Page 19 of Merry Little Midlife Matchmaker

His smile spread, and I felt a little woozy. “You sure know how to make a compliment sound like an insult, Lizzie.”

“Stop calling me that.” I scowled at him and turned back to the school so I didn’t have to look at his stupid, handsome face. A face that looked real nice with a big smile on it. So nice it made my heart bang against my ribs, even though I knew he wouldnever think of me that way. When he said my name, it made me feel things that I wasn’t used to feeling. The roughness in his voice made my name sound positively sinful on his tongue, and I absolutely would not indulge how good it felt. No way.

“You want me to stop calling you by your name?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“I just do.” I crossed my arms and frowned, staring at the school’s entrance like I could will it to open. I knew I was being ridiculous. I knew I probably sounded like a maniac. But I felt all out of sorts from being so close to him, and all he’d done was call me by my own name and do it with those lips and that mouth and those eyes.

Silence stretched between us for a few moments, until Sean said, quietly, “Have I done something to upset you?”

All the fight left me in a rush. I shook my head. “No. Long day. Sorry.”

“If it makes you feel any better, I know I’m hot shit. I just wanted to hear you say it.”

My lips twitched. “That does make me feel better. Thank you.” I could feel his gaze on the side of my face, that focused attention that made me feel somehow prettier and more aware and more womanly and justmore, but I kept my gaze facing forward and pretended not to.

More cars had arrived, and parents hung around the gates in clumps. A lot of the moms were sending curious gazes our way, and all the attention was beginning to get to me. So, when Cindy Reynolds detached herself from the clump of gorgeous moms standing not far away, I was both relieved for the distraction and annoyed at her for interrupting.

“Hi Liz,” she greeted, then immediately turned to Sean. “I’m Cindy. My girl is in the fourth grade. Saw you here last week butdidn’t have time to say hello. You and your son just moved to town, right?”

When she stuck her hand out, Sean took it. I pretended that it didn’t bother me, even though it did, which was another sign that I was going insane. I had no claim on this man. Actually, I had less than no claim. Iknewhe wasn’t into me—he’d basically said so himself—and he was my brother’s best and oldest friend. And on top of that, I was trying to set him up with someone else, and one of the options that had popped into my head when I’d first run into him at the pharmacy was the woman I currently wanted to decapitate for daring to shake his hand.

I was not having a good day.

They exchanged pleasantries, and the petty, awful part of me loved that Cindy didn’t get any of those glittering looks or half-tilted smiles that I’d gotten from him. Which was a problem, because it wasn’t like he’d meant anything by them in the first place. I knew he was quieter and more withdrawn than the average man. He was probably just more comfortable with me because he’d known me longer.

When the school doors opened and finally let out the tide of running students, I let out a relieved breath. Hazel found me first, her backpack hanging off her arms as she sprinted toward me with a smile on her face. She gave me a quick hug, said hi to Sean, and dove into the car. Zach wasn’t far behind, and Cindy’s daughter, thankfully, came out in the same rush.

When Mikey emerged and made his way to Sean, he dipped his chin at me in goodbye.

“Wait!” I said, and dug my phone out of my pocket. “For my friend.” I pointed it at him and clicked a photo, then spun it around so he could see.

He blinked at the screen, then at me.

“I’ll send you a picture of my friend Laurel,” I promised. “It’s only fair.”

He nodded, and I thought I saw a tiny spark of amusement in his gaze when we exchanged numbers, and we parted ways.

NINE

SEAN

I was sittingin front of the TV on my own—Mikey had decided he wanted to play video games in his room—when my phone buzzed. I picked it up off the coffee table and saw an unfamiliar number, then unlocked the device to see a picture message. Lizzie texted like she talked, bubbly and sweet and without advance warning. First was a photo, then a slew of follow-up messages.

Lizzie

As promised.

Lizzie

Fair’s fair.

Lizzie

Laurel is the one on the left, in case it wasn’t clear.

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