The Matchmaker

by Catherine Walsh

“Or maybe,” he continues. “It’s because I don’t know how I’m going to tear down your favorite place in the world when I can barely stand the thought of you getting caught in the rain.”

AAAAAAAA

Green eyes, I decide. I like men with green eyes and men who look at me like that. Like I’m the only person in the world.

ASJDFSHAKXBDH

And even with her scarily neutral expression I know she’s not happy.

My first grade teacher lied... You CAN in fact start a sentence with the word and.

“It’s gloomy. It’s dystopian gloomy.

DANGG HE REALLY WENT THERE

“As I said, dress it up. Sweep the streets, water the plants, put some fake displays in the empty shop windows and a gone fishing sign on the door.” “That’s lying.” “That’s life. Better yet, that’s business.”

“Okay, I don’t need to be around for this conversation.” Adam grabs his keys, looking distinctly uncomfortable. “It’s like hearing about my baby sister.”

OMG THEY FOHND THE KEYS

He said Gemma was supposed to bring him because he got an A on his French test, but she had to work today.” I bite back a smile. “An A, huh?” “Yeah. Great, isn’t it?” “The greatest,” I agree. “Except Noah’s school doesn’t have tests. And he doesn’t do French. He does Spanish.”

DANGGGG

“I wasn’t going to say that,” he interrupts. “I just want to know what you’re doing kissing the boss’s brother.”

NOOOOOOOO

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Dfgfdd

I think your grandmother likes me.” “She doesn’t like anyone.”

Dang okay

“What does she mean again?”

…

Maybe I should give them an offering. Do fairies like offerings? Besides, like, human children?

A little too late. Just like everything else in my life.

“It doesn’t matter what you know or don’t know,” I tell him. “Kelly’s is my home. And if you think I’m going to be able to forget that you’re one of the people playing a part in destroying it, even if you don’t want to, then you haven’t been listening to me. You haven’t been listening at all.”

“I’ll never do it again,” he continues. “Because you’re never allowed on the internet again,” Gemma mutters.

DANG

“He’s been here for hours,” Nush says, when I approach with Gemma and Noah. “Who?” “Callum.” “Callum’s here?” I look back to the barn and suddenly see him and another man carrying a large piece concrete out of the ruins. “What are they doing?” “They’re putting it back together,”

IM CRYING OML

“Some men buy flowers,” I say weakly, and he nods like that was his backup plan.

“As romantic as this all is,” Gemma says from where she stands a few feet away. (Seriously, such a creeper.) “We still can’t use the barn.”

Gemma… WHAT? HOW? HUH? EVER HEARD OF PERSONAL SPACE?

Or are you still dallying with the gardener?” “I’m not—” I scowl at her. “Why do you have to make it sound like one of your books? And he’s not even our gardener!” “He should be,” she remarks. “He did a good job. You should get him to come around again.” “So he can work for free?” “We can always make him dinner this time if you insist.” It doesn’t take a genius to read between the lines. “Are you inviting Callum around for dinner?” “I think I deserve to properly meet the man you’re sleeping with,” she remarks, and I groan. “Why can’t you be a normal grandmother who says normal things?”

“Is this a ‘would you still love me if I was a worm’ conversation?” he asks, and before I can even begin to react to the casual L word drop, he continues on. “Katie, you could tell me that your sole interest in life is snail migration, and I’d listen to every word you say so long as your eyes light up like that.”

“What are you passionate about?” I ask. He doesn’t even think about it. “Concrete.”

Valid

“If you asked nicely.” “I always ask nicely. I’m very nice.” “And that’s why you won’t have any problem making friends. Even as a wizened, geriatric twenty-eight-year-old.” “I’m twenty-nine.” “Ah, well, then you might have a problem.”

“And the car accident,” he continues carefully. “That’s why you got nervous in the car that time?” I nod, and he drops his head back.

OMG OMG OMG NAURRRR i mean at least its canon for them...

“What?” I ask, still a little breathless. He eases back to sit beside me, his thigh pressed against mine as he laces our fingers together. “Anywhere you want to go. If you want me to, I’ll follow.”

“You don’t have eye bags,” I lie, and she huffs, leading me into the kitchen.

HAH

“Of course,” I say firmly. “You’re my best friend.” She smirks. “Does Nush know that?” “She’s my best friend too,” I say. “I’ll make us bracelets.”

“I played to relax.” “There is nothing relaxing about watching you play.”

DANG

“Winner out of five games,” he says. “Ten quid. Except that gambling’s bad,” he adds, flinching when Gemma kicks him again. “So no money. Winner plays you for the trophy and loser of that has to clean up.” “Mam says I don’t have to clean up because it’s my birthday.” “So it’s a win-win for you. Gemma, get your butt in here. Show the birthday boy what you’re made of.”

“I will be, yes.”

NAURRRRRR AGHHHH WHYYYYY

“I promise,” I say, and she squeezes my shoulders just as Gemma steps into the room in the black dress, takes one look at our unenthusiastic reaction to it, and turns back around.

HAHAHA

“Is she famous?” I ask, growing excited. “She looks famous.” Harry scoffs. “You think every person with good posture is famous.” True, but she has great posture.

Oooo

He had the volume on, Katie. I haven’t taken my phone off silent in twelve years, and his was just dinging away with every news alert and weather report in the world. You expect me to spend an evening with someone like that? I’m too pretty. I refuse.”

“Her name’s Monica. Did you see how straight her shoulders are?”

AHAHAH THIS IS TOO FUNNY

“I’ve already talked to her. She didn’t get on with her match either. Your grandmother really needs to up her game.”

Dang

“But he’s only a five-minute walk away.” “Ten in these heels,” she mutters. “Beauty is pain. And you look beautiful tonight, Gem.” “My highlighter cost thirty quid, I better look beautiful.”

“I’m going to kill Granny. I’m actually going to do it this time. It’s not like we had a shortage of sign-ups.”

DONT DO IT THIS IS PERFECT AND SHES ICONIC

“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.”

YESSSSSSSSSS

“What are you doing, Harry?” “Making your boyfriend jealous.” “I don’t want to make him jealous.” Harry gives me a disbelieving look. “Have you ever made anyone jealous before?” he asks. “It’s really fun.

Hes not wrong....

It’s kind of creepy, actually. I decide I don’t like happy Adam.

“Do you think it’s weird?” “No,” I say truthfully. “If anything, it’s only weird how not weird it is.” “That doesn’t make sense.” “It does,” I say. “If you really think about it.”

It kinda does

“He sent you a guitar?” “Two months after my birthday.” I frown, not remembering one in their house, but before I can ask more, he explains. “Mam had to throw it out because it broke,” he tells me. And then, “I broke it.” “On purpose?” Another nod. “I said I dropped it by mistake, but I didn’t. Mam went to the shops, and I threw it down the stairs. Twice.”

Preppy

“Adam takes me places,” he says. “He takes me to the pool all the time. And the beach and the cinema. And when we go, he never acts like he doesn’t want to be there. You’ve been to every one of my birthday parties and Frank goes to all my football games, even when it’s raining. Bridget helped me finish painting my room when Mam had to go work and Nush taught me how to pick a lock. And—” “What do you mean, Nush taught you how to pick a lock?”

“I hear you’ve been causing my protégé a bit of trouble,” he says, slapping Jack on the back. “What’s the delay now, Doyle? Three? Four months?” “Five,” Jack says, clearing his throat.

Womp womp

His hand goes to Jack’s shoulder, and he smiles like he’s Father Christmas and not a tax-avoiding multimillionaire.

DANG

“As of right now, Glenmill will be stepping back from its acquisition of Kelly’s,” he says loudly, as cameras start to flash and phone screens record. “You’ve won.”

YESSSSSSS

“What happened?” Gemma asks. “We heard yelling.” “Callum punched Jack.” “Nice,” Nush says, and I glare at her. “Not nice. No to violence, Nush.”

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

AAAAAAAAA YESSS

“Look at you, all prepared,” I tease, and he grins. “And they try and tell me I’m not a local.”

“I don’t need anything,” I assure him. “Well, neither did I, but now I can’t have it, I desperately want it. Plus, it goes against everything in my being not to offer a guest something to eat and drink.”

“You’re not a morning person,” I say, delighted with this new fact.