Page 110 of Pity Pact

“How are we supposed to help you?” I ask.

Trina inhales deeply. “I need you guys to set me up with the love of my life before filming starts.”

“You want to meet a guy and marry him within nine months? That’s crazy!”Thank you, Tim, for being the voice of reason.

“Wouldn’t it just be easier to go through with the show?” Walker wants to know.

She shakes her head. “I can’t do it.”

“Because …” I prompt her.

“I just can’t, Paige.”

There’s something more going on here, but I don’t think Trina is going to tell us what it is. So I remind her, “With the exception of Cami and Walker, we’re all based in Elk Lake.” Brittany moved here two months ago to be with Chip, and while she can’t work as a longshoreman here, she’s thinking about some kind of store she might like to open.

“I’m prepared to move to Elk Lake if you’ll agree to help me,” she says. “Will you?”

“Why would you come here though? Why not look for someone in Chicago or some other area with more single men?”

“I want to meet someone normal.” Gesturing at us, she adds, “And you’ve all done pretty well for yourselves.”

We’re all shell-shocked by her request before Tim answers, “We’ll help. We probably won’t be able to find you a guy from here, but the town is already filling up with summer guests. There’s got to be someone who would love to marry you.”

I stare at Tim like he’s lost his mind. “Most of the people who summer here are already married.”

“Teddy and Jamie weren’t,” Tim reminds me.

“No, but I promise they were probably the only two in the last ten years.” I’m exaggerating but still, her chances aren’t great.

“Please …” Trina begs. “I don’t care how bad the odds are. I’ll do anything to get out of doing this show.”

I’m not sure how to go about setting someone up. I mean, I’ve lived here my whole life, and I couldn’t find anyone until Tim.Having said that, I do have this summer off, and it might be kind of a fun challenge. I tell her, “I’m in.”

“Really, Paige? Thank you!”

And just like that, I have some summer plans. I bet I can even talk Missy into helping me. Anna is busy with her new baby and Faith is currently pregnant and still working full time at the bakery. But even so, I’m willing to bet we can stir up something interesting.

Snuggling into Tim’s side, we start to watch our season of theMidwestern Matchmaker. I try to concentrate but I’m not successful. I’m too busy plotting how we’re going to find Trina a husband.

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