I racked my brains to come up with everyone who might be a fit and wrote them down as well, then I added columns beside them for each characteristic I’d listed for Dylan. I made a check if there was a match and an X if there wasn’t and left the column blank if I wasn’t sure so I could try to fill it in later. In the end I had almost two dozen names that looked reasonable—one of them had to be Dylan’s perfect match. But how to choose?
Some of them were out of town, and a few quick texts to the girls I knew personally eliminated six who were spending their holidays away. I couldn’t afford to wait for them to get back. I needed to get this done before I developed the kind of crush on Dylan that I had for Seth. Scanning through the names that were left, one leaped out at me. Gail Coleman. Delaney knew her because they’d lived a few houses apart before Laney moved into her creepy new house over the summer, and she had mentioned before that Gail was sweet. She was an honor student and kind of geeky, in the Math Club, and liked science fiction and superhero movies. All of that fit, plus she was pretty—a few inches shorter than Dylan with long, pale blonde hair and green eyes, and her glasses made her look even cuter and smarter. She also didn’t seem to date much.
Dylan would probably be a good match for her, too. He was super nice, and I knew he’d be attentive and not intimidate her. They’d definitely make a cute couple. Now I just had to figure out how to get them together.
For some reason I hadn’t thought that part would be very hard, but it totally stumped me. As far as I could tell they didn’t know each other, didn’t hang around with any of the same people, and had no reason to ever be in the same place other than school. I had to come up with something, but what?
It was Molly who came to my rescue when she texted the next morning.
Molly: Still coming to Quinn’s tonight?
Me: Quinn’s? Why?
Molly: We’re supposed to get together to play games, remember?
Me: Oh, yeah. I forgot
Molly: I knew you would
Me: Don’t worry, I’ll be there
Me: I’m going to whip all of you at Mario Kart
Molly: As if
Me: LOL. See you tonight
Molly: kthxbai
Suddenly it hit me. This was it! This was how I’d get them together!
Me: Hey, why don’t you get Quinn to invite Dylan?
Molly: Dylan? Really?
Me: Yeah. He’s having kind of a rough time. Caught his gf cheating on him at Mary Folsom’s party
Molly: Oh no!!!
Me: He could probably use the distraction to get his mind off things, and since Dani isn’t here…
Molly: OK. I’ll talk to Quinn
Me: Thanks!
Molly: Sure. See you later
I cackled in glee as my plan kicked off. There was no doubt in my mind that Dylan would go, so half the job was done. But to finish I’d need Delaney’s help. What I wanted was too complicated to explain via text, so I called her.
“Hey, Allie,” she said as she answered. “What’s up?”
“Want to be my partner in crime?”
“That depends on how much trouble you’re going to get me into.”
“None. I just figured out who to set Dylan up with, and I need your help.”
“Why do I not like this already?”
“Oh, stop worrying.”
Quickly I explained to her how I’d already gotten Molly to invite Dylan over to play games with the rest of us. She listened in silence, but I could tell she was still skeptical when I finished.
“I think I’ve got the perfect girl, but I need your help getting her to Quinn’s tonight.”
“Who is she?”
“Gail Coleman.”
She gave a snort of surprise. “Gail? Really?”
“After spending time with Dylan and getting to know him better, I think they’d be good together.”
Before she could object I ran through my list to show I really did have some clue what I was talking about.
“Well, she sounds good on paper at least,” Delaney admitted grudgingly. “And Gail does like to play video games—the kind you like to play, anyway.”
“And she’s not dating anyone as far as I’ve been able to find out.”
“No, she’s single. And she is in town.”
“See? It’s perfect!”
“I don’t know about that, but I’ll grant you that it’s plausible.”
“So you’ll talk to her?”
Delaney heaved a put upon sigh. “I guess so.”
“Good. Get Molly to okay it, too. I don’t want her or Quinn to know that I set this up.”
I knew better than to ask her to keep it from Walker. She told him everything. I’d just have to rely on him not to spread it around, but he was usually good at keeping secrets to himself.
“All right. I’ll do that. Anything else?”
“No, that’s all. Thanks, Laney! You’re the best!”
“Yeah, yeah. You’d just better hope this whole thing doesn’t blow up in your face.”
“It won’t. How could it?”
After all, everything was going according to plan.
I got to Quinn’s around seven o’clock. It was already dark outside, the stars twinkling merrily overhead with a cold wind out of the north to remind us that it was December, even though it had been nice out earlier. I took a minute to enjoy the view from the deck of Quinn’s beach house before going inside. The place was amazing, and I would have given an arm to live in a house like that on the beach.
“Hey, Allison,” Dylan’s voice came to me out of the darkness.
He was standing in the shadows on the other side of the doors. “Oh, I didn’t see you.”
“Just taking in the view. There’s something about the ocean at night.”
I could feel the wildness, the mystery of it through my skin. “I know exactly what you mean.”
We went inside together and found Molly there with Quinn and Walker and some of their other gamer friends. There was hot cocoa and spiced tea, chips and queso, and homemade guacamole that Molly had whipped up that was to die for. Quinn herded the guys towards the game room while Molly and I traded small talk and waited for Delaney.
It was only a few minutes before she showed up with Gail. After two minutes of talking to her I knew that she was every bit as sweet as Laney had claimed. She was kind of quiet, though not really shy, and she seemed at ease even though she didn’t know anyone there but Delaney. The four of us followed the boys upstairs to the game room.
“You all know Gail, right?” Delaney asked them, then introduced everyone just in case.
Molly leaned on the couch by Quinn. “What are we playing?”
The boys launched into an argument over Battlefront and Call of Duty, while the rest of us traded exasperated glances.
“Mario Kart!” Molly and I yelled together.
There were groans, but Delaney and Gail backed us up so the boys turned off the Xbox. They knew when they were beaten. Dylan pulled a face at me then grinned, which made my stomach flutter. That wasn’t good. He was supposed to be giving Gail butterflies, not me! I was going to have to avoid him in hope that he and Gail would interact enough to get some chemistry going.
We played party games on Quinn’s Wii for a while then took a break while the boys went back to their Xbox shooters. Molly joined them, of course, and to my surprise Gail took a couple of turns as well. I was glad I’d invited her, even if nothing happened with Dylan, because she was having a great time. The boys noticed her, too, because whenever she laughed she was even prettier. I could see CJ and Trent watching her with interest, but I was still convinced my plan was going to work. It just had to.
After that we went back to playing party games, and I snuck down to the kitchen for more of Molly’s guacamole—and to get away from Dylan. I’d only been there a minute or so when Trent showed up.
“Gail is really something, isn’t she? Cute and good at headshots. Is she seeing anyone?”
I fixed him with my best glare. “She’s not your type.”
“She looks like my type,” he replied with a leer.
“She’s a sweetheart and doesn’t date much, and if you treated her like the last girl you went out with Delaney would have Walker pound you into next Christmas.”
Trent laughed. “Message received. Besides, girls that sweet aren’t much fun to play with anyway.”
“Good thinking.”
I only hoped Dylan was finding her equally attractive. When I went back upstairs, that seemed to be the case. Molly and Gail were playing Mario Kart against Walker and Dylan. The room was full of lively banter, and my couple-in-progress was grinning and having a ball as they tried to knock one another off of the track. Laughter rose from all sides as Gail sailed over the finish line and Dylan came in last. The two of them got up to give the others a turn and sat together on the couch to watch, still talking and so close they were almost touching. This was exactly what I’d hoped for. So why wasn’t I happier about it?
What I really wanted to do was go wedge myself between them. I shook my head, knowing I was just being ridiculous again. Dylan was not who I wanted. I was just confused because of the stuff going on with Seth.
To get my mind off of the two of them I took my own turn at Mario Kart, which was my favorite game after all. But the immersion lasted only so long, and when I handed over my controller and saw the way that Gail was gazing adoringly at Dylan my stomach threatened to tie itself into a knot. I stared at them, emotions seething in a turmoil I couldn’t control, until I felt a hand on my arm.
“Come on,” Delaney said gently. “Let’s go get some more of that guacamole.”
I followed her downstairs and began stuffing my face. It was something to do.
“Looks like your plan worked,” Laney remarked casually.
“Yeah.”
“You don’t seem very happy about it.”
“Of course I am! Didn’t you see them together? They make an awesome couple.”
“Uh huh. Except I think that you wish it was you sitting there next to him.”
I laughed and gave a little wave of my arm. “You know good and well that Seth is the only boy I care about.”
“Keep telling yourself that.”
She grabbed a bag of chips and headed back upstairs. I stayed a little longer, telling myself that she was completely off base and that everything was perfect. My plan was on track and Dylan would soon be out of the picture as far as I was concerned, so I could get back to pining after Seth.
When got back upstairs it was my turn at Mario Kart again. I played mindlessly, lost the game, and retreated to a corner where I could lurk in peace. Was Delaney right? I pondered that while I shoved chips in my mouth and pretended to watch the others play.
“You eat all the Doritos and Quinn is going to throw you out of his house.”
Walker was standing beside me with a knowing smirk on his face. I shoved the bag away with a grimace. I hadn’t even realized I was eating them.
“Had all the Mario Kart you can take?” I asked.
“And then some. We’ll start Battleground again in a few minutes, though.”
A thought occurred to me. “Do you know the girl Seth is seeing? Tall, blonde, gorgeous?”
He nodded. “Mindy Swift. She’s on the tennis team. Her younger brother works at the same pizza place with Seth.”
“Oh.” So that was it.
“She’s kind of a stuck up… Well. Let’s just say she’s not the nicest person in the world. She’s a grass is greener type. Always looking for the next best thing.”
“Doesn’t sound too great for Seth.”
“Nope.”
On impulse I told him about the hit and run Delaney and I had witnessed at the mall. Walker shook his head.
“Wow. Even for her that’s bad.”
“I can’t believe Seth is with someone like that.”
Walker smiled in the darkness. “Is it really Seth you’re worried about?”
“What do you mean?”
He scooped out a generous helping of guacamole on a chip. “Dylan and Gail seem to be getting along really well.”
“Yeah. So?”
“Nothing. Just making conversation. And you might consider that while Seth has a girlfriend, Dylan doesn’t.”
Quinn poked his head over the back of the couch. “Walker, we’re about to start Battlefront.”
Delaney’s boyfriend shoved the rest of the chip in his mouth. “That’s my cue. Gotta go.”
I glared after him. Why did he and Laney think I should go after Dylan? Dani would have kittens if she came home from vacation and found me cozied up with her ex. Awkward wouldn’t begin to describe it. No, I was doing the right thing. I almost even made myself believe it. Almost.
While we played games the rest of the evening, Dylan and Gail kept close together. They were obviously enjoying each other’s company and oblivious to the knowing looks which flew around them. I did my best to ignore them and told myself that this was exactly what I’d set out to do, but that didn’t stop the cold little knot which coiled in the pit of my stomach.
Molly and Walker had just started a head to head game when Gail jumped to her feet.
“Oh, shoot! I didn’t realize how late it was. I’ve got to get home.”
Delaney started to get up, but Dylan waved her back down to her place beside Walker. “I’ll take her,” he said.
“Are you sure?”
“It's on my way home. Not a problem.”
My eyes followed them as they walked out together, and I tried to ignore the ache inside my chest. I was doing the right thing. It was obvious they belonged together.
When I turned back to the game I saw Laney looking at me. She shook her head as though in pity for my lameness. Apparently she didn’t believe it, either.
I didn’t hear from Dylan the next day. I didn’t really expect to, and I didn’t want to be the one to text him first, even though I was dying to find out how things were going with him and Gail. Instead I spent the day entertaining my cousins and thinking about Seth in an effort to keep my mind off of Dylan. It worked—sort of.
But when I went to bed I twisted and turned, restless because my brain wouldn’t shut off. Had they spent all day texting? Had they gone out? I was ready to smother myself with a pillow by the time I finally fell asleep.
Next morning while I was at the gym Dylan did text, though.
Dylan: Got plans for lunch?
Me: I was thinking of calling Brad Pitt and hooking up
Dylan: Brat
Me: I’m at the gym. Give me time to get home and clean up
Dylan: Chili’s in an hour?
Me: Hour and a half
Dylan: Great! Meet you there
I shut down the treadmill and began shoving my things into my bag. Why was he asking me to lunch? Did that mean he wasn’t going out with Gail? Or was he just wanting to talk to me as a friend? Maybe he needed a woman’s perspective or something. The curiosity burning inside of me drove me to rush home and get ready in record time.
He was waiting for me inside the restaurant when I got there.
“I hope this turns out better than Caroline’s,” I said.
“But the ketchup in your hair was so adorable.”
“You had it in your hair, too.”
“But it didn’t look nearly as good on me.”
We munched on chips while we waited for our lunch. Neither of us had said much so far, and I still had no idea why we were there. I wanted to ask, but I made myself wait to see what he had to say.
“Kids still driving you crazy?” he asked.
“I’m ready to go back to school if it means I can get away from them.”
Laughter sparkled in his eyes. “Sounds almost as fun as my last minute shopping trip at the mall.”
I perked up at that. Last minute Christmas shopping? Had he gone to get something for Gail? They barely knew each other, but if he really liked he
r he might have put forth the extra effort.
“So you and Gail kind of hit it off at Quinn’s the other night, huh?”
Dylan sighed. “Yeah. We went out last night. Turns out she doesn’t like sports at all. Better yet, she’d been smoking pot with some of her Math Club friends before I picked her up and she was completely toasted. She spent the whole evening giggling and talking like I was deaf.”
“Gail?” I repeated in disbelief. “Are you serious?”
“Yep. I won’t be doing that again.”
“I guess not. It’s too bad, though. She seemed really nice.”
“Oh, she is. Just not my type.”
I spent the rest of our lunch together wondering just what his type was, and being secretly glad that it wasn’t Gail after all.
Chapter Five
Dani texted me that evening, rescuing me from another endless round of board games intended to keep my cousins busy and out of the adults’ hair. They weren’t my kids, though, and I wasn’t getting paid to babysit so I didn’t feel the slightest bit guilty about bailing.
“Gotta take this,” I said as I jumped up and dashed for my room.
Dannika: So how’s the matchmaking going?
Me: I blew it
Dannika: What happened?
Me: I found a girl and got them together, but she turned out not to be as good a fit for him as I thought
Dannika: If it was easy everyone would be doing it
Me: Well, how was I supposed to know she was secretly a stoner? I’m not into any of that stuff
Dannika: If you’re going to play matchmaker that’s exactly the kind of thing you HAVE to know
Me: I know. I just thought I had this nailed
Dannika: Don’t give up. Next time you’ll know more and be able to choose better
Me: So, heard from Ashton?
Dannika: No. Not a word
Me: I’m sorry
Dannika: This was why I didn’t want to start dating him again. I knew it would come down to him having to make this choice
Me: It’s not really his fault
Dannika: No, but getting back together just made things worse, exactly like I said it would. I should have left things alone
Me: I hear ya
After all, didn’t I feel the same way? It was safer to leave things the way they were, because otherwise I’d be setting myself up to get my heart curbstomped and it wasn’t worth it. Although whenever I saw Delaney and Walker or Molly and Quinn together I had to wonder if I was being honest. Didn’t I want exactly what they had? Wasn’t I really just scared that no one would ever want me that way?
The Perfect Match Page 4