Page 105 of Matchmaking On The Menu

I nod, the weight of his words sinking in. It’s liberating to realize that I have the power to shape my narrative, to share my truth without fear of judgment.

“I think I want to keep going,” I admit, looking back at the screen. “There’s so much more to explore.”

“Then do it,” he encourages. “Write your heart out.”

“Maybe later. First, I’d like to thank you properly.”

“Yeah?” He lifts an eyebrow.

I stand, moving an inch toward him. “Scoot your chair back, please.”

He grins. “I’m not gonna lie, I don’t know where this is going, but I do like where my imagination is taking it.”

He scoots back and I straddle him, pressing my lips firmly against his.

“Hmmm, so far so good. But in my imagination, I thought we’d be doing this naked.”

A giggle escapes me. Not the sexiest sound but hey. “That so? Let’s see if we can make that happen.”

21

TEDDY

NATURAL LIGHT

I don’t go back to the woods the next morning. I think about it more out of habit than anything else. The thought of grabbing my camera, slipping away into the quiet and chasing after elusive moments that never quite land as I imagine has been my default for so long that the absence of it is noticeable. But something else is just as palpable. Dannica. She fits into my space like she was always meant to be there. The way she looks at the world, with that spark of curiosity, and how her words flow like the start of a story waiting to unfold…

I haven’t been able to think of our conversation. I spoke to her about being more honest, when I’m hiding too. And what kind of a person would I be giving all that advice and not taking it for myself? The thought of spending the day alone suddenly feels like a step backward. So I don’t. I grab my keys and head into town.

The diner is bustling when I walk in, the low hum of conversation wrapping around me as the door swings shut. The familiar scent of coffee and fried food envelops me, mingling with the clatter of plates, creating a rhythm that feels like home. It doesn’t feel like something I’m merely observing anymore. It feels like something I’m stepping into.

Dannica isn’t at the counter when I first look, which throws me off more than it should. But then…

“There he is.”

I turn and find myself face-to-face with a woman who possesses Dannica’s striking eyes but none of her hesitation. Her posture is straight, sharp, radiating a presence that feels practiced, as if she’s accustomed to being in charge.

“You must be Teddy,” she says, wiping her hands on a cloth and stepping closer.

“Guilty,” I reply, a hint of humor in my voice.

Her eyes track from my face down, then back again, lingering just a second longer than expected. “Hmm,” she hums. “You look less trouble than I expected.”

I huff out a quiet laugh. “That’s a low bar.”

“Depends who you ask.”

“And you are…?”

“Dannica’s mother.”

Right. That makes sense.

“Good to finally meet you,” I say, meaning it.

She nods once, still watching me like she’s deciding something. “Well, you passed the first test.”

“I didn’t realize there was one.”