Page 37 of Fierce-Hyde

He never liked to say they were matchmakers. That sounded silly to him. Their wives could brag about it, but he’d rather say they helped people move along. Yeah, that sounded better.

“Who?” Garrett asked.

“Hyde.”

“I thought we were staying away from him,” Garrett said.

“I was trying to, but I just overheard Tori in his office.”

“Tori?” Garrett asked.

“Raina’s best friend. Geez, Garrett, you’re slow today.”

“I’m just trying to keep up,” Garrett said.

“Then listen,” he said and told his twin what he’d overheard.

“How dare Ryder not tell us what was going on?” Garrett said.

“I know. I brought that up to him, but he’s staying pretty tight-lipped and loyal. I can’t fault him there. Something more has to be going on. When I think of the two of them, I can see them together. Tori isn’t someone that ever gets upset or angry. Hyde is always a good time to be around. I’m not sure what is going on.”

“And we might not find out,” Garrett said. “Maybe it just didn’t work out and you’re overthinking it.”

“Ryder and Raina have to know,” he said. He’d never get it out of Raina but might be able to squeeze something out of his son.

“Considering what Hyde is going through now, let’s give him some space and try to figure this out. We’ve got something to work with, but we can’t do much without knowing more. And as I said, it might just be over and for the best to let it slide.”

“You’re right,” Grant said. Even if he didn’t believe that. “But you know, where there are sparks there could be an easily lit fire.”

“I guess it’s only going to depend on if one of them is going to burn the place down or not,” Garrett said, laughing. “That isn’t good for either of them.”

“We’ve gotten good at controlling the water around everyone. We’ll be fine.”

“If you say so,” Garrett said.

“I do,” he said, rubbing his hands together. “Now we’ve got to formulate a plan and be ready for our next move.”

13

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“How are you feeling about things?” Raina asked her two weeks later.

“Good,” she said. “Things are great at work now that I’ve got my staff full and trained. It’s always nuts at the beginning of the school year getting schedules met and curriculum set up with the needs of the school districts. We seem to have more each year too.”

“That’s wonderful,” Raina said. “I’m sure a big part of it is your hustle getting the services out there. But that isn’t what I meant.”

Tori figured as much but hoped that maybe she could avoid or nudge the conversation to what she’d rather talk about.

“Not surprised,” she said. “What is it you want to know? I told you how things ended.”

“Did you want them to end?” Raina asked.

“It was one date,” she argued. “I told you, he brings the worst out of me and if everything you’ve said about him is true, then I do the same to him.”

If not the worst, then what he was previously and was trying to change.

No way she was going to hinder someone’s growth or enable them to be something they didn’t want to be.

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