Page 57 of The Matchmaker Club

He grabbed our oversized ten-dollar bottle of Chardonnay and twisted off the top, then went around the table and poured wine into glasses like he was some fancy waiter at a gourmet restaurant. When he was finished, he sat down. My grandmother raised her glass, and we all followed with the toast.

Lucas winced a bit when he took a sip of the cheap wine but forced it down his throat so as not to be rude.

“You pick the letter that speaks to you most,” I said.

His brows scrunched together in confusion. “But I haven’t read any of them yet.”

“Sometimes, you have to rely on faith and intuition.” I circled the wine glass over the tablecloth. “My mother said that all things happen for a reason, and we’ll find out that reason in time, even if it doesn’t make sense now.”

And right now, these feelings I was beginning to have for Lucas made zero sense.

He focused on the letters inside the tray and grabbed the one that was hidden on the bottom, its corner just peeking out.

“That letter is yours now,” I said. “You don’t show anyone.”

“Oh, I thought you discussed ways to help others.”

“We do, just not for your first letter.”

“Why?”

“It’s your calling letter. What’s inside of it is supposed to represent something that you need yourself.”

He looked down at the letter in his hands.

Was he trembling?

He set it down and sipped the Chardonnay without wincing this time. “I’ll read it later.”

“Three left,” my grandmother said. “That will leave you out this time, Taylor.”

“That’s okay, I’m still working on the last one.”

Lainey avoided my eyes and grabbed a few cheese-topped crackers from the silver tray.

Lucas ran his fingers along the edge of the envelope as the rest read through their letters. I wanted so badly to read it, but it was against the rules. The only time it was allowed was when the recipient gave permission.

“Charlie, would you like to start?” my grandmother asked.

“I think I have this one alright,” he said. “Just your typical ‘I’ll do anything to have him back’ heartbreak.”

“Lainey?”

“This one is going through the ‘we don’t have sex anymore’ phase,” she said. “Sounds like they never had any problems before.”

“How long have they been married?”

“Thirty-eight years.”

My grandmother chuckled. “Tell her to get him Viagra.” She waved it off. “They’ll be humping like rabbits in no time.”

Lucas choked on his wine and we all burst out laughing.

“What’s your letter about?” I asked her.

She leaned back in her chair. “Well, it seems a certain young man loved once, but did something stupid a few years ago and wants to rekindle what they once had.”

I swallowed. “What’s his anon name?”