The Meltdown Match (A Romance Novella) by Rachael Anderson Read Free Book Online Page B

keen disappointment that she didn’t quite understand. She wasn’t eight anymore. She was twenty-seven and should know better than to believe in something like The Meltdown Match.
    Why, then, did she suddenly find herself questioning everything? Was her relationship with Mitch even real? Had she conjured up intense feelings because she thought the universe had said she should feel this way? And what about Heimel and her well of inspiration? Would that run dry yet again? She’d been so confident about everything only moments before, but now all her assurances had cracked.
    More than ever, Courtney hated the nickname of “Salt.”
    She drew in a deep breath and took a step back. She needed to get away from Mitch, away from everyone. She needed fresh air to breathe and time to figure out what in the heck had just happened.
    “I’m sorry, but I’ve got to go. I just remembered I have to do… something.”
    Mitch moved toward her, then stopped. His expression reflected confusion and concern, but he didn’t try to keep her from leaving. “I’ll call you when I get off work.”
    Courtney nodded, then turned and trotted down the stairs. Only this time, instead of her spirits rising with each excited leap up, they plummeted with each step down.
     

When Mitch called after work, Courtney didn’t answer. When he called again ten minutes later, she rolled to her side and curled into a ball, hugging her pillow as she gripped her phone, still unsure of what to say. Her cell buzzed with a new text.
    I’m coming over.
    Her fingers reacted quickly. Now’s not a good time .
    A few minutes passed before the phone buzzed again. We need to talk.
    She stared at the words. Mitch deserved an explanation—he did—but what could she say? Her feelings felt so jumbled and cloudy. We do, and we will. Later. I need some time.
    What’s going on? This is killing me.
    Sorry, was all she could write. And she was. Very sorry. But even after spending all afternoon trying to talk herself out of feeling this way, she couldn’t keep the doubting questions or worries at bay. There were no threatening tears, no emotional outbursts. Courtney simply felt empty inside, as though part of her soul had up and left.
    A knock sounded at her door before it opened, and Hannah’s voice echoed through the quiet room. “Hey, you sick or something? You’ve been in here for hours.”
    Courtney said nothing, just gripped her pillow and clutched her phone as if it were her last link to sanity. Her bed moved as Hannah sat down. “What’s wrong with you?”
    “I’m a mess,” Courtney mumbled into her pillow.
    A pause. “Wanna talk about it?”
    “No.”
    “Fine, I’ll go get Mom. No wait—make that Dad.”
    Courtney twisted around and glared at her sister. “Don’t you dare.”
    “Me or him—take your pick.” Hannah shifted, making herself comfortable. “But since I already know you’re messed up, I’m probably the lesser of the two evils, so I’d choose me if I were you.”
    Courtney sighed and pulled herself up, hugging her knees to her chest. Maybe talking it through with someone would help, and Hannah was the preferred choice. “I just found out that Mitch made our vases out of salt water so they’d melt faster.”
    Hannah’s eyes widened at the same time her smile did. “Are you serious? That’s awesome!”
    “No,” Courtney said. “Not awesome. All this time I’ve been thinking that we were, you know... destined to be together or whatever, and now it turns out we’re like every other couple out there who met randomly and happened to make a connection.”
    The smile faded from Hannah’s face, replaced with a look of disbelief. “You can’t be serious. Court—hello! You make love sound like an everyday occurrence, when you, of all people, should know better. You’ve dated and walked away from a lot of guys in the past, but now you’re finally with Mitch—a guy you’ve always liked—and you’ve never been happier. Don’t