Jess was right. Of course she was. My assistant knew me better than most of my friends after years of working together. I was grateful for how gently she managed me. By the time I got home, there was a takeout delivery waiting for me, the food still warm. Everything felt easier to handle after I’d eaten and showered.
Sleep was elusive. I lay there for hours, my mind spinning, memories of Brady replaying in my mind.
It was only when I slipped into sleep that the idea formed: become his Mate Match.
Eleven
Xavier
Mate Match profile summary for Xavier Cross.
Xavier is an alpha, aged forty. He recently divorced and works for an entertainment law firm in the city. He does not ascribe to any religion, and his ethnicity is white.
His likes: Swimming, hitting the gym, being with family, and art.
His dislikes: I probably shouldn’t make a joke about my ex, right? Okay, liars.
Xavier’s personal statement:
I’m looking for the one. Actually, I’ve found the one. I’m just trying to prove that we are meant to be together. If this works like I think it will, then it willmatch me with him. I’m trusting Mate Match to do its thing!
Once I’ve proven myself to him, I want to build a family with him, no matter what shape that takes. If it means no kids, then we’ll adopt a bunch of cats. I know his dream house includes two cats, maybe even more. Hell, we could adopt a bunch of kids and cats, a dog, too. As long as he is there, I don’t mind at all.
I hope he reads this and smiles. His smile is my favorite.
Theprofilewasn’tslick,forced, or polished. It was raw, unapologetic, and real. I just hoped it worked. If I could Mate Match with Brady, it had to show we were meant to be, right?
Since I’d woken with a couple of hours to spare before my first meeting, I downloaded the app and painstakingly went through all the questions. These people asked for a lot of detail about my life. Everything from my family to how I wanted to parent! Still, if it got me closer to my forever with Brady, then it was worth it.
I’d opened my eyes with the memories of my dreams still vivid in my mind. I’d dreamt about dating him and all the places I would take him. Brady in real life was never going to be as easy as dream Brady to win over. Still, it gave me a place to start.
Once I finished writing my personal statement, I sent it all in for approval. The background checks for alphas were more thorough than those of omegas. The app warned me that it could take a full day for me to be accepted and for my profile to go live.
Patience did not come easily to me, but I had plenty of work to catch up on, given that I had lost a day with Gio’s bullshit. The morning started easily enough with the usual emails and calls to deal with. I had lunch with Jess in my office, giving her a chanceto berate me for coming into the office like I had done the day before.
“You’re owed some personal time. You worked so hard through your divorce. No one would give you grief over taking a day or two now it’s official,” she told me off with that loving, yet gentle tone she used with me.
“I know, I just wanted to keep busy, y’know?”
Jess nodded sympathetically. “I’m glad to see you looking better today. Did you make up with Brady?” Hope lit her brown eyes.
“Not yet.” I pushed my phone over with the Mate Match app open. “Waiting for my profile to go live.”
Her puzzled expression urged me to explain. Slowly her face morphed into a grin. “Oh, this is gold!”
We were nearly done with our lunch when another assistant knocked on the ajar door. “Mr. Cross, there’s someone here to see you, but they don’t have an appointment. Do you have time?” Behind him was Candice.
“Hey, Candice, let me clear my schedule for an hour. Can we get you anything to drink?”
The omega who had a part in ending my marriage stepped forward hesitantly. “A water would be good, thanks. I appreciate your making time to see me at such short notice.”
Jess’ eyes filled with recognition at Candice’s name. “I’ve got you covered, and I’ll grab that water.” She stood. “Here, come sit.”
Candice took the offered chair as both assistants filed out. “I’m sorry to drop by like this.”
I had to admit I’d been curious about Candice. Aside from that one night we spent together with Gio, I’d barely spoken to her. There was no way I was counting the day I learned about the babies. “Everything okay?”
“Not really.” She shrugged. Her eyes and nose were slightly red, as if she had been crying. “I’m ending things with Gio. I need your help to get things in order. Gio said you had a friend in family law…”
