The Matchmaker

by Catherine Walsh

“Because I’ve known you my whole life?” She shakes her head. “Don’t you want a real match?” she asks eventually, and he huffs like she said something funny. “Come on, Gem. It’s you.” And then, so quietly I almost miss it, “It’s always been you.”

It’s only now that I’m starting to think that maybe they were fighting something else.

“What are you doing?” “Dancing,” he says, moving me farther into the middle of the floor. “You said you’re a terrible dancer,” I remind him. “I’ve decided that I go where you go.”

smiling warmly at them even as I’m frowning on the inside. What’s the point of hosting a goddamn matchmaking festival if you can’t even matchmake?

just because we’re related doesn’t mean I have to like him.”

He’s speaking just to me, and yet his voice carries over the room, as if he wants everyone to hear what he has to say.

“Stop thinking and get in the van, Katie.”

hesitate for only a heartbeat, searching for an inner reluctance that never comes, and then pull it down.

I can feel the smugness radiating from him as he waits for me to return to earth,

I nod into his chest, not able to answer otherwise because I don’t know how to explain just how good I am right now. How it’s the most good I’ve felt in a long time and how even better I feel that he seems to get it, not questioning me any further, and just holding me for as long as it takes for my stomach to rumble again and ruin the moment.

And if Granny responds, I don’t hear it, I don’t hear anything but a faint banging sound that pulls at the corners of my panic.

“I’ve never wanted you to be anything more than who you are. Katie, I am in awe of you.

How can I get bored of this place if it’s where you are? How can I get tired of it when all you need to do is stand there breathing and you have my full attention?

He falls back down to the grass, scowling at the sky. “You told me once that Kelly’s was your favorite place in the world. Well, you’re mine. You’re mine and I’ll go where you go. For as long as you want me to, I’ll be right there with you.”

I couldn’t get you out of my head and I didn’t want to. I still don’t want to.”

“So maybe I’m not falling in love with you,” he murmurs. “Maybe I’m already there.” He tilts his head to face me and we’re so close now I can feel his breath on my lips. “I’m in love with you, Katie Collins. And I’ll choose you every time.”

“Callum?” “Yeah?” He kisses the crown of my head, and I burrow into his side. “You’re my favorite place too.”