“Well, he told me about the parade and festival… Is there something else?”
“There are those things, yes, but the best part is, my big brother gets to dress up as Cupid and play matchmaker all day.”
Mikey’s nose wrinkles. “What does that mean?”
“I’msoglad you asked! Saint gets to put on a costume—wings, toga, sash, bow and arrow—and pair people up all day. My big brother’s got some type of magical gift that helps him know when two people belong together. People come from all over to ask him to find their match. It’s gotten to the point where there are so many of them, they have to have wristbands so Saint knows who’s there for his services. Tomorrow night, there’s an adults-only dance at Kiss & Tell where he’ll start pairing people.
Mikey’s eyes whip over to me, and I shrug. I don’t feel embarrassed about it anymore like I did my first year.
“They don’t fill out a questionnaire or anything? You just, what, go off of vibes?” Mikey clarifies.
“Basically, yeah.” It sounds so simple, put that way, but I can’t explain it.
“How did this start?”
“Six or so years ago, I was on the committee for the festival, and one of the members threw out the idea of having someone dress up as Cupid and lead the parade. Somehow, they decided I was the perfect person for the job. I didn’t want to say no, so I wound up going with it. During the festival, I noticed a woman standing alone on the sidelines, but she kept glancing at a group of guys around her age. I don’t know how to describe it, but I justknew.I knew she and one of the guys would work together. I walked over to him, pretended to shoot him with an arrow, and then took that arrow and pretended to shoot the woman. They started talking, hit it off, and I got invited to their wedding a year later,” I explain.
“And it wasn’t just a one-off?”
I shake my head. “The next year, that woman brought her friends and asked if I could help them find their matches. I didn’t want to at first because I wasn’t sure I could do it again. I spent the day riddled with anxiety that I would let them down, until I saw one of the booths. The chocolatier had two sons, and when I saw them, something clicked. I took the two women over, did the arrow thing again, and both couples hit it off. Word spread like wildfire after, and now people come here specifically for my services. Including the first three, I’ve been invited to eight weddings.”
Mikey’s jaw drops open in shock, and Ruby looks amused. “And yet,” Ruby says, “he can’t seem to find someone for me. Or himself, for that matter.”
I narrow my eyes at her. She knows damn well how I feel about Mikey. Hell, Mikey knows damn well I want her. Ruby’s trying to rile me up on purpose.
“No one is good enough for my baby sister, Rubes. I have high standards for your future husband, and no one in town has proven to be good enough for you yet.”
Ruby’s lips purse, and I swear I catch a flash of hurt in her eyes. It’s gone as quick as it came.
What was that about?
“Right, well, I hate to break it to you, S, but I’m a big girl, and I can date whomever I want. I’m not waiting around for you to pick someone for me.” She glances at the clock. “Well, I should get going. Mikey, you should come get ready for the dance with Stella and me tomorrow after the parade.”
“Oh, I don’t think I’ll be staying, but thank you for the invite.”
“I truly hope you’ll change your mind. Stella and I would love to have you make our duo a trio.”
“I’ll think about it,” Mikey promises. Ruby surprises both of us by giving her a quick hug. Mikey goes stiff before she reciprocates then melts into her.
Ruby is loyal and has the biggest heart, so once she’s declared you her friend, she won’t let you go. It makes my heart want to burst that she’s accepted Mikey so quickly.
“I’m going to walk Ruby out,” I say to Mikey. She nods, and as I walk past her, I trail my fingers gently over her arm and give her hand a squeeze.
Ruby leans against the driver’s side of her car with a smirk on her face. “You two looked cozy when I walked in.”
“Thanks for interrupting,” I grumble. “No more coming in unannounced.”
“Fine. Don’t scare her off, please. I like her. Convince her to stay for the dance tomorrow.”
“I can’t make her stay if she doesn’t want to, but I’ll try my best. I want her to be here, too, for the record.”
“I know you do, S. Your emotions are written all over your face. You basically have ‘I heart Mikey’ tattooed on your forehead. Don’t stress about the baking tomorrow morning. I’ll come over early and help.” Ruby softly punches me in the arm before she gives me a hug and gets in her car to drive away.
When I get back inside, Mikey is typing something on her phone, leaning against the counter. I press myself against her back, pleased by the way she melts into me.
“Sorry about the interruption,” I murmur against the side of her head.
“It’s okay. It’s probably for the best. We wouldn’t want to do something we regret.”
