Matched Up by Jenny Ireland

Author:Jenny Ireland [Ireland, Jenny]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Random House UK
Published: 2025-04-17T00:00:00+00:00

19

By the end of the week, the assembly hall looked incredible for V-Ball. I’d laughed when I’d found out they’d been decorating for weeks, but when I saw it at lunchtime, I understood why. Fake trees, flowers and lampposts everywhere. There was even a fountain in the corner, ready to be moved to wherever Zoe wanted it.

‘Looks pretty cool, doesn’t it?’

I spun round to see Hunter watching me. Happy he couldn’t see into my head, at how, when I gazed around the room, I was imagining tomorrow night, when me and Shane would be dancing, kissing, out in the open.

‘Yeah, it’s amazing.’

Hunter fidgeted with a fake flower he’d pulled from one of the vases. ‘I hate it, you know.’

‘Hate what?’ I asked, confused and irritated by his presence.

‘The way we don’t hang out any more. Like since Niall and Megan got together.’ He sounded so sad.

I let myself think back to before Niall and Megan. Did we really hang out? Or was it just that he was there all the time with Niall? He did used to stick up for me if Niall was taking the piss, and two years ago, he bought me a single rose for Valentine’s Day. I thought it was because he didn’t want me to feel left out, because loads of people had sent Megan roses, but now I wasn’t so sure.

But the way he’d joined in when Niall was being awful to Shane. I’d never forget that.

I rolled my eyes. ‘You can thank Niall for that.’

‘It sucks when things change,’ he said, and I smiled at him in empathy.

‘Yeah, it really does,’ I agreed.

I sat down at one of the tables and Hunter sat down beside me.

‘Still not going to V-Ball?’ he asked, raising his eyebrows.

I hesitated. I hadn’t thought this through. ‘I don’t think so.’

‘Oh, you don’t think so? So there’s doubt?’ He grinned and for the first time I realized that Hunter had a really nice smile. One of those contagious ones that I had to actively try not to smile back at.

‘What I really meant was, no, I’m not going,’ I said, surprised at how easily the lie came out. I’d deal with that later.

‘Oh,’ he said, looking disappointed.

‘Well, seeing that my number-one choice is bailing, I might ask Zoe,’ he said, scanning my face like he was waiting for my reaction.

‘That’s a really great idea, she’s gorgeous,’ I said.

I saw a flicker of disappointment in his eyes before he stood up. I really hoped Zoe would say yes to Hunter, unless she’d found someone else to go with after Shane had said no.

‘Yeah, she’s cool. We’d better go – the bell’s about to ring.’ He held out his hand for me to stand up.

I laughed and took it, then he spun me round like we were dancing.

I tried to move away. ‘Hunter, what the hell?’

‘Just getting my dance now.’ He pulled me into him, so we were centimetres apart.

I was rigid and he must have felt it. I don’t know what he was hoping for here.

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