CHAPTER ONE

SADIE

“Have you talked with your grandmom yet?” I ask my bestie seated at the table next to me. I’m so excited I’m squirming in my seat. The nail tech gives an exasperated huff and tugs at my hand.

“Sorry,” I apologize and try to hold still so she can finish putting the bright green polish on. I love this color so much, but I’m far more excited over the prospect of Yvonne’s grandmother, the matchmaker, getting me hooked up with the perfect man.

I’m twenty-eight and have had more than my fair share of losers in my life, so I’m more than ready to finally meet the man of my dreams.

The tiniest kernel of doubt wiggles restlessly in my head. I thought I met the perfect guy two years ago. Handsome, sweet, and utterly dreamy, but like always, I was wrong.

“Are you seriously pouting?” Yvonne asks, breaking into my thoughts.

Before I can deny it. Or at least the fact that I wasn’t pouting over what she thinks I am, Yvonne continues. “Yes, I have talked to Nana. So you can stick your lip back in and behave.”

Hope surges within me and it’s only the nail tech’s steely grip on my hand that keeps me in my seat instead of jumping around doing a happy dance. I’ve tried dating apps, being set up by friends, and even the ill-fated workplace hookup. All have ended miserably.

But this is bound to work.

I mean, look at my bestie. Her amazing Nana, along with her group of senior friends, got Yvonne in with a guy she used to crush on as a teen.

Talk about wild.

And... not to be rude, and not like it’s really important… Shhhh… actually, it kinda is. But Henry’s loaded! And handsome, and okay, he also happens to be insanely nice. Far too nice, but that’s another story.

Either way, score one for Yvonne’s Nana and Nana’s friends!

Plus, to really sweeten the deal, I find out that this amazing bit of matchmaking they did for Yvonne and Henry isn’t the first one that this group of grannies has pulled off. Oh no, they have hooked others up, and everyone is deliriously in love.

I want that.

I want that so badly that it’s hard not to be jealous at times as I watch people all around me fall in love, get married, have babies, and basically get everything that I don’t have.

Sure love might not change my life. I’ll still have my crappy job, my itty bitty apartment that eats up half my paycheck every month, and the beater car that my older sister generously gave me when she upgraded.

The thing is, those things won’t matter as much because I’ll have someone to share the ups and downs with. Someone to laugh with me over the dumb things my manager does. A shoulder to lean on when I’m having a rough day and someone to celebrate all the great little moments in life with.

Friends are wonderful, as is family, but I want a man that’s my other half. Someone who gets me. I don’t think that’s too much to want.

“Who is he?” I demand.

Yvonne’s big brown eyes roll. “These things take time, Sadie. You need to have patience.”

“That’s easy for you to say!” I snap.

Immediately, I feel like a jerk. Like me, her love life hasn’t been that rosy either. Before Henry came along, she was crashing on my couch because her ex locked her out of their shared apartment. She went from a major loser to the perfect guy. Well, perfect for her. I need a bit more excitement than a guy like Henry can offer.

“Sorry, Vonnie.”

Shrugging her shoulders, my bestie gives me a sympathetic look. “Hey, it’s okay. I get it. I do. You want your happily ever after, too.”

Morosely, I nod.

“Listen, I just got back and haven’t even talked to Nana since before I left. I’ll call her tomorrow, and I bet she’ll have your guy all set for you.” Her eyes gleam as she talks, and it makes me wonder what Vonnie is keeping from me.

We’ve been friends for ages, at least it feels like that, so I normally can tell when she’s withholding something. I let it go for now, simply because I’m sure I’ll find out whatever it is soon, anyway. Vonnie can’t keep secrets from me anymore than I can keep one from her.

“Thanks again,” I say, reaching over with my free hand to pat at her arm.

My tech hisses in displeasure and I know even a big tip might not be enough to soothe things over.

Yvonne smiles my way. “Hey, what are friends for, right? Do you have time for lunch? What time do you need to be at work?”

Technically, I’m supposed to be at work now. I blew it off to spend time with my bestie, who I haven’t seen in forever. While it’s nice to have my couch back the apartment feels lonely without her there. My place is small and the two of us were constantly in each other’s way and bringing a guy home was not happening due to close quarters. Still, now the small apartment feels empty and lonely. I could get some fish to keep me company, I suppose, since the landlord has a strict no pets policy. It’s not the same as having another person around, though.

“Yeah, I have time for lunch. My schedule is wide open.” And it’s true. Why bother showing up late when it’s easier just to call off altogether?

Later at home, I kick off my shoes and plop down on my lumpy couch to scroll through my phone. Catching a glimpse of my latest tattoo, I smile. It’s a little cookie on the inner wrist of my left hand and it’s adorable. It’s a chocolate chip cookie and has cat ears and whiskers. I wanted something to honor my childhood pet, Cookie, but didn’t want to go with the usual paw print or cat silhouette. Mack, the tattoo artist, listened to me and immediately began to sketch it out. When I saw his design, I knew it was perfect. The man is incredibly gifted with his vision and his talent.

Mack also happens to be ruggedly handsome, with a deep and gentle voice that does crazy things to my insides. The first time I had him do a tattoo for me, I was tongue-tied the entire session. Which for me is saying a lot because I have a habit of being unable to stop talking. Diarrhea of the mouth, my mom calls it. Which is a gross and, I guess, fitting description.

I had no idea if the shop had a policy about not dating clients and was too scared to ask. But I was determined because I was crazy interested. Sadly, it seemed the more I flirted using body language, the quieter Mack became.

Being desperate, the next tattoo I had him do was low on my inner hip. Low as in, I made sure I was waxed before going in for that appointment. He was strictly professional the entire time! Talk about disappointment.

His lack of sexual interest was a crushing blow that I didn’t take well at all. I pouted and even debated going to another artist for my next tattoo. In the end, Mack was simply too amazing to give up just because my ego took a hit.

Almost like he sensed my previous disappointment, he gave me an amazing discount the next time I booked him. He also was super flexible about fitting me in, which I appreciated. So while it was a bitter pill to choke down that the guy I thought was perfect for me had zero interest, life went on.

A text pops up on my screen, bringing my attention back to my phone.

YVONNE: Thursday at five. Date with Malcolm at the Briar Park Animal Sanctuary.

Know that whole my mouth falls open bit? Yeah, that’s currently me.

She must have called her Nana right after we had lunch and boom! Now I have a date with my hopeful soul mate. At an animal sanctuary, though? That seems odd.

I push that to the side. The location doesn’t matter. What matters is I have a date! With Malcolm.

Silently I repeat his name trying to get a feel for it.

Sadie and Malcolm. Malcolm and Sadie. Ehhh... not terrible.

What is bad is that I’m scheduled to work until ten on Thursday. Rapidly, I go through my contact list and bug a few coworkers to see if anyone can cover for me. I’m not in love with my job, but I do like being able to eat and pay my bills and I don’t see my manager Doug being too happy with me if I call off twice in a week.

Thankfully, one of my coworkers gets back to me that he can cover for me. Yes!

Now all that’s left is to figure out what I’m going to wear.