I want to throttle him, especially when he smirks and says, “Whatever you want, Ricky.”
But Shannon comes back into the room right then. “All right, let’s get this show on the road.” She claps her hands together. “I have tequila to drink tonight with my real friends!”
My friends look at each other, and I wrack my brain for something to smooth over the awkwardness, but, fuck, I don’t know what to say.
Thankfully, Smitty’s big mouth saves the day. “Tell them what you told me, Ry Guy.”
Ryan pauses with his fork halfway to his mouth. “About what?”
Smitty leans in like he’s imparting state secrets. “About the matchmaker.”
“Oh, Christ,” Gray mutters. “Here we go again.”
“Honey,” Kailey begins but Luna shushes her. “It’s not just a rumor?”
Smitty shakes his head. “According to Ryan’s friend, it’s a real thing.”
Shannon starts typing on her phone, not even bothering to pretend to listen.
“Someone is poaching on our matchmaking territory?” Luna’s expression is a lesson in outrage.
“Can you really say you have a matchmaking territory?” Bri points out.
“Um, yes,” Luns says dismissively. “Yes, I can.”
Bri rolls her eyes. “Do you even have any real matchmaking experience, Luns?”
Her chin lifts. “Did I or did I not play a part in Gray and Faye getting together?”
Bri sighs. “I hardly think you can take credit for the house fire, Luns.”
“Rude.” She jabs her finger at Bri. “I definitely can’t take credit for the fire. But I did help with other stuff.”
“Like what?”
“She helped,” Faye interjects. “You all did.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Luna waves a hand. “We’re all great, blah, blah, blah. But the really important thing is who the hell does this matchmaker think she is?”
“Take a breath, Tiny Tornado,” Aiden murmurs.
“She’s taking our jobs!” Luna declares.
“Fucking hell,” Sawyer mutters.
“She seems perfectly nice,” Ryan says firmly. “A friend from the Hawks says she comes with glowing recommendations.”
“Who is this friend?” Smitty’s question is full of suspicion.
“Ace Ambrose.”
We all freeze.
“Didn’t he get engaged recently?” Aiden asks.
“Yup.” Ryan nods. “And he attributes his newfound happiness to the Blue Line Matchmaker herself, apparently.”
Smitty blinks once. Twice. Then his scowl is nearly as thunderous as Luna’s. “Fucking Ambroses.”
