“What are you doing?” Grey asks.
“There’s a lot of people here today,” I explain, “so when you place your order, you’ll be choosing sides. It’s coffee or tea, and there’s enemies on either side.”
“I don’t have time for riddles, Brax.”
“The town is divided. You’ll see.”
“Is this what people do in small-town America? They fight over caffeinated drinks?”
“It’s much more than that, kid. You’ll learn.” Pops opens the door and ushers us inside.
I’ve never seen this place so packed. The sign in the quiet room saysbook club in progress. There’s a crowd around the sound booth, but I can’t see who’s inside. Madison’s friends sit in the center of it all, and taking up the entire right side of the space is the offense for the football team.
And Sage is sitting right in the middle of them, pointing at something on a screen. His face is animated and energized. He looks as though he’s having fun—real fun with people his own age.
“What’s going on over there?” Grey mutters but makes no move toward Sage.
I don’t either. We just stand and watch, completely lost to the moment and unaware of anything but Sage.
“Ethan is a good kid,” I say.
“The MacBook kid?” Grey asks.
“Yeah, he’s sitting to the right of Sage.”
Applause draws our attention back to the sound booth. Madison is in the doorway, shaking hands with some, hugging others, and she takes pictures with them all.
She’s a small-town celebrity.
“What’s going on over there?” Grey asks. He hasn’t moved an inch, but his gaze tracks everything.
“I’m not sure.”
“Hey, boys,” Blissy says, stepping between us.
“Hey, Blissy. What’s Madison doing?” I ask.
“Oh, that girl. She’s the sweetest. About four times a year she hosts a live show, and people come from all over Georgia for a chance to pick her brain.”
“Pick her brain about what?” Grey asks before I can.
“Have you listened to her show?” she asks.
His only response is to frown harder.
“Well, she’s the matchmaker.” She looks at him expectantly. “You know, fromThe Matchmaker Manual?” When he continues to stare at her, she huffs as though he offended her. “First she gets you to fall in love with yourself, and then she helps you determine what type of partner you’d be the most compatible with. She’s poured her heart and soul into it since she was knee-high. How have you never listened to her? She has near a hundred percent success rate.”
“Why not a hundred?” I ask.
“I’ll give you one guess.” The disgust in her tone tells me everything.
“Harry,” I grumble.
“You got it. Now, what can I get ya boys?”
When Grey doesn’t answer, I order for the both of us. “I’ll have a coffee, black, and a tea with sugar, please.”
She cackles, startling Grey where he stands. “Still haven’t picked a side, huh? No problem. You still have some time before the Cozy Cup Festival, that’s when it gets cutthroat around here.”
