Matchmaker (Empire High, #4)

by Ivy Smoak

But I didn’t want that. I would never get married. And I’d never have kids. I’d given up on that dream when I buried the love of my life.

When I was in the hall my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and saw the name flash across my screen. Mr. Pruitt. My blood ran cold. Why the hell wouldn’t he leave me alone? I clicked out of the text without reading it. I knew exactly what it would say. He sent me the same text every few months for years. Telling me we needed to talk. That it was important.

“And I do see it. The similarities between Penny and Brooklyn. I get it. But Penny isn’t Brooklyn.”

“Because you’re the only one back in high school that seemed to realize that I had a problem. I think I’m the only one that sees that you have one now.”

I understand why you’re angry with me. But I’ve been protecting you for years now. And for years you have returned my kindness by ignoring me. This is a matter of life or death now, Matthew. Call me back immediately.

Because I wasn’t sure how much longer I could breathe when the past felt so damn heavy. The weight of it on my chest felt stifling. At least, that’s what I told myself. Because the fact that I was slowly dying of a broken heart somehow felt worse.

I didn’t call after her. She’d just tried to set my fucking dick on fire. This was why I didn’t tell people about Brooklyn.

“It feels like you’re disappearing on me. And I don’t know how to live without you.”

“I don’t want to do this without you anymore. I feel guilty all the time. I feel like fucking shit every day, Brooklyn.”

“All those things you said at her funeral. They were supposed to be your vows. Not promises to someone whose life was cut short.”

I’d asked Brooklyn to send me a sign. Kennedy was it. I knew it. She had to be. I closed my eyes and exhaled slowly, the smell of home surrounding me. I just didn’t know what I was supposed to do with this sign.

Had Kennedy shown up because I needed a friend? Or had she shown back up in my life because I just needed her?

“You’ll regret kissing me in the morning.” “Who said I was going to kiss you?” She laughed. “Matt…” I grabbed the side of her face. “Fine. Yeah, I’m going to kiss you.”

“This was highly productive,” Tanner said. “And I think we’re all even now. My job here is done.” He looked down. I followed his gaze. “What the fuck?” My pants were tenting. I didn’t even feel a little aroused. What the hell was my dick doing? Shit. Rob started laughing. “I’ve never seen someone get so excited by an apology before.”

“Rob’s my best friend now,” I said. Tanner laughed. “That’s just your boner talking.” He frowned. “Wow that sounded really gay.” He shook his head. “What a night, huh?”

She was standing here in front of me for a reason. There was a reason I couldn’t stop smiling for the first time in years. There was a reason why it had been easier to breathe since Kennedy had come back into my life. There was a reason for all of this. There had to be.

“To answer your questions from earlier. About what I need? What I want?” Her eyes searched mine. “You. I think I’ve needed you for years. But I was scared you didn’t need me back.”

“I used to feel guilty too. For being happy. For being with Penny when I broke the rules to have her. But I don’t regret breaking the rules. I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.” I didn’t say anything. “You made a promise when you were 16 years old. You’re allowed to break it.”

“He’ll love you differently. The way you need to be loved. Different isn’t less.”

But sometimes the hardest loves were the everlasting ones.