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Given the opportunity, would I help people avoid the situation I went through? Without a doubt.

I’ll take a short detour to get that gift card and make sure Meg knows what I’ve been through so other women wouldn’t have to endure the embarrassment and humiliation of thinking they found the one person to stand beside them for the rest of their life only to be let down.

I know that happens even without a matchmaking service, but there’s got to be a way to vet people better. What if Donovan hadn’t been honest with his answers on the intake form for Love, Austen? That would make a big difference when it comes to the people that match with him.

Hopefully I can help them find a solution.

10

TREY

Two days after the race, I’m starting to feel like myself again. I’d slept through most of the day Sunday and Monday, only getting up to order food—delivered to my house.

It takes me nearly an hour to figure out what to wear to a meeting with a matchmaking company. Usually, I wear a suit to any interview, but that seems a bit eager to go along with whatever the owner might have in mind for this deal.

I pick khaki pants and an emerald green polo shirt, making sure to comb my hair. It would’ve been nice to wear a hat instead, but that would take away from the semi-professional vibe I’m going for. Because I don’t want to look too nonchalant.

Once I arrive at the Love, Austen office, I open the door to see a young woman behind the reception desk. She looks like she might be barely eighteen.Hopefully she’s not the owner.

“Hi, my name is Trey Hatch. I’m supposed to be meeting with the owner?” Why can’t I remember the woman’s name right now?

“Yes, I’ve got you down. Meg will be out shortly. Just have a seat there. Do you need anything to drink?”

“I should be good. Thanks.”

The woman slings a small purse strap over one shoulder and says, “Okay, then. Just wait until Meg comes out. I have to run an errand.”

I take a seat where she points and glance around the room. What a peculiar setup. It’s like I stepped out of modern-day Boston and have gone back several centuries.

It’s several minutes later when I hear my name from the doorway. I turn and grin when I see a woman holding a baby. The little girl is drooling all over her fist.

“It’s nice to meet you,” I say, walking forward and sticking my hand out. The woman shakes it loosely.

“Please have a seat in here.”

I step into an office with some natural light filtering through the window. Along the wall are hundreds of pictures and what looks like wedding invitations.

“Wow, that’s a pretty incredible scene. It looks like an artistic move at decor.”

Meg puts the baby down in a bouncer before glancing back. “Sometimes we need reminders of why we push so hard for something to happen. There are a lot of hard days in this business—people who were matched and it didn’t work out as well as they would’ve liked. But these,” she says, gesturing to the invitations, “these are what keep me going. Knowing that I’ve been able to help so many people find the love of their life.”

Bells ring from the front of the office and Meg holds up a hand to ask for a minute as she walks around the desk. “Sorry, Laura had to run out so I’m the one on double-duty for a few minutes.”

She walks into the lobby, and I pull out my phone, trying to catch up on everything I let slide this weekend.

“Welcome to Love, Austen. How can I help you?”

“Hi,” a familiar voice says. “I came to pick up that gift card you left a message about. My name is Kenzie Sullivan.”

My ears perk up at her name, surprised to hear that she’s here at all. The woman who is against all dating whatsoever is here at a matchmaking firm.

“Yes, I have it back here in the office. Come with me.”

The door opens wider and Meg flashes me a smile before rounding the desk and sorting through the heap of papers on her desk.

“You,” Kenzie says, surprise in her voice.

“Me,” I say, smiling wide. “What brings you here, Mud Girl?”