Page 46 of The Match

I laugh, enjoying the feeling of victory far too much. Jake just rolls his eyes and goes back to the grill with his dad.

“He’s too easy to mess with,” June says, shaking her head with a smile while watching her brother walk away. I like her. She’s spunky and a little wild in the best kind of way. And her watercolor flower tattoo makes me wonder if I would look as cute as her with one. Probably not. Plus, I really don’t like needles, so I dismiss the thought instantly.

“So, are you guys dating?” My eyes shoot to June, and I must look like a deer in the headlights, because she laughs. “You don’t have to answer that.”

“No. It’s not that I don’t want to answer. It’s just . . . I don’t know how to answer.” I fish around in my tote bag for my sunscreen to give my hands something to do. “I think Jake and I are friends right now.”

“Eh, I wouldn’t be so sure. He’s never talked about any of his friends like he’s been talking about you lately.” Not sure what to do with that statement other than try to hide the wings I just sprouted from that surge of joy.

“Oh. Well . . .” I laugh and shrug, letting the conversation dangle out on the line because I really don’t think I should be having a DTR conversation with Jake’s sister before I have one with him.

“What are we talking about, ladies?” Mrs. Broaden rounds our pool chairs in her daisy-printed kimono, gives June a little pat on her bikini-clad rear end like affectionate moms are known to do, then takes the third seat beside us.

“Just trying to figure out if Jake and Evie are dating or not.”

“What!” says Mrs. Broaden so loudly I think the whole neighborhood heard her. All of Jake’s sisters definitely did, because now they are swarming me like a frenzy of sharks. “Honey, of course you’re dating. He brought you around us, didn’t he?” says Mrs. Broaden.

“Oh, well, I—”

Jake’s oldest sister, Jennie, squats down beside my chair. “Isn’t he taking you to a benefit or something next weekend? Sounds like dating to me.”

I open my mouth, but it’s useless because yet another sister, Julia (Mr. and Mrs. Broaden apparently have a thing for J names), leans over the back of my chair. “I don’t know. Jake is pretty friendly in general. It doesn’t necessarily mean anything that he asked her to the benefit. I can totally see him thinking this is nothing but a friendship thing.”

Do I even need to be here for this?

June sits up and crosses her legs. “Have you guys kissed yet? That would totally help us figure out his intentions.”

HA. What?! I’m definitely sweating.

“All right, all right. Everyone shoo,” says Mrs. Broaden, riding in on her white horse. Forget Jake and Charlie; she is my new knight in shining armor. “Evie doesn’t want all these questions, and our meddling is going to do nothing but scare the poor girl away. Go play with your children in the pool and let her catch her breath.” She’s waving them away, and they all disperse.

“So, Evie, you’re the one I get to thank for bringing some happiness back into my son and granddaughter’s life.”

“I can’t take that credit. That’s all Daisy’s doing.”

“Oh really? And did Miss Daisy teach my Sammie how to make brownies last night? Did Daisy convince Jake to have a little more fun in his life and throw a pool party? Did Daisy teach Jake how to paint fingernails?”

I laugh. “Jake’s quite the sharer, isn’t he?”

“It was hard to miss the yellow polish.” She smiles. “But actually, no. Jake’s pretty private about his life. Sam is the open book, and she and I talk every night on the phone. She’s been keeping me apprised of all things Evie Jones.” Her smile turns a little more serious. “She really likes you. And my Sammie is a good judge of character.”

“I think Sam is pretty amazing too.”

We are both quiet for a moment, and I decide I need something to do, so I peel off my cover-up, revealing my bright-yellow polka-dot high-waisted bikini, and apply sunblock to my arms and legs. Jo made fun of me when I picked this swimsuit out in the store, saying that she owns sexier swimsuits than this one, but I don’t care. I like it. It’s cute and sporty, and I don’t have to worry about all my parts falling out during a game of water volleyball.

Yes, I know . . . I’m once again pretending that I have big enough parts to fall out of something, but I can dream.

Mrs. Broaden—or Bonnie, as I’ve now been bid to call her—and I spend the next five minutes shooting the breeze and getting to know each other. No, not true . . . She only wants to talk about me. But I like her. I like her a lot, so I answer all her questions. She’s encouraging and cheerful, and I think she and Jo would hit it off right away if they get to meet one day.

When the conversation winds down, though, she throws me a curveball. “Your mom must be so proud of you, Evie. You’re quite a woman.”

I have to look away as soon as she says those words, because I can feel tears prickling my eyes. This is so not the place to cry over my mommy issues. It’s just that I’ve always dreamed of hearing my mom say something like that to me—and I don’t think I ever will. I’ve had to learn to appreciate myself without her help. To see myself living with epilepsy and recognize that I am strong, not helpless and broken the way my mom has always treated me.

Before Bonnie has a chance to notice my change in demeanor, I turn my head to find a bare-chested man with a gorgeous six-pack and tanned, defined shoulders rushing toward me. I only have time to blink at the vision of sexy masculinity before Jake’s arms go under me and he scoops me out of my chair.

I scream and kick like a child as he jogs us toward the pool.

“What are you doing?!” I yell.

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