Matchmaker (Empire High #4) - Ivy Smoak Page 0,107

the way she had with Cupcake. Fuck. She’d told me it was a bad idea…

“I might be a little late,” she said. “I have a photo shoot at 1:30, and the client always runs over.”

“That’s fine. Practice doesn’t end until 5.”

“Okay.”

I smiled. “Okay then.”

She smiled back before climbing into the taxi.

I wanted to do some kind of victory dance as the taxi sped off. But my phone buzzed in my pocket. First I had to deal with Tanner.

***

Tanner’s apartment was pitch black again when I walked in. With all the windows, it should have been impossible. It was like he’d installed blackout curtains just for this occasion. I stumbled into the great room and Tanner turned on the small lamp he’d set up yesterday morning.

But this time there were two wingback chairs. One for Tanner and one for Nigel. They were both pretending to read newspapers and I cringed, wondering if there was a picture of Poppy and me plastered somewhere in there.

“You broke curfew again,” Nigel said and slammed his paper on the ground. “We were worried sick, Mr. Caldwell. How could you…”

“Nigel, please, you sound hysterical,” Tanner said and folded his paper neatly. “Matt, we were worried sick! How could you do this to me two nights in a row!”

He sounded almost exactly as hysterical as Nigel had been. “I’m really sorry…”

“Sorry? You’re…you’re grounded, young man.”

I laughed. “What?”

“Go to your room immediately.”

“Tanner.”

“Fine, I can’t ground you because you’re practically an adult.” He threw his paper on the ground. “But seriously, what the actual hell?”

I walked over to him. “I’m really sorry, man.”

“Actions speak louder than words.”

“What if I told you I have a really good reason?” Honestly, Tanner was more invested in my love life than anyone else. He was going to be thrilled when he heard about Kennedy.

Tanner sighed. “Out with it then.”

“Tanner?” a girl called from somewhere down the hall. “Are you coming back to bed?”

I laughed. “So you weren’t that worried,” I said.

“It’s better to be distracted while worried. It makes time fly.” He turned around. “I’ll be back in a minute!” he called to her.

“Isn’t the saying that time flies when you’re having fun?”

He shrugged. “Yeah, distractions can be fun. Tell me your thing.”

For once I could make him wait. Yes, I’d kept him worried all night. But he’d been busy with that girl. Surely he wasn’t that worried. And he always made me wait for stuff. “I’ll tell you tonight.”

“What, when you don’t come home before curfew?”

“Sick burn, Master,” Nigel said. He lifted up his hand and Tanner slapped it. But it seemed like Nigel was going for more of a handshake. Because he ended up awkwardly grabbing Tanner’s hand mid-high-five.

“Nigel, whatever are you doing?” Tanner pulled away. “High-fives are the protocol right now. We’ve discussed this.”

Nigel nodded. “Yes, Master.”

So weird.

“Ignore Nigel. He’s forgetful,” Tanner said. “When can I expect you home this evening? Don’t answer that. I have the perfect restaurant. And before you roll your eyes, you owe me.”

“I never roll my eyes,” I said.

“Internally. And before you even ask, yes, I’ll be scoping out the place for events. And yes, you do have to pretend to be my date. So come to terms with your masculinity and get over it. If you’ll excuse me, Veronica needs my assistance.”

“Your assistance?”

Tanner laughed. “I may have tied her up. It’s truly refreshing. Women get kinkier and kinkier as time marches on.”

“What, since you were in high school?”

“Hmm? Yes. Exactly.” He picked up the paper off the floor. I didn’t see any sign of Poppy’s forced pictures on the page he’d been on.

“Nigel will send you the location of the restaurant,” Tanner said. “7 o’clock sharp. I don’t want to be late for our reservation.” He walked away, knowing that I wouldn’t say no. I was kind of at his mercy here.

“Here you go, Mr. Caldwell,” Nigel said and produced one of those green hangover smoothies. “Just in case.”

“Thanks, Nigel. What’s the secret ingredient in this anyway?” I took a sip and the little bit of pressure in my head faded instantly.

“It’s a secret,” Nigel said with a wink.

I forced myself to swallow down the sip I’d taken. The way Nigel said it made it really seem like he’d skeeted in it or something. “Um…I should get to work.” I tried to hand it back to him.

“Once you finish that. And your lunch is packed. I’ll draw you another bath tonight, but no rose petals this time. They’re a pain to fish out of