Page 67 of Stupid Matchmaking Love

I wave her off. “I’m fine.”

“I’m sure it’s nothing a manicure and pedicure can’t fix, right?”

“Right.”

The six of us load into the resort’s concierge van, with me and Maya sitting in the back row. As soon as we’re in, our fearless leader announces, “Cristina and Rhett found a bunnicorn!”

The women erupt into oohs and aahs—everyone but Holly, that is. She flips her blond hair. “How do we even know it’s real?”

Really? This is where she wants to go? “It’s real.”

From the front passenger seat, Mina claps. “How’d you find it?”

“It appeared in my room.”

“Y’all!” Mina presses her hand to her chest. “Isn’t that the most romantic sign? It’s like the land has bestowed its blessing on the two of y’all.”

“Something like that,” I mutter.

“Well, I’ll believe it when I see it,” Holly chimes in. “I just don’t think one couple is any more special than another. The quilt picked all of us—some of us sooner than others.”

The haughtiness in her tone really burns my biscuits. “Just because some of us were last doesn’t mean we’re any less a magical match.”

“You sure about that?”

I want to rip those blond extensions right out of her hair. “Yes, I’m sure,” I say, so sweetly that Holly can’t help but hear the anger in my voice. But to make sure she’s caught it, I add, “And also—bunnicorn, sugar. It showed up for us.”

“Ladies, let’s save the venom for when our nails are done, okay?” Mina laughs nervously. “And when there aren’t so many of us who might get caught in the cross fire.”

Fine by me.

We reach the nail place a few minutes later, and everyone exits the van, which will return in two hours. I’m not sure Holly and I will be in one piece by then, but we’ll see.

Mina grabs my sleeve as I pass her. “Word to the wise,” she whispers. “Try to keep the peace here, okay?”

I scoff. “I’m not the one who started it.”

“I know that—I do. But if any of this cattiness hits the stream, you look petty and Rhett’s bookings soften. Help me keep the story romantic. Besides, you see what it could mean for the resort.”

My stomach dips. “Oh.”

“‘Oh’ is right—and from what I’m hearing, bookings are already up. We don’t want them to lose momentum.”

She’s right. The thought of me being the reason why Rhett could lose business makes my chest squeeze. I can’t do that to him. He’s too good a guy.

Wait. Did I just admit something about Rhett?

Let’s just bury that thought so it never sees daylight again, shall we?

Inside, I end up sitting between Clarice and Maya for pedicures. Holly and Callie are on the other side of the room, having their nails done first. Mina sits with them.

“Now, girls,” Mina announces, “spill all the tea! What’s going on with you and your match? Have there been any sparks? Any”—she bats her lashes suggestively—“fun romps?”

Holly and Callie giggle.

Holly clears her throat. “Well, I don’t like to kiss and tell—”

“Shocker,” Maya whispers.