Dave sat slouched on the couch, one arm thrown over the backrest while the other lazily nursed a glass of whiskey. The ice clinked as he swirled the amber liquid, his thoughts tangled in the same relentless loop. June's words still echoed in his head.
"It meant absolutely nothing."
A sharp exhale left his lips. Damn it, why did it hurt so much?
The slam of his apartment door jolted him from his daze.
"Okay, so she rejected you. That's a first," James announced, strolling in with a weak chuckle.
Dave shot him a glare so sharp it could've cut glass.
James held up his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright. Bad timing. But seriously, she's so mean. How could she?" He plopped down next to Dave, swiping the glass from his hand and taking a sip before making a face. "Ugh, why do you drink this stuff straight?"
Dave barely reacted, his mind still stuck on June. Mean? Maybe. But she wasn't cruel. Not really. Still, the way she shut him down, like their history, their connection, meant absolutely nothing, left a bitter taste in his mouth.
"I just don't get it," he muttered, rubbing his jaw. "I knew she had walls up, but I didn't expect her to act like we never meant anything to each other."
James shrugged. "Could be an age thing. You are kinda old, man."
Dave's brow twitched. "What the hell do you mean, old?"
James snatched up an apple from the fruit bowl and leaned back. "You're thirty-Five. She's twenty-four. Count the difference. Young women these days want young blood." He took a dramatic bite, crunching loudly.
Dave scoffed, running a hand through his hair. "That's absolute nonsense. June isn't like that." He sighed, shaking his head. "Besides, if she really wanted someone younger, she would've gone for one. No, this is something else."
James smirked. "Then what is it? 'Cause from where I'm sitting, you're looking pretty damn miserable over this."
Dave clenched his jaw, unable to argue.
Before he could dwell on it further, another voice cut in.
"Go on a blind date then."
Both men snapped their heads toward the door, where Dora stood, arms crossed and a knowing glint in her eye.
James blinked. "Uh… how the hell did you get in here?"
Dora rolled her eyes, striding further into the room. "Through the door."
"I locked it," James countered, crunching into his apple with suspicion.
Dora tilted her head. "Clearly, you thought you locked it." She smirked. "Maybe check your eyes. The door was unlocked, so I walked in. Simple."
James narrowed his eyes. "You're suspicious."
"And you're annoying," Dora shot back before turning to Dave. "Anyway, as I was saying before some bug interrupted" she sent James a glare, which he met with a smug grin. "June isn't rejecting you because she doesn't care. She's scared."
Dave leaned forward, interest flickering in his tired eyes. "Scared?"
Dora nodded. "You and I both know what she went through as a kid. Her father, the things her mom endured… she doesn't want history repeating itself."
James snorted. "Okay, but what proof do you have that she actually has feelings for him? 'Cause last I checked, she shut him down hard."
Dora crossed her arms. "I've known June for years. I've never seen her react to any guy the way she does with Dave. And trust me, if she truly didn't care, she wouldn't have shut him down so harshly."
Dave swallowed hard. He wanted to believe that. He needed to.
"Then what do I do?" he asked quietly.
Dora's lips curled into a grin. "You make her realize she's in love with you."
Dave raised a brow. "And how exactly am I supposed to do that?"
"Go on blind dates. In front of her," Dora said, her smile widening. "Drive her insane. Make her jealous. Push her until she can't deny it anymore."
James let out a low whistle. "Damn, that's diabolical."
Dora ignored him. "Better yet," she continued, "join her dating show this Saturday."
Dave stared at her like she'd grown a second head. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me," Dora said, planting her hands on her hips. "She's spent months planning that show. She needs the ratings to go up, and you? You'd be the perfect wildcard contestant."
James chuckled. "This keeps getting better. So let me get this straight, you want him to parade around as a contestant on her show, all while flirting with other women to make her jealous?"
"Exactly," Dora confirmed.
Dave exhaled slowly, dragging a hand down his face. "You're insane."
Dora shrugged. "Maybe. But it'll work."
James leaned forward, rubbing his chin. "Yeah, but what's in it for you?"
Dora's smirk faltered slightly before she quickly recovered. "What do you mean?"
James popped the last bite of his apple into his mouth. "Come on. You don't strike me as someone who just does things out of the goodness of her heart. What's your angle?"
Dora huffed. "Fine. Yes, I may have my own reasons. But it's not selfish!" She gestured toward Dave. "For one, my friend gets a man who actually loves her. And two… well, let's just say I like happy endings."
James grinned. "You mean for your book?"
Dora's eyes flickered. "Shut up."
Dave sighed, leaning back into the couch. "This is ridiculous."
"But you're considering it," Dora pointed out.
A long pause stretched between them before Dave finally muttered, "What's the plan?"
Dora beamed.
James whooped. "Oh, this is gonna be fun."
….
The warm breeze danced through the open field, ruffling the golden strands of Beth's hair as she giggled on the checkered picnic mat. Her laughter rang like tiny bells, carrying with it a kind of warmth Linda hadn't seen in years. It had been too long since her daughter smiled like this, carefree and full of life.
Linda sat cross-legged at the edge of the mat, watching her daughter's glowing face with quiet contentment. Three years. Three long years since the divorce. She had always known the separation took a toll on Beth, but watching her so effortlessly happy today made her realize just how much her little girl had been hurting.
Maybe she and Thomas had failed as a couple, but if moments like these could still exist, where they could at least pretend to be a complete family, if only for a while, then maybe not everything was broken beyond repair.
"Strawberry or banana?" Lizzy asked, reaching for the juice cartons.
"Strawberry," Thomas answered without missing a beat. "Linda's allergic to bananas."
His words sent an unexpected chill down Lizzy's spine. Her fingers unconsciously pressed into the foam bread she had been holding, her nails sinking in as she struggled to suppress the tension rising in her chest.
She had been quiet for most of the outing, watching as her boyfriend and his ex-wife drifted into their own little world, unintentionally shoving her aside like some unwanted extra. She was supposed to be his woman now, yet here she was, practically invisible.
And to make things worse, he still remembered everything about Linda.
Not just her allergies, but her favorite juice, her habits, her fears… everything. Yet, after a year together, he barely remembered the little details about her.
"Wow, Dad. You still remember Mom's allergy?" Beth said, her voice filled with admiration.
Right. Just go ahead and rub salt into the wound. Because clearly, this so-called family picnic wasn't painful enough already.
Lizzy forced a tight smile, trying to keep herself from snapping. Of course, no one had forced her to come here today. But what was she supposed to do? Leave her boyfriend alone with his impossibly gorgeous ex-wife, who somehow never seemed to age?
Hell no.
Her own insecurities had driven her to take the day off work, on a very important day, no less. And at this rate, she was starting to think it had been a massive mistake.
"How about you, Thomas?" she asked, stabbing her glare in his direction.
Thomas barely glanced at her, still focused on Linda and Beth.
"Strawberry," Beth answered for him, grinning. "Dad always shares juice with Mom. It's kinda their thing."
Lizzy's grip tightened around the juice carton. Well, that 'thing' should come to an end because I'm in the picture now.
"Oh, I'll have the same then," Lizzy said, forcing a cheerful tone. "It's a family thing, right?"
She let the words settle, watching Thomas's reaction closely. He didn't even seem to notice the emphasis.
Her little inner devil whispered, Why not slap yourself in the face instead?
"Here you go." Lizzy handed Thomas his juice with a bright smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"Thank" he muttered absentmindedly, still smiling at Beth.
Lizzy exhaled sharply. Unbelievable.
The conversation continued, but Lizzy barely heard it, until Beth suddenly squealed, her voice high with excitement.
"Mom, do you still scream at cockroaches?"
Linda blinked in surprise before chuckling. "I"
Beth giggled. "You used to freak out so bad! And Dad would always yell, 'Someone get these roaches away from her!' while you were clinging onto him like your life depended on it!"
Linda laughed, shaking her head. "It was terrifying."
Lizzy clenched her jaw so hard she could practically hear her teeth grinding.
Seriously?
Of all the childhood memories to bring up, this was what Beth chose?
She stole a glance at Thomas, whose face had softened with nostalgia. His chuckle rumbled low in his chest as he shook his head, eyes distant like he was lost in a time that didn't include her.
Before Linda's hand could unconsciously reach out toward Thomas, purely out of instinct, Lizzy swiftly moved, pressing a hand onto his shoulder and shoving a water bottle into his free hand.
"Here. Drink this," she said flatly.
Thomas coughed slightly, caught off guard, but accepted the water without protest.
The silent war between the two women didn't go unnoticed. Their eyes clashed, unspoken challenges exchanged between them. A battle only they understood.
Linda's lips twitched into a knowing smile. Lizzy's expression hardened.
"He always chokes when he laughs too much," Linda started to say, her voice light with amusement. "I remember when.."
"I know," Lizzy cut in, her tone sharper than intended. "He's my boyfriend, after all."
The laughter died down. Even Beth stopped sipping her juice, sensing the shift in the air.
Lizzy took a steady breath. "Thanks for sharing all these wonderful memories, but I think we should focus on the present. Things of the past should be left in the past."
Silence.
Linda studied her for a moment, her womanly instincts picking up on everything Lizzy was trying to hide.
She knew that look all too well, the insecurity, the fear of losing someone to the past, the need to prove one's place.
Linda sighed. "I meant no harm," she said gently.
Lizzy's shoulders stiffened. "I never said you did, did I?" she shot back.
Thomas finally looked between the two women, catching onto the brewing tension.
Beth, oblivious to the unspoken battle, clung onto her mother's arm. "Mom, you promised to stay the whole day with us!"
Linda hesitated.
She knew why she had agreed to this picnic, not for Thomas, not for nostalgia, but for Beth. The doctor had warned her to be careful with anything that could emotionally upset their daughter.
And yet… staying here any longer didn't seem like the best idea anymore.
She gently pried Beth's hands away and stood up. "I think I should leave."
Beth's smile faltered. "But Mom.."
Thomas's brows furrowed. "Linda"
"It's okay," she assured them with a soft smile. Then, turning to Lizzy, she added in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Take care of him."
Lizzy wasn't sure if it was a warning, a challenge, or simply a statement. But whatever it was, it left an unsettling feeling in her gut as she watched Linda walk away.
And for some reason, despite technically winning today's battle…
Lizzy didn't feel victorious at all.
….
The grand set of Love Match Live buzzed with final preparations, the outdoor love garden glistening under the soft glow of string lights and carefully placed spotlights. The gentle hum of murmuring voices, last-minute adjustments, and the occasional rustling of flower arrangements filled the air. The entire space had been transformed into a picturesque scene, a dreamy haven designed to bring people together.
Yet, amidst the orchestrated perfection, June felt like a ticking time bomb.
"Have you set everything? How about the lights and the decorations? Are the participants all in place? Have they filled in their details?" she fired off questions in rapid succession, pacing back and forth.
Her team exchanged exhausted glances. Nine hours. Nine straight hours of non-stop running around, tweaking every little detail, making sure the launch of this show went flawlessly. And now, mere minutes before they went live, June was still in a frenzy.
"Relax."
Jane, "Everything has been set exactly as planned. In less than a minute, the show will begin. You have nothing to worry about."
June exhaled, unscrewing the cap and taking a much-needed gulp. The chilled water soothed her parched throat, momentarily easing the stress constricting her chest.
Logically, she knew Jane was right. The team had worked tirelessly. Every arrangement had been meticulously handled. The show had to be a success, failure wasn't an option.
But June wasn't just banking on a smooth production.
She needed one thing, one magical, captivating couple that could win over the audience, someone so perfectly matched that their chemistry alone would make the show go viral. If she could find that couple, the ratings would soar.
"We're on in five," a crew member called out, holding up her fingers in a countdown gesture.
June nodded, her sharp gaze scanning the garden through the monitor screens. The show's participants had begun entering, their faces a mixture of nervous anticipation and excitement. Groups were formed based on their submitted compatibility forms, some consisting of five men to three women, others with six women and four men, depending on their preferences.
Among the crowd, her production team moved swiftly, keeping everything running smoothly. The camera operators adjusted their angles, making sure to capture the best interactions.
"Find the most compatible couples and keep the spotlight on them," June instructed the camera department, her voice steady but firm.
"There," Liam, one of her crew members, pointed to a screen. "That couple looks promising."
June turned her attention to the display, but the moment her eyes locked onto the feed, her breath hitched.
Her fingers clenched the armrest of her chair, her nails digging into the leather. Her heartbeat slammed against her ribs, rattling her focus, making everything around her blur for a split second.
What the hell is he doing here?
Her pulse spiked. Heat prickled at her skin.
"Who signed him in?" Her voice cut through the air, sharp and laced with something between disbelief and rising frustration.
"Who are you talking about?" Jane leaned in to see what had her friend so rattled.
When her gaze landed on the same screen, her mouth clamped shut in understanding.
"Oh."
June didn't have to explain. Jane knew exactly why she reacted this way.
There he was, standing among the participants, completely at ease, an easy smirk playing at his lips as he exchanged words with the woman beside him.
Dave.
Damn it.
That explained everything, why June had suddenly stiffened, why her entire focus had been yanked away from the show's success, why she now looked like she wanted to either strangle someone or walk out entirely.
Jane smirked knowingly. "Damn. You really have a thing for him."
June shot her a glare. "Shut up."
Jane chuckled but didn't push further.
Taking a sharp breath, June turned to the crew. "Have him removed from the show."
Her tone left no room for argument.
But even as she barked the command, her stomach churned.
Because for all the irritation, all the shock, all the chaos raging in her head…
A tiny, traitorous part of her, the part she hated, was wondering why she suddenly felt a little too aware of the camera zooming in on him.
And why, despite herself, she couldn't look away.