racing up the steps to rocket down the yellow plastic slide
 
 again. “Just slightly frazzled from this morning.” I click my
 
 pen again, third time’s a charm, and lift my notepad. “So. I
 
 don’t want this to sound like a massive questionnaire.”
 
 “That’s fine. I understand. You need to know me in
 
 order to find a match.” Something about that word, match,
 
 sounds off, but Steph rearranges her legs, crossing them neatly,
 
 and smiles at me and whatever it was is gone.
 
 “Yes. Uh, so, I guess we’ll just start, then.” If I sound
 
 any more like a dummy, she’s going to get up and leave and
 
 that will be it for me. I might as well submit an application for
 
 the serving wench position. Medieval life probably isn’t so
 
 bad.
 
 “Okay. Do you have a water by any chance?”
 
 “Yes!” I dig in my bag and produce a bottle. I pass it
 
 over. “I brought it just in case. Sorry, it’s not chilled. I thought
 
 that if it condensed all over my laptop or Tildy’s tablet, I’d
 
 have some major issues.”
 
 “That’s fine.” Steph unscrews the bottle and drinks
 
 deeply. I watch her throat, her mouth, the back of her hand
 
 when she dabs daintily at her naturally pink lips.
 
 My throat is bone dry. I gulp at my coffee with
 
 absolutely no grace at all and set it aside. Try to start again. I
 
 have no idea what’s wrong with me. Yes you do. Whatever. I
 
 have to ignore the fact that my client is stunning and I wish
 
 that I could match her with myself. Which is crazy, because
 
 she’s interested in finding a male match. Also, it’s crazy. She
 
 wouldn’t be into me anyway. I’m not anywhere close to her
 
 league.
 
 Tildy rushes down the slide, then decides to tackle the