Page 104 of Marrying Off My Husband

“Oh, hardly, Spencer. Stop making excuses and just do it already. In fact, why don’t you plan your next date while she’s here.”

“I don’t think she’s going to be up for going out right now.”

I shrugged. “Who said anything about going out? Movie night, right downstairs. The lights are low, the fire is glowing, a couple is falling in love on that big old television you have. And you and Eve are snuggled under a blanket, your arms wrapped around each other, then–”

“Stop, stop. I don’t need to hear your X-rated version of what happens next.”

“X-rated?” I exclaimed, swatting at him. “If you think a kiss is X-rated–”

“Stop,” he said, waving a hand in the air. “Look, umm, let’s let this simmer for a few days, okay? Just…let her settle in and then we’ll see how she feels. If she seems up for it, I’ll…ask her about a movie night. Or a game night.” A smile crossed his lips as he said it.

“No games.” I stuck my hands on my hips. “Spencer, the game is just a way to avoid being closer to her because your hands are all tied up with that stupid controller.”

“Well…like I said, we’ll see. If she seems to be settling in okay, I’ll…talk to her about a date night here in the good old homestead.” He grinned at me, but I could read the lie in his eyes.

He was kicking the can down the road and hoping he wouldn’t have to deal with it later. He should have known better. Because I would stomp on that can before he could kick it again.

“All right,” I said with a nod. “Now, I have a few more things to attend to, so why don’t you trot downstairs and keep Eve company until I can get down there to be with her?”

I was going to force them together whether they liked it or not.

“Oh, uh, I mean, I left her with the remote, but…”

“Spencer,” I said through clenched teeth.

“Okay, okay. I’ll be a good host and go keep her company. But don’t take forever, okay? I feel weird. Like she can’t get away from me if she wants to.”

“That’s nonsense. She likes you, Spence. Now, get down there and talk to Eve.”

With a reluctant nod, he shuffled from the room. I made a few more adjustments before I left the room, checking my phone for updates on the other arrangements I’d made for Eve like a physical therapist, a masseuse, and a yoga instructor.

Everything was on track for my bestie’s recovery. I finished before I’d expected, but I wasn’t about to interrupt Spencer and Eve if they were connecting.

But I was going to eavesdrop. Now, don’t go judging me. I was doing it for purposes of research. I needed to know the friction points so I could grease the right wheels.

With my phone on silent, I crept downstairs and hovered in the hallway outside of the living room.

“…think we need to adjust something, that’s for sure,” Eve’s quiet voice said.

I tilted my ear toward the space, struggling to hear the hushed conversation. What was the big secret?

“I know. I just don’t know how. I mean…I just feel like she’s not even close to finding happiness.”

“I feel awful about it. Every single date we’ve set her up on has turned out miserable.”

Warmth and annoyance swirled inside me simultaneously. They were connecting at least. Unfortunately, it was over my love life instead of theirs.

Ihadto find a way to make them connect over their own lives and not mine.

“Well, I guess we could…tweak her profile or my algorithm? See if we can get some new faces in the mix who won’t be jerks.”

“I don’t know,” Eve answered. “Maybe all these people on dating apps are not looking for true love.”

“Then we’re really in trouble. We’ll never help Lou find her happiness. And if she doesn’t find it–”

“No one can,” Eve finished.

My nose wrinkled as I slinked away from the room. I’d been dumping dates faster than cats shed their coats in the summer. I thought it would be the perfect plan. Spencer and Eve would keep dating as long as I did.

---