Page 95 of Love Arranged

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He laughs as he takes a seat beside my desk. “I didn’t bother her.”

I shoot him a look. He’s been hounding me about her for the last few weeks, and I’ve avoided planning any kind of outing together.

“At least I hope I didn’t. But I needed to take matters into my own hands since you haven’t introduced us yet.”

“Have you forgotten that you two already know each other from school?”

“Yeah, but she doesn’t know me as Manny, your best friend.”

“I prefer to call you Manny, the pain in my ass.”

“Well, at least you always have stand-up comedy if the political stuff doesn’t work out.”

I glare.

He grins. “Kidding!”

I lean back in my desk chair and cross my arms. “So how did it go?”

“Great! She suggested we all go out for drinks tomorrow.”

“We?”

“You, me, Lily, and that sweet employee of hers,Jane.” He says her name in a wistful way.

I pull out my phone and text Lily, who unfortunately confirms Manny is telling the truth. To avoid him for a little longer, I reply to her message.

Me

Isn’t it a bad idea to invite your employee on a double date?

Lily

I can tell you didn’t grow up in a small town.

Me

What does that have to do with anything?

Lily

When you see two people hit it off, you do everything possible to make it happen.

Me

By “it,” you mean…?

Lily

Love, Lorenzo. Do try to keep up with me here.

Me

Florist. True-crime junkie. Matchmaker. What’s next?

I don’t catch myself smiling at my phone until Manny punches me in the shoulder.

“What was that for?” I rub the sore spot.

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