico but I’ve got your back.”
Nico was recently out of prison after serving a sentence for assault even though he’d been framed. Most people still didn’t want him around Royal, which ticked Maggie off. Even if Nico had committed the crime, he’d definitely done the time and been rehabilitated as far as the state was concerned so that should be enough.
“I know you do. Thanks, Mags. I’m glad you’re here.”
“Me, too.”
“So...”
“So?”
Misha rolled her eyes at Maggie. “Did you sign up in the app?”
Maggie dug through her purse for her phone, deliberately not looking at her friend. Misha knew better than anyone how reluctant Maggie had been to date—even online dating, where some of the interactions were just over text—since Randall had dumped her two years ago.
There was something about being so wrong that she’d never been able to let go of. It wasn’t just that Randall hadn’t wanted to marry her. He was free to make his own choices to be happy. It was that Maggie had loved him and how could she have fallen in love with a man who’d only seen the Del Rio name and fortune? It was only after her father had insisted on a prenup that Randall had started to get cold feet.
“I’m not going to go away,” Misha said, coming over, looping her arm through Maggie’s.
Maggie sighed. “I don’t want you to. I just... I’m scared.”
“That’s why you should use the app. No pressure on you to pick the right person—the app does that for you,” Misha said.
She hugged her friend. “I don’t know. I think I’ve made this first date after Randall into something bigger than it should be. It’s just a date but I’ve made it into something huge in my head.”
“I can tell. That’s why you are going to give me your phone,” Misha said, holding out her hand.
Maggie reluctantly put it in her friend’s hand. Misha held the phone up to Maggie’s face to unlock it and then scrolled to the app. She looked at Maggie’s profile. “Are you kidding me with that profile photo?”
She shook her head. “It’s a good photo.”
“Of your back in silhouette. Was this at the beach last summer?” Misha asked.
“Yes. You said to pick a photo where I was happy.”
“I did but somehow I assumed you’d know people want to see your face, too,” Misha said, laughing.
“Hmm.”
Misha shook her head. “Well, stand over there. We are going to get you set up.”
“Shouldn’t you be doing something important?” Maggie asked.
“Helping out my best friend is important,” Misha said. “Listen, if you don’t want to get matched, I’m not going to push you into it. But you have been alone for a long time and if you were happy, then I’d be happy, too, but you’re not. I’m not sure if you’re punishing yourself or just scared... You saidscared, but you’re the least timid person I know.”
Maggie chewed her lower lip and then nodded. “I think I am punishing myself for being so stupid.”
“Well, stop. You’re not stupid and we all make mistakes when it comes to emotions, especially love. Do you want to do this?”
She nodded. “Yes. Go ahead and take my picture.”
Misha smiled at her before giving her some directions on where to stand. She snapped the photo and Maggie went back to her side to watch as Misha uploaded and cropped the photo and then toggled the button to look for a match in the dating category before handing her phone back. “There you go. Now you can wait for the matches to come in. And you don’t have to accept any of them.”
“Thanks,” she said.
