The Match (It Happened in Charleston 1)

I nod, still wondering where this is going and how I play a part in it. “Sounds really nice.”

“Oh, it will be! But you know what’s not so nice?” She puts on a dramatic pout. “Evie can’t seem to find a date! What a pity it would be for a pretty thing like her to have to get all dressed up and show up to the event all by her lonesome. Oh, wait! You wouldn’t be interested in being her plus-one, would you?”

Ahhh, and there it is. Everything makes sense now.

Evie lets out a long, defeated sigh and shuts the door. Her cheeks are the color of a candy apple, and I’m suddenly enjoying Joanna’s company more than I’ve enjoyed anything before. “Don’t answer that, Jake. Joanna is a scheming old hen who needs to stick her nose back in her own business.”

“Don’t call me an old hen or I’ll fire you, little missy.”

“Don’t call me little missy or I won’t come to painting night Wednesday.” I can’t decide if these two women act more like sisters, friends, or mother and daughter. I like them, though. And I really like knowing that Evie needs a date. Also, HOW does she not already have one? That question perplexes me. Evie should have a line of men wrapped around the block, begging her to date them.

“It’s black-tie, you said?” I ask, my voice making both of their heads turn and acknowledge me for the first time.

Evie’s brows pull together. “Yesss. Why?”

“Because it would be embarrassing to show up in jeans to a black-tie event.”

Joanna’s face grows into a smile, but Evie still looks skeptical. Honestly, I’m going out on a limb here by inviting myself as her date. I’m really banking on the fact that she and Joanna seem close and Evie would have told her if she already had one. But I’m painfully aware that this could all blow up in my face.

“You really don’t have to come with me. I’m sure I can find someone to go if you’re busy. Joanna never should have put you on the spot—” I cut her off because she sounds nervous but not entirely like she doesn’t want me there.

“I want to go with you.”

I am Ryan Gosling now. No one can touch my smoldering confidence. It’s all fake, of course, but she doesn’t need to know that.

“Really?” The hopefulness in her voice only boosts my confidence more.

I shrug my shoulders. Yeah, no big deal. I go to fancy benefits all the time and definitely won’t have to go out to buy a new suit. “I do. I think it would be fun—if you’re up for taking me.”

She’s trying to hide a smile as she tucks her hair behind her ear. “Yeah, okay, I guess that will work then.”

Chapter Fifteen

EVIE

“So, she’s really mine now?” asks Sam.

“She’s really yours.”

“Like she gets to sleep with me from now on?”

“Yep.”

Sam smiles and lets her toes skim across the pool water again. She’s only dipping her toes in because she’s wearing little-girl skinny jeans and could only roll them up to the ankles. I’m wearing my favorite yellow cotton dress, so I’m able to dip my legs in from the knee down.

The water feels like a bath, and the setting sun is warm on my skin. Charlie is lying down on the side of the pool to my left, and Daisy is lying down on Sam’s right. Other than our different hair colors, we look like a mirrored reflection of each other.

I feel a tether to Sam that I can’t explain, and I wonder if it’s because I see her as a younger version of myself. We sit quietly together by the pool while Jake is inside putting out a few fires with a contractor over the phone. I glance over my shoulder and catch a glimpse of him standing at the window, phone pressed to his ear, but his eyes glued to me and Sam. His brows are pulled together, but he doesn’t look angry—just thoughtful. My skin grows hot knowing Jake is watching me.

All I want to do is obsessively think about what took place this morning in his living room with Jo. Does he really want to go as my date to the benefit? Was it a pity offer? I want to murder Jo for asking him like she did—or kiss her, I can’t decide. But when I get home and give my brain the free rein it wants to turn that conversation over and over and dissect it like a mad scientist, I’ll know for sure.

“Soooo, my dad says I can go to the slumber party.”

“I know! That’s so great. Are you excited?”

Sam kicks some water. “Kind of.”

I look down at her. “Just kind of? I thought you’d be super happy he gave you permission.”