Page 126 of The Match Faker

‘Gillian knows,’ I whispered.

‘Knows what?’

‘She found this…’ I showed him the notepaper.

‘Shit. And what did she say?’

‘Basically she said she’d keep quiet, but I think the understanding is that I keep my mouth shut about what I saw her doing at a conference.’

‘Bitch.’

‘I know.’

‘Forget her. We’ll think about it later. Let’s focus on you taking home the award. The ceremony’s about to start.’

Just as we returned to the hall, the compère came to the stage.

‘Ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the fifth annual Happily Ever After Awards.’

‘It’s him off the telly!’ Melody pointed, her armful of bangles jangling loudly. I hadn’t even noticed it was the presenter of a popular game show. I was too distracted.

‘Looks much fitter in person.’ Trudy licked her lips. ‘This is it! Good luck!’ She rubbed my shoulder.

I looked to the back of the room. Alice and Jack still weren’t here. Maybe that was a good thing. Less pressure.

‘You okay?’ Liam kissed my cheek.

‘Trying to be.’

‘Just remember, you’re a winner, no matter what. Okay?’

I nodded and looked at the stage, my mind still whirring about Gillian finding out. But I couldn’t focus on her now. I just had to keep my fingers crossed she was wrong and the award would go to me.

The compère ran through the different categories, and our table applauded the finalists and winners politely.

When the nominees for Sex Toy of the Year appeared on the screen, Dad’s eyes popped.

‘Oh my!’ Mum fanned herself with the awards programme.

‘Looks impressive!’ Melody cackled as the bright pink vibrator appeared on the screen. ‘If I didn’t have this stallion’—she stroked Nate’s beard—‘I’d be ordering one of those for myself!’

Nate shook his head and laughed.

‘Sweetheart, that only has ten different settings and you know I have more ways to get you off than that…’

‘He’s not wrong!’ Melody grinned and the whole table burst out laughing. Sounded like Melody and Nate had explosive chemistry in the bedroom just like me and Liam.

Liam. I couldn’t believe tonight would be the last time we’d be intimate together. Maybe I should be ordering the vibrator. And the Felati-ohhh—the oral-mimicking vibrator that’d just appeared on the screen.

As the compère tried to keep a straight face whilst talking about the product’s authentic licking and sucking capabilities, Mum whispered something in Dad’s ear. I definitely didn’t want to know what she’d said.

Even if I had the money to order every toy on the shortlist, nothing would compare to feeling Liam inside me or the sensation of his mouth all over my body.

I pushed the thought out of my mind and as the Sex Toy of the Year winner was announced and the company representative walked to the stage, I clapped, hoping that soon I’d be going up to collect an award too.

After several more categories were announced, the moment finally came.

‘Now we’re moving on to the Matchmaker of the Year award. Here are the nominees.’

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