Matchmaker (Empire High, #4)

by Ivy Smoak

My heart was too cold for love.

“The Untouchables back at it again?” Rob said and slung his arm around my neck before hugging James and doing a weird handshake with Mason. No one called us the Untouchables anymore. Not after we all realized that we weren’t untouchable back in high school.

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

“History is a fascinating subject. As long as you don’t get stuck in the past.”

“That went really well,” Tanner said. I ran my fingers through my hair. “You tried to get James to drug me. And you fought with Rob again.”

I wanted to meet her when I wasn’t a dumb kid. I wanted another chance. Just one more freaking chance.

probably should have given Penny a few more details about my dating preferences. Because the girl not being an insane person was pretty high on my list. And I was pretty sure this girl didn’t fit that criteria.

“I don’t want to do this without you anymore. I feel guilty all the time. I feel like fucking shit every day, Brooklyn.” I was tired. I’d been so fucking tired for years. I just needed something. A sign to keep going. Anything. Because I couldn’t do this anymore.

I squinted into the darkness. And I stupidly felt this tiny bit of hope. I’d asked for a sign. Was Kennedy that sign? She understood my pain better than anyone else. Maybe she could help me.

“All I know is that she’s a woman. And she’s good at her job. That’s probably why I couldn’t find a picture.”

“This is exactly why I think it would be good for you to talk to James about Brooklyn. Secrets have a way of festering until they tear one apart.”

James pushed himself off his desk. “Why didn’t you tell me about this?” Because I was mad at you. Because you married his psychotic daughter.

“Don’t. I’m not a fucking idiot, Matt. You think I haven’t seen the way you look at Penny? I don’t know how many times I have to tell you this. She’s not Brooklyn.”

“You don’t look at friends like that,” I said. “You loved Brooklyn too.”

“She agreed to the surgery,” Mr. Pruitt said. “She knew the risks. It was a misunderstanding at best.”