The Matchmaker's Playbook

I was sick, but not too sick to remember the rules I’d established. The same ones I’d just preached to Lex that I wasn’t breaking. And she wasn’t just in my house; she was in my bedroom. On my bed.

“I texted you. I even called.” Blake dipped the rag into ice water and wrung it out. “And you never responded. You’ve been out for almost twelve hours. I finally threatened Gabi, who then threatened Lex, who finally let me in the house after I threatened to burn it down.”

A laugh escaped between my lips before I could stop it. “That worried about me?”

“You?” She blinked. “Oh, I’m doing this for entirely selfish reasons. If I lose my love coach, I lose my love. Simple as that.” She winked.

Her wavy brown hair was pulled back into a loose braid. Soft pieces fell across her face, making me want to reach out and give them a little tug, or wrap them around my fingertips.

“Sorry.” I touched my face. I was slick with sweat. My hands moved down my shirt.

It was missing.

“And sorry about the clothes.” She didn’t blush. She was all business as she started piling pillows around me, fussing over my positioning, and grabbing another blanket. “You were a mess when I got here. Lex said you were making the final transition into a werewolf and not to freak if you lashed out and bit me. I hope he was kidding, because you look rough.”

I groaned. “I feel rough. And disgusting.”

Smiling, she pressed the rag to my face again. It felt so good. I let out a little moan and grabbed her wrist before I could stop myself.

She froze.

And I immediately regretted my actions. “Sorry.” I cleared my hoarse voice. “It just feels really good.”

“I’m glad.”

“You know what would make me even happier right now?”

“Soup?” she guessed.

“You in a hot nurse outfit. What are you? A curvy size four? Six? I think I have a few costumes in my closet if you want to—”

She flicked the rag at my face as water dripped down my neck. Chuckling, I tossed it off and was surprised to see her laughing with me.

Blake rolled her eyes. “You’re kind of a pig.”

“Right, but I’m more like one of those cute little pigs, you know, the teacup ones. Still a pig, but you can’t help but want to keep it forever because it’s so damn adorable.”

“Not where I was going with it.” She pulled off my blanket, exposing me to the freezing-cold room.

“Ahhhh,” I groaned. “Why are you torturing me?”

“Take off your pants.”

“What?” My body jerked with awareness so fast I nearly fell off the bed.

Blake sighed. “You’re disgusting.”

“Wow, thanks. I love you too.”

“Take off your pants. Now.”

“I’m disgusting, take off my pants. Can’t say I’ve ever had that type of reaction from a woman before. In bed nonetheless.”

Blake didn’t answer. She just marched toward the adjoining bathroom and turned on the tub.

My head started to pound all over again. With a muffled groan, I pressed my fingers to my temples.

“We have to get your fever down.” She was back in the room again. At least I think she was. Everything was going double. This was why I hated germs, and Gabi—in reverse order.

I waved Blake off. “Let me die.” The pounding worsened as my head rushed with heat.

“Never leave a man behind,” she joked. Then, with a tug, my jeans were off my body. Good. Not only was I helpless in front of the girl I wanted to get into bed, but she’d just stripped me naked and didn’t even gasp.

I was freeballing.

And still, no appreciative “Oh my.”

Damn it. I’d already lost before I even got put in the game.

“Up you go.” She helped me to my feet. Thankfully, she was an athlete, so she was strong. I knew I wasn’t helping her much, considering I kept stumbling as I tried to weave my way toward the tub.

“Why are you doing this?” I asked. Peering down at her, I saw three of her face. But she was still pretty, and in my feverish state I wanted nothing more than to kiss her, or just lean against her neck like a pathetic waste of humanity.

“Simple.” She smiled up at me. “Despite your bossiness and crude humor, I like you.”

Like “like me” like? Or just “hey, you’re a good friend” like? I nearly groaned aloud at my inner narration.

Good job, Ian. Maybe during recess you can have Lex pass her a note and have her circle which one.

“I like you too.” I smiled down at her.

“Then get in the bathtub.”

I stared her down in what I hoped was utter defiance and strength.

“Get in—before I make Lex come in here and carry you. And I have a really good reason to believe his bedside manner is like a grenade going off in your face.”

“How do you figure?”

“Easy. He went and checked in on Gabi once he found out how sick you were. He was with her all night, and there was a lot of shouting.”

“Lex?” I made my way to the side of the tub. “My best friend Lex? You should have called the police. He’s going to kill her.”

“She texted that she’s fine.”

“She’s feverish! Of course she’s fine! I’ve seen two unicorns and a flying elephant since we’ve made the trek from my bed to the bathroom.”