Page 49 of The Match

“What are you doing Friday night?” I ask.

Her smile goes a tad serious. “Friday?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Well, nothing that I know of.”

“Come over Friday night, then.”

Her smile peeks out again. “Come over?”

“Are you just going to keep repeating everything I say?”

“Only if you don’t start explaining what you mean in full sentences. I know we just kissed again in the kitchen, but I don’t want to misconstrue anything.” Gosh, I like this woman. I want to kiss her more, but I refrain because I can’t handle another interruption, and the potential for that happening is way too high.

“Sam has her slumber party that night, so I’m going to be off dad duty. I was hoping you’d come over and let me cook you dinner . . . as a date.”

“A date?”

“You’re still repeating.”

She smiles wider and leans her back against the wall. The shadowy hallway blankets us—only adding to the flirty look she’s giving me. Evie is not rusty. “So . . . a date date? Like . . . you like me like me? Not just a friend or attraction thing?”

“Didn’t you get the note I passed you in science class? I like you. Check yes or no if you like me too.”

She scrunches her nose and pulls me even closer by wrapping her arms around my neck. “I check yes.”

“So, does that mean you’ll come?”

“You said you’re cooking?”

I nod.

“Count me in.”

She raises up on her tiptoes and kisses my cheek before breaking away and darting back out toward the pool.

CHAPTER 22

Evie

“Where do you want to go dress shopping this weekend?” Jo asks me around a bite of salad.

“Doesn’t matter to me.”

“Just prepare to get something skimpy to show off those legs for Jake.”

I give Jo a flat look. “First of all, I want a man who likes me for more than my body. And second, shouldn’t you be the one telling me this? You’re in your sixties. How am I the mature one here?”

Jo shrugs and steals a fry from my plate. “Now, why would I tell you something you already know? I’m pretty sure all you ever think about is how to be upstanding. Think of me as your fairy godmother.” She waves the fry like a wand over my head. “Bibbidi-bobbidi, do yourself a favor and live a little.”

I shake my head at my fairy godmother and take a bite of my burger.

My phone buzzes on the table with a new text, and I see the name Jake written across my screen. Jo sees it too and wags her eyebrows suggestively while reaching for my phone. I snatch it off the table and clutch it close to my chest before she gets a chance to swipe it open. “No one likes a Nosey Nelly.”

“Even fewer people like a Boring Bessy.” She steals another fry, and I smack her hand playfully.

I angle myself away from Jo, and I swipe open my phone.

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