Page 64 of Matchmaking On The Menu

Dannica’s smiling like she doesn’t have the weight of the world on her shoulders. That’s the version of her I want back.

Which means I need to stop pacing and think.

I stop pacing.

Think.

Festival.

Camera.

Photos.

Oh.

Oh.

I think again. Pace. Think harder.

And then

Oh.

Oh, I’m a genius!

I grab the cat pillow off the couch. “Talk this through with me, Herman. Mystery Man was taking photos at the festival, right? Which means he’s going to want to print them. Obviously.”

I plump the pillow so it looks like he’s actually listening and not just recently been used as a cushion for a steamroller to sit on.

“And lucky for me, and my pride, there is exactly one printing/custom frame/office/wire transfer/money order/custom pet tag store in this town.”

Pause.

“Possibly the world.”

I nod like Herman agrees.

“So, if there’s only one printing/custom frame/office/wire transfer/money order/custom pet tag store, that means he has no choice.”

I lean in.

“He has to go there.”

I kiss Herman straight on the face. “Thank you for your contribution. You’ve been invaluable.”

I toss him back onto the couch. He immediately rolls off. She shoots, she doesn’t score.

I sigh, pick him up, and put him back properly. “Don’t look at me like that. A tidy home is a tidy mind.”

Pause.

“Don’t judge, you’re not even real.”

Another pause.

“I just had a conversation with a pillow.”

I stare at him.