“Anyone who is participating will be paired into teams of two. Of course, we’ll make the teams using the luck of the draw.” Jade giggled. “I think it will make some fun pairings.”
The bottom fell out of Nora’s stomach. She had a sudden bad feeling about this. It reeked of a setup, and given that Jack was also told to be here, she had a feeling her friends were playing matchmaker.
Was she ready for that? No.
She didn’t even know if Jack would be a willing participant. Had he kissed her? Yes. That didn’t mean he wanted to date her. She was sure that he left a whole trail of broken hearts wherever he went.
“I am not putting my name in that drawing,” she whispered very low.
“Are you sure?” Jack asked. “It could be fun.”
“It depends who you get paired with,” she mumbled back.
He threw his head back with a laugh. “That’s fair, but you never know. You could get paired with someone really fun.”
Nora didn’t respond. She didn’t want to tell him that he was walking into a trap. He wouldn’t even have to know if she didn’t participate.
But why would I participate?
Being paired with Jack in a scavenger hunt could be a good way to get to know him.
Jade and Parker called forward everyone who wanted to join in on the game, and all of the names went into a big punch bowl. Nora didn’t step forward, but neither did Jack.
Her heart sank that he hadn’t even tried to convince her, but what had she expected? A miracle?
Nope.
She doubted her kisses were good enough to make a man like Jack lose his head.
After all, those had been only some of her first kisses ever.
“Jack Hayes will be paired with Nora Ledger,” Jade announced in the microphone.
As one, the entirety of the town turned to look at her and Jack.
“Looks like fate is on your side, kids,” Mrs. Francis said before cackling loudly. She only stopped to munch on some shredded carrots in a Moonie’s to-go container.
“How is that even possible?” Nora asked under her breath.
“Isn’t it obvious?” Jack chuckled. “We’ve been played.”
Nora narrowed her eyes at her friend on the stage, but if Jade noticed, she gave no indication. She just kept on listing the team names.
Jack took a step closer to Nora, his hand going to her lower back. “You look like you swallowed a lemon. I’m excited about this, but if you’d rather not, that’s okay.”
“Like hell,” Mrs. Francis commented. “Half Moon Key rules. When you are set to participate, you gotta! I’ve decided.”
“But …” Nora argued.
Her words didn’t make it out of her throat as soon as Mrs. Francis shot her a warning look.
“One person per team has to come to get the first clue,” Parker announced, waving a whole pack of small white envelopes.
“I’ll go get our first clue,” Jack squeezed her shoulder on his way to the stage. His touch started a whole series of physical reactions inside her, all of which were too intense for this public setting.
“If you know what’s good for you, girl, you are gonna go along with this.” Mrs. Francis continued to munch on her shredded carrots.
“I don’t get what just happened,” Nora admitted, dizzy by the sudden turn of her life.