Page 117 of Stupid Matchmaking Love

Maybe it can just feel . . . freeing, like this thing with Cristina does.

Chapter 37

Cristina

I could already tell this was gonna be one of those days when, first thing, Maya forgot to turn on the mud warmer. A client had to wait thirty minutes for the mud to heat up, even though Maya and I worked double time to warm the jars with hot towels. We even went so far as to shove a couple of jars into the towel warmer itself.

But all was okay. I gave the client a coupon for a free thirty-minute massage, and she was happy—which meant no rude phone calls to the hotel complaining. I mean, I wouldn’t mind having Rhett punish me for something I did wrong, as long as it included me tied to a bedpost. But I didn’t want to put him in a position where he had to publicly be the bad guy.

After Maya finishes cleaning her room, I pull her into my office. “Are you okay? It’s not like you to forget turning on the warmer.”

She hugs her arms. “I’m fine, it’s just . . . it’s stupid.”

“Whatever it is, tell me. Please sit.”

My friend eyes the chair warily, and when I motion for her to take it, she does with her shoulders sagging. “It’s really dumb.”

“I doubt it.”

Her lips dip into a frown. “It’s just . . . maybe Logan and I aren’t as fated as the quilt thought we are.”

“Did he say something? You were supposed to get away for the weekend. How’d it go?”

“Pretty good.”

“But . . . ?”

She smooths a hand over her hair, which falls into a perfect ponytail. I envy Maya’s ability to tame her hair so well. She makes ponytail-making look easy.

“I don’t know,” she admits with a deep sigh. “Logan seemed distracted when we went away.”

“It could just be work stuff.”

She nods but doesn’t seem convinced. “I look at you and Rhett—or even Clarice and Beau—and think, wow, those are real couples.”

Her confession hits me in the chest. She looks at me and Rhett and sees a real couple? I mean, we are now, but we weren’t a few days ago.

“The way he looks at you and the way you look at him, you make relationships seem easy.”

I scoff. “There hasn’t been anything easy about it.”

Her brow lifts. “There hasn’t?”

“No. Maya, I fought tooth and nail for Rhett not to be my soulmate.”

“You did?”

“Yes, I did.” She nods like she understands, but she still looks deflated. “All of these relationships are new. There’s a lot of pressure to live up to the expectations one little quilt put on all of us, but ultimately it’s up to you on how you view your relationship with Logan. Let your feelings and his develop. It’s all going to turn out okay in the end.”

Wow. Is that really how I feel?

I think it is.

Maybe the quilt only revealed who’s soulmate potential. In the end, it’s up to the couple on whether or not they throw their hearts in the boxing ring and see if their relationship survives all the hits that one normally takes.

Maya glances up from her hands. “You think it’ll all turn out okay?”

“Of course I do. What you and Logan have is special. Be patient, do the challenges, get to know him, and don’t rush your feelings. Allow them to have the space they need to grow. You’ll see. By the end of this thing, I’m guessing you’re one of the top couples. Heck, you already are. So stop worrying and let it unfold the way it’s supposed to. Okay?”