Miss Match Read Free Page B

backed down from a challenge? I guess I can always refund his money and refuse to make the match if I don’t feel right about it…right? So really, what’s to lose?
    I’ll just have to get to know this Derek Urban before I fix him up with Maddie.
    I hit reply and type:
    Subj: Important Message from M.M.
Date: Sept. 9, 10:03 PM Mountain Standard Time
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
    Dear Derek,
    Greetings, and congratulations on finding Miss Match. You’re about to embark on a romantic adventure, and I’m here to provide the magic to get it all started.
    Meet me at Subway at noon on Friday. Since homecoming’s just around the corner, every minute counts. I’ll be wearing a red T-shirt with a white heart.
    Ciao for now,
M.M.
     
    It’s Friday, 11:54 a.m. I’m sitting in the far corner of the hard yellow booth at the Subway across the street from Snowcrest. It smells like yeast and onions in here. The September sun blares through the window and penetrates my scalp. High schoolers roll in and out, but no one pays any attention to me.
    My cell phone rings. It’s Yasmin. “Where are you?” she asks.
    Ugh. I’m such a bad friend. “I’m sorry, girl. I totally spaced eating with you. I’m actually having a working lunch today.”
    Ever since the day she suggested I turn my matchmaking hobby into an actual moneymaking profession, Yasmin has been my loyal and fabulous sidekick. Not only is she the reigning yearbook editor, she has a flair for digging up everything and anything that’s scandalicious. She’s an expert secret-and gossip-miner. Seriously. I’m floored with all the “news” she’s privy to. Plus, while I tend to blend in, she’s a hottie with a look-at-me attitude, and that proves useful from time to time. Miss Match wouldn’t be such a success if it weren’t for Yas.
    “Sure, just stand me up. What, am I supposed to eat alone?” she says with a slight whine in her voice. “Might as well banish me to Loserdom.”
    “Maybe you can go with Hilary and Sami?” I suggest. “They’re probably at Arctic Circle.”
    “Okay. Oh, wait. Brian’s waving at me. Maybe he’ll split his PB&J with me.”
    “Sounds yummy.”
    “Yeah, I love peanut butter.”
    “No, I mean Brian.” I’ve always thought Yas and Brian would make the perfect couple, and I’m even more sure of it now. Long gone are the lanky limbs and pimples of yesteryear. The summer’s been good to him, and Yas noticed too. “Did you know Brian’s the hottie you were checking out at the pep rally?” I ask.
    After a pause, she says, “Really? That’s weird.”
    “There’s no denying he’s looking good these days, Yas.”
    “Yeah, I guess you’re right.” Her voice sounds a bit distant, like she’s holding her phone away from her mouth. “Well, I’d better let you go, so you can work.”
    We hang up just as someone slides up to the booth, hovering over me. Oh my God,it’s THNG. “Hi!” he says, putting his hands on the table and leaning forward.
    I’m sure I’ve got some major red-face issues just about now. Man, he’s cute. He’s wearing baggy, olive-colored shorts and flip-flops. I can’t help but notice what nice legs he has: long and muscular with a leftover summer tan. He leans down and whispers in my ear, “So, what’s up, Miss Match?” Oooooh , that accent!
    Hang on.
    Did he just call me…? No way. THNG is Derek Urban? THNG wants me to fix him up with my sister?
    My jaw falls to the floor.
    Two
    Get a grip, Sasha.
    Why am I so surprised that he’s the one? I saw him drooling over Maddie at the pep rally. Plus, he’s new in town and probably doesn’t know a lot of people around here. It’s only natural he’d want to take the hottest girl in school to homecoming, right?
    I clear my throat and hold out my hand, hoping it’s not all sweaty. “Just call me Sasha. You know, in public.”
    He takes my hand and shakes it slowly. His dark blue eyes are hypnotic. “Do I know you?”