I had just lied to Keith about why we were together. And then Dane had immediately contradicted that lie. And now Keith was looking at me like he’d just figured out a secret we’d been trying to keep.
I went back to making the coffee. I didn’t know what else to do. I felt ridiculous. I knew my cheeks were red.
And Keith was still standing there watching me like he’d just been handed ammunition he’d been looking for.
And I had no idea what he was going to do with it.
CHAPTER 30
DANE
Iran. And ran. And got nowhere.
Duh. I was on a treadmill.
But I couldn’t outrun the thoughts plaguing me. Thoughts about how wrong things were. It was poison. My body demanded more of that sweet toxin.
I didn’t want to spend another Saturday cooped up in my home office or my office in the building. Last night I had told Ina my entire world was work. I didn’t miss the look on her face. She seemed horrified and maybe even a little disgusted.
I was the writer of my own destiny. I didn’t have to work seven days a week. There was nothing stopping me from living a little. I was already thirty-five and it felt like I had never truly lived. Yes, I had money and I traveled and ate at the best restaurants, but that wasn’t living.
I hopped off the treadmill with my legs tingling and muscles jerking. I grabbed my phone and walked to the kitchen for my usual protein shake.
While the blender worked its magic, I texted Ina.
Me:Market day? I’ll make coffee and we can walk from my place.
Ina:Can’t, sorry. Promised Abby I’d have breakfast with her this morning. She’s been complaining we never see each other anymore.
I didn’t get rich by backing down.
Me:Tell Abby I’m monopolizing your time and I’m not sorry about it.
Ina:I’ll do no such thing. She already gives me enough grief about you.
I was disappointed. I started typing and then erased it. She had a life. I couldn’t expect her to drop everything for me.
Ina:I’ll text you when I’m done with breakfast. Maybe early afternoon?
I smiled. All was not lost.
Me:I’ll be here. Maybe in the pool downstairs. Come find me.
I set my phone down and got up, going through my morning routine on autopilot. Coffee. Shower.
I opened my laptop and pulled up my personal email account. I tried to check it once a week. Usually it was filled with spam, but sometimes I’d get an email from my mother asking when I was going to visit Ireland. Or telling me about something one of my brothers did.
Instead, I had an email from Cupid’s Arrow. The subject line let me know I had a match.
I stared at it for a long moment, confused. Then I remembered.
The profile. The fake profile I’d created in a moment of temporary insanity, trying to prove something to myself about data and love and whether the algorithm I helped design could actually work for me.
I’d completely forgotten about it.
I clicked on the email, my heart rate picking up.
Congratulations! Our matchmakers have found your perfect match. Based on your responses and our proprietary algorithm, we’ve identified one candidate with exceptional compatibility.
