Page 81 of Fierce-Matt

THOSE HARD LESSONS

“So, I’ve got to tell you something,” Anya said.

Matt looked over from where he placed the makings of sandwiches on the counter for their late lunch.

She’d leave when they were done eating as he had things to do and so did she.

“What’s that?” he asked.

“Jolene Fierce stopped over to talk to me on Friday.”

“Did you tell her you went to Carowinds on Thursday?” he asked.

She frowned. “Yes.”

He whacked his palm on the counter. “Now it’s all making sense!”

She laughed at his familiar teenage antics. “What is?”

“First tell me about this conversation with Jolene,” he said. He shook his hand off and started to make a sandwich.

“You know what she does, right? Sets people up?”

He crossed his eyes at her. “Everyone knows that. She set up Ben and Eve.”

She opened her mouth wide enough a hummingbird could have flown in. “I hadn’t heard that.”

“She has played a part in a lot of matches. All of her kids.”

“I had heard about Mason and Jessica. A few others too.” They were only names to her, not faces so much.

“Has she been talking to you about finding someone?” he asked.

“I hadn’t thought that,” she said. “Until Justin brought it up. At first I assumed it had to do with me and Brendan.”

“Brendan?”

“Get that frown off your face. It’s the guy you pushed away to dance with me at Ben’s wedding.”

“I didn’t push him,” he argued. “It’s not my fault he was half my size and I could flick him off with my wrist.”

“Don’t be cocky.” She gave his arm a little shove, the mustard he was squirting on his sandwich missing the bread and going splat on the counter.

“Now you’re the one being the prankster,” he said.

She reached for a napkin and wiped the mess she’d caused.

Matt finished the sandwich and she took it out of his hand. “Thanks.”

“Hey,” he said.

“Here you go,” she said, handing it back.

“No, keep it. There. I did a lot of work this weekend. Talk about high maintenance. Dinner, breakfast, and now lunch. Let’s not forget the usage of my body. I’m going to need a nap.”

She took a bite of the ham and Swiss he’d put together, then chewed.

“You know, you’re really cute when you’re not trying to be more. When it just comes naturally to you.”