Page 133 of The Match Faker

All the time.

But how could we have anything long-lasting when we lived on different sides of the world?

And how could I give her a relationship when I’d never been in a serious one before?

I guess I had to learn that sometimes in life, we didn’t always get what we want.

48

Mia

Funny how one chance meeting could transform your fortunes.

As I sat at the desk in the corner of my living room and scrolled through the dozens of sign-up forms that had flooded my inbox in the last seventy-two hours, I couldn’t believe my luck.

There were emails from people across the UK, from different ages and backgrounds, who were willing to pay for my services. Not because they wanted a rich boyfriend or because I was a finalist for the awards. They’d got in touch because they related to Kelly.

We’d sat in the coffee shop for hours. After a string of dating disasters, her friend had suggested she tried yet another new dating app.

At that point Kelly had said she’d rather stand on a street corner with a sign asking for a boyfriend than subject herself to cold swiping again. Her friend thought she was joking, but Kelly was deadly serious. She bought a separate phone (in case any weirdos contacted her) and a sandwich board, then went for it.

I’d told her I’d help her without charge, gave her the link to the sign-up form and said that once I received it, I’d be in touch. I didn’t think much more about it until I woke up yesterday to a phone full of notifications.

At first I thought it was another story about me and Liam, but thankfully it wasn’t. Kelly’s story had been featured in the press. They wanted to know what had happened since she’d stood on the street corner, and Kelly had mentioned she was now working with me and was confident I’d help her find the one.

And since then, my emails had blown up. The media wanted to follow the progress of her story, and a respectable website called OnTheDaily.co.uk had asked if I’d like to get involved too, by doing an interview now to show the beginning of the process and then a follow-up once I’d successfully paired Kelly up.

That website was huge and the publicity would be priceless. It’d already brought in a wave of new clients.

I leant back on my chair and smiled. It was happening. I could feel it. This was the big break I’d been waiting for.

Liam was right. I didn’t need awards or a fancy office to make it. My career was back on track.

But even with the distraction of the excitement of this opportunity with Kelly and the possibility of new clients, there was still a hole in my heart.

Like Kelly, I’d been looking for love. The difference was, I’d found it. Then lost it again. And now I felt like something was missing.

I knew there was one thing that would make me happy.

Well, it wasn’t a thing. It was a person. A very special person.

I was missing Liam.

If only there was some way we could work things out.

If only there was a way we could be together.

If only there was a way to get him back.

49

Liam

‘I’m gonna head off.’ Nate picked up his bag.

‘What time’s your flight?’

‘In a few hours. But you know what LA traffic’s like.’

---