If Ava had a nickel for every client who claimed they were
"serious about finding love"
but treated dating like a
contact sport
, she’d be sipping cocktails in the Maldives by now.
Today’s client was no different.
If there were a
Hall of Fame for Romantic Chaos
,
Jasmine Duval
would’ve been inducted
years ago
.
"She’s matched with
thirty-four people
," Kelly said, peering over Ava’s shoulder at the client file. "From
six different matchmaking services
. Including one called
’Soulmate Safari’
, which specializes in couples who want to honeymoon in the Serengeti."
Ava frowned, flipping through the
stack of forms
. "Thirty-four? How is that even possible?
Does she speed-date
between
dates?
"
"She’s efficient, I guess," Kelly said with a shrug. "Anyway, she’s here. I put her in the lounge."
Ava sighed, closing the file. "Perfect. Let me just grab my
emotional armor.
"
When Ava stepped into the lounge, she was met with the force of nature that was
Jasmine Duval
.
Late twenties, gorgeous, and dressed in an outfit that could’ve been plucked from a Pinterest board titled
Effortlessly Chic
, Jasmine was the kind of woman who turned heads just by walking into a room.
"I’m
so
excited to work with you," Jasmine gushed, flashing a dazzling smile. "You’re, like,
my last hope
. Everyone says you’re amazing."
"That’s... flattering," Ava replied, taking a seat. "
Let’s start with why you think things haven’t worked out with the other services.
"
"Oh, that’s easy." Jasmine waved a perfectly manicured hand. "
It’s not me. It’s the matches. None of them meet my standards.
"
Ava raised an eyebrow. "
Standards?
Give me an example."
Jasmine leaned in, eyes wide. "
So, there was this one guy—
"
Ava braced herself.
"—he showed up in a
Hawaiian shirt.
Unironically.
"
Ava blinked. "And?"
Jasmine gasped like she’d just witnessed a
crime scene
. "
It was dinner at a
rooftop bar
! A Hawaiian shirt? At night? What kind of
message
does that send?
"
Ava considered. "
That he’s... laid-back?
"
"That he’s
colorblind,
" Jasmine shot back. "Next."
She
flipped her hair
and continued.
"Then there was the guy who took me to a seafood restaurant. He spent half an hour explaining the
life cycle of lobsters
. Did you know they
molt
? Like, their shells just...
fall off
while they’re alive?"
Ava bit back a smile. "
So... he was interesting?
"
"He was a
horror show
!" Jasmine exclaimed. "Every time I looked at my lobster roll, I could hear his voice
narrating its tragic backstory
."
Jasmine exhaled dramatically. "
Let’s talk about the guy with the cat.
"
Ava tilted her head. "
Let me guess—
You’re
allergic?
"
"Worse," Jasmine said darkly. "
He brought the cat. To the date.
"
Ava blinked. "
Into the restaurant?
"
"It sat on the table.
In a sweater.
"
Ava covered her mouth. "
You’re making this up.
"
"I
wish
I were," Jasmine groaned. "
And when I suggested maybe Mittens should sit in a carrier, he got all offended and said,
’Mittens is a free spirit.’’
"
Ava lost it.
Full-on laugh.
"Okay, that’s... that’s bad."
"You don’t even know," Jasmine muttered.
"Oh," Jasmine added, her
eyes narrowing
, "and there was the guy who was
moving apartments
. He picked me up in a
U-Haul
. A U-Haul, Ava. For a
first date
."
Ava blinked. "
That sounds... practical?
"
Jasmine scoffed. "**He stopped mid-date to pick up a couch from Craigslist. I had to sit on it. In the
back
of the U-Haul. Like some kind of...
furniture hostage.
"
Ava was
crying with laughter now
. "Okay, yeah. That’s... that’s bad."
Jasmine sighed, crossing her arms. "
Do you see what I’m dealing with? This is why I need you. I can’t take another disaster.
"
Ava
knew
exactly what Jasmine needed.
A dose of brutal honesty.
And if there was
anyone
who could deliver
brutal honesty
, it was
Ryan.
He arrived at the café
five minutes late
, carrying his usual black coffee and looking far too
smug
for Ava’s liking.
Jasmine was already seated, scrolling through her phone.
Ryan sat down, taking one glance at her before saying—
"Let me guess. You’ve already ghosted
three guys
before finishing that latte."
Jasmine’s head snapped up. "
Excuse me?
"
"Just a hunch." Ryan sipped his coffee. "You seem like the type who knows
exactly what she
doesn’t
want
—but has
no idea
what she actually
does
want."
Ava’s
eyes widened
. "
Ryan—
"
"No, let him talk," Jasmine said,
narrowing her eyes
. "Go ahead.
Diagnose me, Dr. Doom.
"
Ryan
grinned
. "Gladly."
He leaned in. "
You treat dating like a job interview.
Everyone’s under constant scrutiny, but instead of looking for their strengths, you focus on their flaws.
Hawaiian shirt?
Fired.
Cat sweater?
Fired.
U-Haul?
Fired.
You’re not looking for a partner. You’re looking for a
mannequin
who checks all your boxes.
"
Jasmine’s
jaw dropped
. "
I do not—
"
"Thirty-four matches say otherwise," Ryan interrupted smoothly. "The problem isn’t
them
, Jasmine.
It’s you.
"
Ava bit her lip.
He wasn’t wrong.
Jasmine
huffed
, crossing her arms. "
I have
high standards
.
"
"There’s a difference between
standards and nitpicking,
" Ryan countered. "You’re
so focused
on finding someone
perfect on paper
that you don’t give people a chance to be
imperfect in real life.
"
For the first time
ever
, Jasmine was
speechless
.
As Jasmine left the café,
surprisingly thoughtful
, Ava turned to Ryan.
"That was...
surprisingly insightful.
"
Ryan smirked. "
Told you. I’m good at my job.
"
"You also called her a
mannequin
," Ava pointed out.
"She
needed
to hear it." Ryan stood, adjusting his jacket. "You know,
you
should try listening to me sometime.
I might be able to fix you too.
"
Ava
snorted.
"
Don’t push your luck, Ryan.
"
As he walked away, Ava caught herself
watching him for a second too long.
Damn it.
She was
not
thinking about Ryan Kim.
Not now. Not ever.
(
Probably.
)