Page 77 of The Match

I raise my eyebrow. “Oh, she did, did she?”

“Yes, she did,” my mom says, rounding the corner from the kitchen and proudly sticking her nose in the air. “Now, quit trying to encroach on my Sammie time. Get out of here and go support Evie tonight.”

If she’ll let me through the doors.

CHAPTER 36

Evie

I stand outside the venue where the benefit is being held and try to suck my tears back into my body. I’ve been crying all day, so I’m pretty sure that without the help of all the concealer I slapped on I would look like I’ve been punched in both eyes. Apparently, whoever made up the phrase time heals all wounds meant a lot of time, because with every hour that has passed today, my wounds have only grown deeper. My heart hurts, and I wonder if it’s possible for an organ to physically split down the middle just from emotional turmoil.

It’s silly, but . . . I really thought Jake would end up being the one.

Too bad he just ended up being the one to sleep with someone else when I made him mad.

Even still, it doesn’t make sense to me. The picture the woman painted when she opened that door this morning doesn’t line up with anything Jake has been telling me since we started talking/kissing/seeing each other. But maybe he was lying. Maybe he really is into casual sex. He just didn’t want it with me.

Great, more tears.

“Nope. Uh-uh. No more tears from those pretty green eyes,” says Jo, rushing up beside me to hand me a tissue. “You look too pretty to waste your night thinking about that frog leg for one more second!”

I spent the whole day today at Joanna’s house, lamenting everything that happened over the last twenty-four hours. Her advice was that we try out a new Pinterest recipe she found, where you boil lemon and various items that belong to an ex-boyfriend and then pour the “juice” into a spray bottle and go spritz that person’s house to bring them bad luck. Or maybe it was to keep the flu away . . . I can’t remember because I was too busy ugly-crying into a pillow while she explained it.

“I know, I’m trying to quit, but I can’t. This is the worst night to have to host a fundraiser.”

“Or it is the best night to host a fundraiser. Because now you get to look gorgeous and keep yourself busy all night. And who knows, maybe you’ll find someone new here tonight too.”

“I don’t want anyone new.”

“You’re right. Too soon. But I’m just saying . . . I think I saw a Calvin Klein model walk in earlier, and if Gary didn’t make such good chili, I think he might be in trouble.”

Gary chooses that moment to walk by us. He gives Jo a little pat on her rear and then winks at me. “Chili is just an innuendo.”

I cringe. “Yeah. I figured.”

“I’m going on in. Y’all coming in soon?”

“Right behind you, honey,” says Jo with adorably pink cheeks. I thought I had finally found a man who would make my cheeks rosy like Jo’s even after years and years of marriage. Nope. And now the waterworks are happening again.

You are a strong, independent woman, Evie. You don’t need a man to be happy. Time to move on.

Jo gives me one more pitying look. “Okay, okay, let’s get you inside so everyone can see your handsome date.”

Charlie is ridiculously cute in his bow tie. I bet Jake would have looked horrible in a bow tie. But when I walk into the venue and look around the warm, glitzing room, I spot Jake standing by a cocktail table, one hand in the pocket of his black suit pants and the other holding a glass of something bubbly—and man, am I disappointed to see that he looks freaking amazing in a bow tie.

“What is he doing here?” I whisper angrily at Jo, who follows my gaze to Jake.

Her eyes widen, and she looks back at me. “I don’t know, but you can’t tear him apart here. There are lots of people watching us right now, and if we both go all crazy ex-girlfriend on him, there’s no way we will get any sponsors.”

I sigh, knowing she’s right. “Fine. I’ll deal with him and then get him to leave.”

“Are you sure you don’t want me to do it?”

“No. I can handle him.”

I think Joanna notices the way my eyes are trailing down his body in that fine-looking suit, and maybe a smidge of appreciation shows on my face, because now she’s stifling a grin and humming a mm-hmm. “You just go deal with him, then. Make sure you lock the bathroom door before you do, though.”

I turn my saucer eyes at her. “Joanna!”

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