It's a Match! (14 page)

“I’m so excited to meet Cole,” Ava said. “I feel like I know everything about him since you talk about him so damn much.”

Sutton laughed a bit. “I’m looking forward to you meeting him too.”

“Is he going to be sleeping in your bed? I can make myself scarce if you want,” Ava said, with her patented Ava smirk.
 

“God, no. He got a hotel room. We’re best friends, but not exactly bed buddies.”

“You’re telling me you’ve never thought about it?”

“It crossed my mind for a nanosecond when we were first hanging out, but the thought was gone as quickly as it came,” Sutton replied. “And I just don’t see him like that.”
 

“Mm hm.”

“I don’t! And he’s so not my type anyway.”

“I just don’t really believe a guy and girl can be friends without at least one of them wanting it to be more.”

“I think that’s probably mostly true, but me and Cole are the exception to the rule,” Sutton said, glad that she didn’t have to worry about that with Cole.
 

“I feel like you have high standards because you’re comparing every guy to him. And that says something.”

“I so do not,” Sutton replied, then went back to scrolling through Matchbox potential matches, but gave up shortly thereafter. “Hey, do you want to come with me to the bookstore? I have to pick up a book for my astronomy class.”

“Sure. Just let these bad boys finish drying.”

COLE DIDN’T FEEL
the need to pack much for the trip. A couple pairs of jeans, a few shirts, deodorant and a toothbrush would suffice. He was a low-maintenance kind of guy and he much preferred it that way. He had timed the trip to be on a weekend without practice or a game. He wasn’t going to jeopardize his spot on the football team. He was hoping to be able to play a game someday, and he knew he couldn’t be missing out on anything. He was the youngest guy on the team and had to prove himself.
 

Cole decided to check out Sutton’s Matchbox. He’d been looking for a guy to make up for all of the crappy ones he kept choosing, but he wasn’t having much luck.

Matt, age 18: I’m a desperate and lonely guy who’s looking for the one to marry me and have kids with immediately. I live at home with my mom and I’m unemployed with no prospects. I’m 4” tall with a pot belly and a fairly serious gambling addiction. I love drinking whiskey with breakfast and I’m heavily in debt. Please, please like me.

Colin, age 19: They say a picture is worth a thousand words; well, a picture of me just screams badass over and over again. I jive talk with the best of them. I’m the curiosity that killed the cat. I walk around with a huge chip on my shoulder. I am the bee’s knees, the cat’s pajamas. I’m super successful for my age, so gold diggers need not apply.

Keith, age 20: I saved a baby from a burning building once. I’ve probably hit on your mom at a Wendy’s. I’m looking for someone who will make me corndogs and let me touch their butt whenever I feel like it.
   

Dan, age 18: I play 8 different instruments and I love 7-11 slushies. Don’t even try to bring me a cherry or cola flavor because I’ll never talk to you again. Blue raspberry is the only way to go.
 

Mark, age 21: I’m a simple guy. I enjoy the finer things in life, like having no zits and getting out of work early.

“This is hopeless,” Cole muttered to himself. He put his phone down and returned to packing.
 

Hunter walked in a few minutes later and immediately walked to his desk and opened his laptop. “Hey buddy,” he said, over his shoulder.
 

“Hey.”

“Are you prepared for the big visit?”

“I think so … I packed a few key items and put gas in my car.”

Hunter laughed and turned to face Cole. “No, I don’t mean packing. I mean finally seeing Sutton again after these last few months. Don’t think I don’t hear your phone conversations.”

“You mean the ones where she fills me in on her bad date stories? The dates I set her up on?”

“Speaking of which, why are you picking these guys for her? From what I know about her from your incessant talking about her, she wants a guy more like … I don’t know, more like you.”

Cole laughed loudly. “Yeah, right. I’m not even close to Sutton’s type.”

“I thought you were trying to break her out of those patterns?”

“Yeah, I guess I am. I don’t know … I’m sort of failing at this and it was my idea, so I feel bad.”

“Why on earth would you feel bad? After the numerous shit-show girls she’s hooked you up with?” Hunter asked.
 

“I’m starting to think we may not know each other as well as we thought we did.”

“Or maybe the problem is that you know each other even better than you thought?”

“What do you mean?” Cole asked curiously.
 

“You know everything she wants and you’re setting her up with the opposite type of guy. Why is that?”

“I’m not doing that. I’m just trying to find her someone funny, because there’s nothing Sutton likes to do more than laugh.

“Well, that’s very noble of you,” Hunter replied, turning back to his laptop.

Cole sat down at the edge of his bed and thought about what Hunter said. He had been inseparable from Sutton for over four years. He had to know her well … right? Better than anyone else in her life did, at least. He wanted her to be happy, more than anything. She hadn’t smiled quite the same since her breakup with Aiden. She was very good at fooling the world, but not so good at fooling him. He always saw through her and Sutton seemed to find that comforting. And she did the same with him. The truth was, he had thought about pursuing something with her in the beginning, but quickly realized she was much better as a friend. Good friends were rare, and he valued her friendship more than anything.
 

Cole was so excited he barely slept that night.

SUTTON WAS DOING
some last minute cleaning when she got the text that Cole was almost there. She quickly changed out of her Ninja Turtle pajamas and into a simple jeans and sweater combo. It wasn’t like she needed to impress Cole. It was his friendship-ly duty to accept her as-is.
 

Sutton heard a knock on her door and opened it to reveal a grinning Cole. They hugged tightly and she invited him in. “How was the drive?”

“Not bad actually. I timed it perfectly so that I wouldn’t run into any traffic.”

“Well, welcome to my tiny room.”

Cole looked around and nodded. “I like it. You did a great job of working with the space you have. I think my room is even smaller.”

“Yeah, but you have barely any stuff! I practically brought my whole life with me.”

“Yeah, you were always quite the little packrat,” Cole said, smirking a bit.
 

“What did you want to do today?” Sutton asked, taking a seat at her desk.
 

“Aren’t you the one who’s supposed to decide that? I have absolutely no idea what there is to do around here,” Cole replied, sitting down at the edge of her bed.
 

“Good point. Well, I’ll think of something.”

“I don’t really care what we do. I’m just really glad to see you!” Cole said, smiling widely.
 

“I’m really glad to see you too. It feels like it’s been forever!”

“It really does.”

“Ava should be home shortly. Maybe we can all go get a late lunch?” Sutton suggested.
 

“Sounds good. I’m excited to meet the notorious Ava. She sounds like a lot of fun.”

“Oh, she is. I think you guys will get along great. Everybody loves her.”

“Sounds like someone else I know,” Cole responded.
 

“Yeah, yeah. So … any new prospects for me?”

“Not really. The ratio of cool to douche guys is not impressive. I feel like you’d like the guys at my college much better.”

“I’m having the same problem. Do you think we should just give up the search?”

“Absolutely not. It’s a challenge and I never back down from a challenge,” Cole replied, matter-of-factly.
 

“You always were quite competitive.”

“And I will win.”

“Oh, is it a competition now?” Sutton asked, getting up from her desk and sitting next to Cole on the bed.
 

“You said it, not me. I’m going to do some looking around while I’m here, so I can see what I’m working with.”

“That’s an unfair advantage.”

“You’ll be visiting me next time, so it will be fair.”

“Okay then.”

Sutton heard the door open and Ava rushed over to Cole to hug him. “It’s so great to meet you! I feel like I already know you, given how frequently this girl talks about you!”

“Hey, I’m right here,” Sutton said, defensively.
 

“Hi, honey. So, what are our plans?”

“I was thinking a late lunch. Maybe at that sushi place downtown?” Sutton suggested.
 

Cole shook his head emphatically. “No, no sushi. You know me better than that, Sutt.”

“Fine, pizza it is then.”

“Much better.”

THE NEXT MORNING
, Sutton and Cole sat in a coffee shop downtown, sipping their lattes.
 

“I couldn’t sleep last night, so I checked out your Matchbox. I think I found a great guy for you. He loves cooking,” Cole said, sipping on his coffee.

Sutton looked at Cole skeptically. “And that’s all you’re basing it on?”

“No, he also likes to read and stuff.”

“Every guy says he loves to cook and read, but I’ll give it a shot.”

“We should invite him to that party Ava was talking about last night,” Cole suggested.
 

“Ew, the frat party? So not my scene.”

“Need I keep reminding you that our whole idea here is to break your patterns?”

“Fine, but I’m not going to enjoy it,” Sutton said, pouting.
 

“I would think a frat guy would be exactly your type.”

“Somehow, I don’t think that’s a compliment.”

“Oh, it’s not,” Cole replied, playfully.
 

“Gee, thanks.”

“I just want you to be happy, Sutt.”

“I know. And even though you suck at choosing dates for me, I still trust you.”

“As you should.”

“Want to go grab a lunch before the party?” Sutton asked, tapping her fingers on the table.
 

“Sure. But I’m buying.”

“I won’t argue with that.”