Page 39 of Matched Up

‘Mum and Dad have gone, you don’t need to suck up with your healthy eating.’

I shrugged.‘My body is a temple.’I sent a message to Shane.

ME: Want to come over at 7?7 Seaport Close

SHANE: Can’t wait :)

Niall didn’t say anything after that, but he left the rest of his Pop-Tart on the counter.

The rest of the day was the same.A fuzzy daze that nobody, not even Zoe, could dissipate.Any time I remembered her talking to Shane or the name ‘Grace’ I just thought about the fact he’d be with me in a few hours.

When I got home, I inspected the house.The cleaner had done a pretty good job, but I still went over all the counters again.I needed it to be perfect.I dimmed the kitchen lights, lit candles on the island and put my favourite Spotify playlist on low in the background.

I couldn’t wait for him to come.I showered, wore my nicest underwear, the pink lace that Megan had bought me from Victoria’s Secret.Not that I had a clue about any of that stuff, but I remember Megan saying you should always wear nice underwearjust in case.She said it was in case you get knocked down by a car and the hospital have to cut your clothes off.Or if you accidentally take your clothes off in front of someone hot.I’d laughed so much at that because I could totally imagineher doing it.And then I felt sick as the image of her and Niall haunted me.

Even though it was early February, I wore a dress because I knew it looked good.A summer dress dotted with flowers that grazed the tops of my thighs and sat low on my chest.I pulled a chunky cardigan over my shoulders and I was careful with my make-up, lining my eyes with kohl, applying highlighter and contour in all the right places.I even straightened my hair until it fell over my shoulders in a shiny caramel curtain.Nike socks and trainers.Just so he’d recognize me.

I must have looked at the clock on my phone about a million times that afternoon.Finally it was seven, and I was so excited I thought I was going to explode.

The doorbell rang and I had to compose myself before opening the door.

Then there he was.Standing in his tracksuit.One I’d seen before but one he looked so good in.

‘Lex.You look …’ He exhaled and pushed back his dark hair.‘I didn’t know we were dressing up.I should have worn something … I mean, it’s not like I have anything fancy … You look, incredible.’He scanned my body and I laughed at his reaction.

I reached into the freezing night and pulled him in by the hand, planting a kiss on his lips.‘You don’t need to dress up.And anyway, I have a serious thing for tracksuits.’I smiled and turned, leading him into the kitchen.

‘Your house is insane,’ he said, looking around.

‘Yeah, it’s a bit ridiculous.It’s too big,’ I said.Embarrassed.

‘It’s amazing.’Shane slid a backpack off his shoulders and opened the zip.I moved to his side of the island to look inside, but before I even got close, I could smell it.

‘I hope you like risotto,’ he said, pulling out a container.

‘Oh my God, I love it.’It smelled incredible.

‘Are you vegetarian?Because there are mushrooms in it, but scallops too.I can take out the scallops if you don’t eat fish.’He was rushing his words as he pulled out container after container.

‘I’m not vegetarian and, sorry, what?You cooked scallops?’

‘Yeah,’ he said quietly.‘And chocolate pudding for dessert.’He pointed at another container.

I could not stop smiling.‘This is perfect.’

And it was.We sat beside each other at the island, legs pressed together, eating the beautiful food that Shane had made.I had to make myself slow down.It was so good, and I’d forgotten to eat all day because I was so excited about seeing him.

I asked him questions in between mouthfuls.

‘So tell me about you.Was that your mum who came to the match last week?’I asked.

He hesitated.‘That was my aunt actually.’

‘Oh, that’s so nice; she must be so proud of you!’

‘She is.Loves football.She’s my dad’s sister and they were both mad into it growing up.’

He smiled when he mentioned his dad.

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