Page 23 of Matched with the Hollywood Heartthrob (Matched for Love #4)

MIA

T hanks, Mia. See yourself out.

So arrogant. So infuriating.

I’m still mad as I drive home, trying to figure out why Jack’s reaction bothered me so much. Why do I even care? He’s just a guy I’m trying to help, and I shouldn’t feel this annoyed. I try to shake it off, but it lingers like an itch I can’t scratch.

Why do I care about his mood? As long as he shows up for his date, anything aside from business, I don’t care.

My phone rings, dragging me out of my self-admonition. It’s Nova.

I answer, trying to sound casual, even though I’m angry with her talent. “Hey, Nova.”

“Hey, Mia! How’s it going with Jack? Any updates on his date?” Nova’s voice is light, but I can tell she’s got some urgency behind it.

I let out a quiet sigh. “It’s going fine. I talked to him. He’s not thrilled, but he’s going along with it. We’re moving forward.”

There’s a brief pause on the other end. “That’s good, but I’ve been calling Jack to follow up on his date with Denise, and he’s not answering my calls. Do you think everything’s okay?”

I can’t help my scowl. “I just left his place. He’s not enamored with Denise. But trust me, he’ll like Ashley better. He’ll warm up to her. I’m sure of it.”

“Maybe he’s this way because it’s the first date?”

“I think so, too.”

Nova lets out a breath, like she’s relieved. “Okay, good. I appreciate you taking the lead on this, Mia. It’s really helping. Thanks for sticking with it.”

I give a small nod, even though she can’t see it. “No problem. Just don’t forget about your end of the deal, Nova. The ‘Kids Living with Cancer’ foundation needs that money.”

She laughs. “You don’t have to remind me. I always keep my end of the bargain.”

“Um… so the hospital is planning a charity event for next month. Do you think I could get a quarter or half of the money by then so I can settle some bills for the event?”

Nova’s tone shifts, becoming more serious. “You can get the full payment.”

I pause. “Really?”

Nova sighs. “Can I tell you something?”

“Yes.”

“After you and Jack left, I did some research. Trust me, if I’m going to let Jack go to your town with you, I’m going to unearth everything about you.”

“Okay…”

“I found out you battled leukemia from age eight to twelve. That’s a pretty tough road to walk, Mia. I can only imagine how hard that must have been for you.”

I feel a tightness in my chest. I never told anyone about how hard those years were. I’ve always kept it to myself, buried under the layers of my present life. But hearing Nova acknowledge it, hearing her say she understands, it hits differently.

“It gave me more understanding of why you’re helping the kids and why the foundation means so much to you. I just want to say you’re doing great. You’re a wonderful person, Mia, and not only will I make full payment, I’d like to make a donation of my own.”

“Nova.” My voice almost breaks. “Thank you. It wasn’t easy,” I admit, my voice a little quieter than usual. “But it’s something I don’t really talk about. Not with anyone.”

I swallow hard, pushing back the emotions I thought I had long buried. “It’s just… you’re right that it’s why I help these kids, you know? I want to give them hope. I want to make sure they don’t feel alone, that there’s a way out, like there was for me.”

Nova’s voice softens even further, as if she’s trying to understand me better. “I get it, Mia. You want to make a difference. You’ve been through it, and now you want to help those going through the same thing. I admire that.”

Her words are kind, and they make me feel heard, understood in a way I didn’t expect. But then, something in me pulls back, and I hesitate before speaking again.

“I need you to keep this quiet, Nova. Please don’t tell Jack,” I ask, my voice a little firmer now. “I don’t want him to know.”

“I haven’t told him, but why not?”

The reason is simple. I don’t want him to look at me the way every other man who finds out about my past looks at me—with pity. Like I’m something fragile they mustn’t touch. But I don’t tell Nova that.

Instead, I say, “Because I like to keep personal information out of business. Jack and I have a strictly professional relationship.”

“I knew there was a reason I liked you,” Nova laughs again. “All right. My lips are sealed. Thank you, Mia. Talk soon.”

“Bye, Nova.”

The call with Nova lingers in my mind as I drive back home, the weight of the conversation heavy on my chest. I try to push it aside, but it’s hard not to think about it. The thing is, there’s something about my past that makes it impossible for me to fully open up to anyone.

Most people treat me differently when they find out, and I’m not sure why. I can’t imagine Jack suddenly treating me nicer because he found out I used to be sick. That’s another thing I’ve moved on from, and I’d hate for it to be the center of my life.

T he next morning, the sun is barely up when I head to the hospital.

The moment I step through the door, the familiar scent of antiseptic and the soft hum of medical machines surround me.

It’s all a part of my life, one that I try to keep separate from my everyday routine, but I can never quite shake it off.

I make my way to the pediatric ward, where the children of the foundation are usually waiting.

They’re always so full of life despite their conditions.

It’s a bit contagious, honestly. No matter how rough the day gets, seeing them laugh and play always brings a sense of peace I didn’t expect to find in a place like this.

“Hi, Mia!” a small voice calls out from behind a curtain.

I smile, turning to find Ellie, a six-year-old with short brown hair, peeking out from behind a set of colorful curtains. Her face lights up when she sees me, and I can’t help but kneel down in front of her.

“Ellie, hey!” I respond, my voice warm and inviting. “How are you today?”

“Better,” she says, holding up a drawing she’s been working on. “I made you something. It’s a flower, like you always bring.”

I take the paper from her, admiring the bright, cheerful colors she’s chosen. Despite her condition, Ellie is always the one to brighten everyone’s day, even from a hospital bed.

“Thank you, Ellie, it’s beautiful,” I say, ruffling her hair. “And yes, I brought flowers today. I’ll give them to you in the garden, okay?”

She beams at me before running off to play with some other kids in the playroom.

As I stand there watching her, I feel the familiar pang of grief mixed with pride.

These kids—these brave, beautiful souls—they’re the reason I do everything.

I’m here for them, not just as a symbol of what they could be, but as someone who understands. I’ve been where they are.

After a few more rounds of playing and talking with the kids, I make my way to the nurses’ station, where I’ve arranged to meet with the team. There’s a lot to discuss with the upcoming charity event, and I need to make sure everything is in place.

When I walk into the small office, I’m greeted by Nurse Linda, the head nurse of the pediatric ward.

She’s always so professional, but there’s warmth behind her eyes that makes her easy to talk to.

Along with her are two other nurses, Sara and Jason, who’ve been with the foundation since the beginning.

“Hi, Mia,” Linda says, offering me a seat at the table. “How are you today?”

“I’m good, just checking in,” I reply, sitting down. “I know the charity event is just around the corner, and I wanted to go over everything one more time in person before it gets too close.”

Sara nods, flipping through a few pages of the event schedule. “We’re good to go on our end. We have enough volunteers for the kids, and we’ve arranged for some extra activities. We’ll also have a few nurses present to ensure the kids are comfortable.”

“That’s perfect,” I say, relieved.

“We want them to have fun without worrying about their health. The last thing we need is for them to feel like they’re in another hospital visit while they’re here.”

Jason speaks up, a smile tugging at his lips. “We’ve also arranged a small surprise for the kids—some local entertainers will perform and play interactive games. It’ll help keep them engaged.”

“Excellent,” I say, nodding. “What about the donations? Are we on track?”

Linda hands me a stack of paperwork. “Everything is looking great. We’ve got some good pledges from local businesses, and we’re expecting more as the date approaches. I’ve also been in contact with a few private donors.”

I’m pleased with how it’s coming together. By the time I get the payment from Nova, we will be well over the water.

“And what about the VIP section for the donors?” I ask. “Have we got enough space, food, and entertainment arranged?”

Linda reassures me that everything is set up for that as well. The venue is ready, the staff is trained, and they’ve coordinated with the catering service for the evening.

“Everything’s going according to plan,” Sara adds. “It’ll be a fantastic event, Mia.”

I know I worry too much. I just want to make sure everything is perfect, especially for the kids.

As I drive home, the weight of the day pressing down on me, my phone rings, pulling me out of my thoughts. I glance at the screen and see Denise’s name. I let out a sigh, unsure of what to expect after the awkwardness of the date.

“Hey, Denise,” I answer, trying to sound upbeat despite the tension I feel.

“Mia,” she starts, her voice tinged with frustration. “I just wanted to let you know, Jack came to the exhibition, but it was like he wasn’t even interested. He didn’t look at anything. We barely talked. I don’t know what you were expecting, but that definitely wasn’t it.”

I wince at her words, the disappointment in her voice hitting me harder than I expected. “I’m really sorry, Denise,” I say, feeling guilty. “I didn’t think it would go like that. He’s just… not in the right mindset, I guess.”

“Not in the right mindset? Mia, he was hardly present,” Denise replies, her voice flat. “I’m starting to think maybe you set me up with the wrong guy.”

Her words sting more than I thought they would. I feel the urge to apologize again, but I don’t know how to explain it. “I didn’t mean to set you up for disappointment,” I say quietly. “I thought maybe it’d work out.”

Denise sighs. “It’s okay, Mia. It’s not like it’s your fault.”

“Thank you for understanding,” I reply, my heart sinking. “And I’m really sorry.”

“I’ll see you around,” she says, her voice distant, before hanging up.

I sit there, gripping the steering wheel, and let the silence settle around me.

I’m putting everything on the line for Jack.

He better show more appreciation and make this work.

I tighten my fingers around the wheel, ignoring the twist in my stomach at the thought of him sitting with his next date and then falling in love with her.

I don’t care. That’s the essence of this entire farce, and I can’t wait for him to find someone soon.