Matched (LSU, #5)

by Becca Steele

The beauty of love is that you can fall into it with the most unexpected person at the most unexpected time. RITA GHATOUREY

“Green41?” I asked. “Blue16?” Charlie said at the same time. He blinked, his head whipping around to mine as his eyes widened. “What the fuck? What did you just say?” My heart was pounding. “What did you just say?” “Blue16… Uh, did you say Green41?”

I vaguely registered my sister rolling her eyes, but I couldn’t fucking stop looking at Charlie. Charlie, who I hadn’t seen in nine days, not that I’d been counting. Charlie, who seemed very fucking cosy with my little sister.

There was no way I could say I just wanted to see you after we spent all night talking without it sounding weird.

“My date is immune to my charms.” “My date is an annoying dickhead.” “My date is a bastard who likes to insult me.” “My date is an asshole.” “My date is even more of an asshole.”

Holy fuck. This was not just a weird non-heatstroke thing. I knew I’d been in denial, but there was only so much denying I could do before the inevitable conclusion forced its way to the front of my mind. I think I might fancy Nate Glover.

“Fuck. Do you even fucking know?” he ground out, his gaze never leaving mine. “Kn-know what?” “How it feels. To be jealous of your own fucking sister. Do you know how fucked up that is, Charlie?”

It took me a few seconds to even realise that I’d been pulled back around, and a hand was tightly gripping my jaw. “Charlie.” “Nate.” I arched towards him at the same time as his mouth came down on mine.

“Jonas?” “Yeah?” “Did I really act that happy after my dates with Charlie?” He nodded, giving me another sad smile. “Yeah. You really, really did.”

No one had ever kissed me like that before. Like they needed me to breathe. Like they’d die without my mouth on theirs.

This was supposed to be casual, but there was nothing casual about my feelings for Charlie Brooks.

“How did I look at him?” He gave me a sad smile. “You looked at him the way Jada looked at me when she was falling in love with me.”

“I love you, Charlie Brooks. I love you so much. I can find another postgrad course, but I can’t find another you.”