The Matchmaker's Match by Brittany Larsen

Author:Brittany Larsen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance;clean;family;friends;love;siblings;childhood;feelings;life
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Published: 2018-05-10T18:59:13+00:00

Chapter 18

I leaned down to adjust the strap on my shoe, buying myself enough time to fight back the emotions trying to gnaw their way out of the corner where I’d carefully but unfairly kept them locked up. They were wrongfully convicted prisoners demanding to be set free, but I wasn’t ready. Not there, not then. But with each passing second, I came closer to letting my guard down and letting my feelings out.

I picked up the clutch I’d set by my chair and stood at the same time Blake returned to our table. “I’d better get home to Daddy,” I said to everyone.

Too many crazy thoughts were playing tag in my head. I kept picturing walking over to the apartment to watch an Angels game with Parker only to have Jami answer the door and tell me to go away. Or inviting Parker over for dinner and having him tell me he couldn’t because he and Jami already had plans. Scenario after scenario popped into my mind, but they all ended in the same way: Parker choosing Jami over me.

“We can take Hailey home if you want,” Taylor offered without even trying to convince me to stay longer, a clear sign that at least one person could see through my happy façade.

“Can I get a ride with you?” Blake asked. “I’m ready to go too.” He popped out of his chair before I could answer. Even if the others had been ready to leave, I would have volunteered to take Blake. I needed some cheering up, and he was the guy to do it.

“Sure.” I gathered my wrap in my arms, too hot to put it on. I knew what I had to do next, and it was going to be uncomfortable. “Let me say goodbye to Parker first.”

I wanted to talk to him about as much as I wanted to see him and Jami up on stage again, but obviously I had to. My anger toward Parker made no sense. But it would make even less sense for me to sneak out without saying goodbye.

He and Jami were deep in conversation as I approached their table with Blake in tow. “You two were great up there.” I bent down between them, talking loud enough they could hear me but not loud enough to interrupt the lady on stage.

“Are you leaving?” Parker asked.

I answered with a nod. “Daddy needs me. Your party was great.”

“You deserve all the credit. Karaoke was an excellent idea.” Parker held out his hand to shake Blake’s, but Jami kept her eyes up front. I didn’t know if she could hear us over the music, but she sure acted like she couldn’t.

“No hard feelings?” Blake nudged Jami’s arm. Until that moment it hadn’t occurred to me he had to have known she could sing. Why else would he have called her up on stage?

Jami let her eyes drift to Blake long enough to shake her head and then focused back on the fifty-year-old Madonna wannabe. The shoulder she gave him was so cold it was full-on glacial.

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