The Matchmakers by Zara Hoffman

Author:Zara Hoffman
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780986427978
Publisher: ZH Press

18

After dinner, Henry excuses us from the table. I don’t miss the President’s careful eye following us as we leave the dining room.

“Let’s go for a walk,” Henry whispers to me.

I nod and let him lead me outside. He walks halfway across the back lawn, which is just as big as the front where the President holds the post-Ceremony party, until we reach a white bench underneath a large tree. He motions me to sit. When I hesitate, he lowers himself onto the hard surface first. “What did you leave out earlier?”

I sigh, knowing he won’t leave the topic alone until I give him an answer. “I had a short encounter with Matchmaker Taylor after I used the bathroom and she accused me of snooping near the seventh floor.”

“Were you?” he asks, his expression impassive.

“No,” I answer. The moment the lie passes my lips, I regret it and wonder if I should have told him the truth. Secrets are never good for a relationship, and I hate that I may be dooming ours to failure. But on the off chance that he changes his mind about being sympathetic to my sister, I know I can’t tell him anything damning against her or me.

He searches my face and reaches out. I stare at his outstretched hand as he slowly wraps it around the back of my neck and pulls me into an embrace. Not a kiss, but a hug. He guides my head to his shoulder and simply holds me.

“Rosemary,” he says softly after a few moments.

“Yes?” I ask.

“Can you promise to be open with me in the future? I can’t be a good Match if you shut me out.”

I turn toward him. “About that...”

“What, Romy?”

I smile at his use of the nickname. “You asked me to keep an open mind while you gave me time and space.”

His hands tighten around me. “What are you saying?”

“I’m ready for more,” I whisper.

He pushes me away until he can look me in the eye. “Are you sure?”

I nod. It’s the truth. But it’s also a distraction. One that’s working better than I hoped.

Without a word, he takes my hand and leads me back toward the house. “Come with me.”

I blush, thinking about walking past his parents.

He sees me and must know what I’m thinking because he says, “Don’t worry. There’s a back entrance to our room.”

He opens a small door underneath a small balcony on the side of the building. It reveals a dark and narrow stairway leading up.

I look at it and swallow nervously.

“It’s safe, I swear. I’ve taken these all the time whenever I’ve wanted to sneak out unnoticed.”

“What were you doing so secretly?”

“Mostly grabbing extra snacks from the kitchen.”

I nod but don’t ask my follow-up question: what was it for during the other occasions? Dating isn’t allowed because it can lead to unavoidable disappointment when people are eventually Matched but maybe the First Family looks the other way?

“And your parents don’t know about this passage?”

Henry shrugs. “I’m sure my father does, but he hasn’t reprimanded me for it.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.