loophole is that?”
“You have to be open to having a relationship and finding your soulmate. I’m not.” I shrug. “See? Perfect solution.”
“Nora….”
“Don’t Nora me. It’s fine. I’m fine. Everything is absolutely fine. Let’s just get this next activity set up because the guests are going to finish their drinks any minute and are going to be begging for the speed dating rounds.”
“What about Gage?” Gem mentions with a pointed look.
“What about him?”
“Did you see that he came to the keynote speaker event?”
“Yeah?”
“Did you see that he couldn’t take his eyes off you?”
I roll my eyes. “You’re ridiculous. Call it a hunch, but I don’t think Gage is really the forever type, either.”
“One,” Gem raises her forefinger. “You are one-hundred-percent the forever type. You just need to get over the fact that your brother broke his soulmate’s heart. You still have a chance to be very happily married if you’d put yourself out there. And two,” she raises her middle finger to join her first one in the air. “You have no idea what kind of guy Gage is or what he wants in life. I mean, do you even know his sign?”
“Ya know, funny thing…it didn’t come up during his fake proposal,” I retort before scanning the room a final time. There isn’t a single thing out of place. Two chairs are set across from each other with a set of heart-shaped pins and a laminated information card with questions, zodiac traits, and fun astrological facts typed on each of them.
“Well, it should’ve before you fake said yes in front of a bunch of strangers, which is so unlike you, by the way.”
“Yeah, yeah. I know. Tell me, are we done with this interrogation so I can open the doors and let the guests in? Or…?” My voice trails off as I place my closed fists on my hips, daring her to continue poking the bear.
With pursed lips, she points her finger at me. “I won’t be finished with you until you can open your heart to love and accept what fate has in store for you. Besides, you were so bummed when Gage ghosted you after fake proposing. Why are you acting all weird about a commitment two weeks later?”
“I thought a cute guy was interested in me. What girl wouldn’t want that? However, just because I’m attracted to him and thought it would be fun to casually date the guy doesn’t mean I thought he was my soulmate or even wanted him to be. I’m not ready for anything like that, and after the keynote speaker basically shoved the eclipse and its fortune down everyone’s throats for the past hour, I’m a little…testy, okay?”
I can practically see the wheels turning in her head as she watches me like a hawk.
Caving under her scrutiny, I demand, “Spit it out, Gem.”
“Fine. If you aren’t willing to give Gage a shot, are you going to at least participate in a few of the dating games we put together? Please? For me?” She changes tactics from annoyance to begging in the blink of an eye, but both have the same effect on me.
Cursing her under my breath, I mutter, “Fine. I’ll try to participate in a few of these things, but only if it’ll get you off my back.”
“And you’ll be open to love if it smacks you in the face? Even though you’re positive that I’m smoking something right now?”
“Gem––”
“Promise me, Nora. Please? All I want is for you to be happy, and the stars are literally aligning right now to make that happen.”
Massaging my temples, I mutter, “You, my friend, have polished one too many crystals.”
She laughs before rubbing her thumb across a gorgeous gem that’s hanging from a silver chain around her neck. “You know, I could argue about this all night long. But for now, I’ll cut you some slack since we have a bunch of buzzed guests who happen to also be looking for their forever, and we’d be terrible people to keep them waiting.”
I snort. “You’re terrible regardless of whether you keep them waiting or not.”
“I’m a delight,” she counters before pushing the doors open. “And you’re in denial.”
We both know I’m not about to start a debate in the middle of a bunch of strangers, but that doesn’t mean I’m not willing to pinch her butt and make her yelp when she least expects it.
“Hey!” she screeches.
Ignoring her, I find a microphone tucked under a small podium and tap on the head to make sure