Page 79 of The Match Faker

“Dad. I lied. We lied.” I take a deep breath, garner all my strength. “Jasmine isn’t my girlfriend. She never was.”

18

JASMINE

“So, how much money do you make?”

I choke on the mouthful of 2017 Napa Valley cab sauv. “Jade.”

She slurps loudly from the can of her gin cocktail, staring at Nick while, like an angel, he chuckles a little awkwardly.

“How about this?” he says, raising his own glass of wine to her can and giving it a delicate clink. “We’ll see how the first date goes and then we’ll talk finances.”

“I’m sorry,” I say, my face flaming and mortification threatening to snuff me out.

“Don’t apologize for me,” Jade says, aghast.

With a soft smile, he squeezes my hand. “It’s fine.”

“I’m vetting him,” she says.

“Exactly.” His smile is like an advertisement for toothpaste, and I feel a strange sort of swoop low in my stomach in response. “She’s being a good sister.”

Jade remains unswayed. In fact, she’s glaring over the rim of her can. The can of her favorite premixed gin cocktail thathebrought for her, because when he asked if we could have a drink at home first, mentioned that he’d love to meet my sister,I told him she didn’t like wine. So, he asked what she liked and brought that for her, too.

Because he’snice. More than nice; kind, charming. The real Nick is a successful real estate lawyer, though he dresses like he moonlights as a runway model. He leans against the kitchen counter in a casual navy suit, with a deep green cable-knit sweater and a crisp white Oxford underneath. Running his hand through wavy blond hair, he smiles, making the skin around his green eyes crinkle. Meanwhile Jade eyes him like he’s the poacher solely responsible for the endangerment of the world’s cheetah population.

“You know what?” I swallow my last mouthful of wine. “Why don’t we go. Jade has studying to do, I’m sure.” I glare.

“Nope.” She tips her head back and finishes her cocktail, then crushes it in her fist like a frat boy. “I’ll just be here. Waiting up for my sister,” she says to him. Then she belches.

“Jade,” I screech.

Nick chuckles again. “I’m just going to use the little boys’ room.” One dimple appears in his cheek when he smiles.

“It’s just through the living room.” I point around the corner.

Once the door closes behind him, I round on my sister, my blood boiling.

“What are you doing?”

She takes my wine glass and his. “I liked the other Nick better.” She pouts for effect.

“First of all, keep it down about theotherNick. Second…” Please. As if I need the reminder. I look over my shoulder in case Nick has snuck up on me. “This is the right choice.”

She scowls, unconvinced, but I push on.

“You talked me into the matchmaking in the first place.He’smy match.”

“But what if he’s not your only match. What if the other Nick?—”

“TheotherNick is a liar.”

Jade’s face softens, even more so when she says, in the gentlest voice, “Technically, so are you, sissy.”

“Yes, thank you for the reminder,” I mutter, my chest tightening painfully. While I’d never tell her, it hurts that she won’t support me on this.

“Ready?” Nick asks, standing in the doorway of the kitchen.

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