34. Matchmaker, Matchmaker
Matchmaker, Matchmaker
The plumber’s voice had been kind yet firm.
“It’s not just the heater, ma’am. The drywall needs to be replaced along the entire bottom half of the walls.
The leak probably warped some wood under the tile.
The hardwoods will dry out but will likely need some repair.
The cabinets can probably be salvaged, but you’ll need t o complete the rest of the repairs first. You’re looking at several thousand dollars, easy. ”
Even with the recent bonus and back pay, the cost was more than she could handle right now. And this wasn’t like the last repair… something she could patch up and ignore. This had to be fixed now.
She let out a long breath, rubbing her temples.
She could stretch her budget again, maybe shift some things around, but the thought of draining more savings made her stomach twist. For a second, she almost considered calling Alex for help.
The thought of their steady presence made her shoulders relax, but just as quickly, she shut the idea down.
She didn’t need to lean on anyone. I can handle this.
The obvious solution hovered just out of reach, an answer she didn’t want to reconsider: getting another roommate. But finding someone she trusted? That was the problem.
***
Morning chaos settled into the usual rhythm as Cassie, Alex, and Kellan gathered in the conference room for another expansion brainstorm. Cassie hesitated, but the frustrated sigh gave her away.
“What happened?” Alex asked, eyes narrowing with concern.
Cassie groaned, rubbing her temples. “Water heate r exploded last night. Flooded the kitchen.”
Kellan shot her a sympathetic look but was already pulling out their phone, thumbs flying over the screen hidden under the conference room table.
Kellan [9:06 AM]: Hey there co-captain.
Tricia [9:10 AM]: OMG! Is it happening????????
Kellan [9:11 AM]: It’s time for Operation Move-In Magic?.
Tricia [9:11 AM]: Catchy. I was going to go with “More Than Roommates.”
Kellan [9:12 AM]: Ooooh. That’s cute. Operation MT-Roommates? it is. Got time to meet for lunch?
The café was tucked into a quiet corner of Ocean Park, far enough from the boardwalk bustle that you could hear yourself think. Kellan spotted Tricia by the window, perched on a bar-height chair with an unreasonably green smoothie in hand.
“Hey,” Kellan said, sliding into the chair across from her like they were meeting to plan a heist.
Tricia looked up and grinned. “Good afternoon. You want something? Their salad in a cup is dangerously good.”
“How is anything called salad in a cup remotely edible?”
“Trust me,” Tricia replied with a wink, waving the server over.
They settled into a casual rhythm as Tricia ordered.
Kellan couldn’t help but notic e how effortlessly Tricia filled the space with her presence.
Confident, vibrant, and just a little bit reckless.
Outside, the street was dappled with late-morning sunlight, a crisp breeze hinting that fall was actually attempting to show up in Southern California.
Kellan cleared their throat. “So, Cassie’s water heater blew up. Total disaster. Came home to water all over the kitchen floor.”
Tricia winced. “Yikes.”
“Yeah. She’s draining her savings to fix it. No choice. No hot water and a flooded kitchen aren’t exactly things you can put off.” Kellan hesitated, not sure how much to share, but Tricia just listened, intent and thoughtful. “She’d rather implode than admit she needs help.”
A sly grin curled on Tricia’s lips. “Sounds like someone else I know.”
“Exactly.” Kellan grinned, leaning in slightly. “I believe the universe is begging us to meddle.”
Tricia leaned forward, eyes bright. “I could tell Alex our parents are pushing Jack to move in. Which they are… subtle as a sledgehammer. We’ve been together forever, so everyone just assumes it’s the next step.”
Kellan studied her, noting the way her confidence wavered just slightly. “Is that what you want?”
Tricia shrugged, gaze shifting to the window. “It’s logical. We’ve been dating for three years. He’s reliable. But… I don’t know. I keep thinking I should feel more certain by now. Everyone’s planning my future for me—joint bank accounts, wedding talk—and I’m just… not there.”
Kellan’s expression softened. “That doesn’t mean you have to go along with it.”
Silence stretched, just a little too long. Tricia’s shoulders relaxed, and a quiet, uncertain smile tugged at her lips. “So, we just need to plant the seeds,” Tricia said, shaking off the moment. “No pushing. Just… a gentle breeze.”
“Like invisible matchmaker ninjas.”
Tricia laughed. “You’re enjoying this way too much.”
Kellan cleared their throat, trying to ignore the weird little flutter in their chest. “So, you’d really evict your own sibling to make this happen?” Kellan’s eyes gleamed. “You are evil. I love it.”
Tricia smirked, her confidence snapping back into place. “I’m the baby sister,” she said with a shrug. “It’s basically the same thing.”
Kellan smiled at that, something fond tugging at the corner of their mouth. “You’re good at this.”
“We make a good team,” Tricia replied, smirking. “You know… if we pull this off, we’re going to need a new code name. Something stronger. Something iconic.”
Kellan leaned back in their chair, already scheming. “Operation Domestic Bliss?”
Tricia grimaced. “Too on the nose.”
“Okay, okay. Operation Home Sweet ‘Oh.’” They punctuated it with a wink that made Tricia roll her eyes.
“You really need to stop.” Tricia giggled.
“I will not . Not when love and property values are on the line.”
Tricia shook her head, disapproving but amused. “Operation Key to My Heart?”
Kellan made a face. “That sounds like a Hallmark special. No offense.”
“None taken. What about… Operation Home Ice Advantage?”
There was a pause. Then Kellan clapped their hands once. “Oh my god. That’s perfect. Ice, because hockey. Home, because, duh. Advantage, because obviously we’re giving them one.”
Tricia beamed. “We’re geniuses.” Tricia laughed, the sound brig ht and warm. They bumped fists to seal the deal, but even as Tricia returned her attention to her smoothie, Kellan couldn’t help but glance at her again. Curious and just a little bit fascinated
***
The next morning, Tricia sat at the kitchen island, nursing her coffee, Alex across from her. “So… have you thought any more about moving out?”
Alex paused mid-scoop, cereal spoon hovering in the air. “I mean… yeah,” they said slowly. “But with the expansion project and everything else, it’s been pretty low on the list.”
Tricia wrapped both hands around her mug, keeping her tone light. “I know. And I meant it when I said you could stay. It’s just… Jack and I have been talking about next steps. Mom and Dad have started dropping hints about making it official.” She rolled her eyes, trying to make it sound casual.
Alex raised a brow. “I know I’ve teased you about it, but is that what you want?”
Tricia shrugged, brushing it off. “We’ve been together a while. And I love him, but… it just got me thinking. You still need a place, and rent around here’s brutal unless you split it.”
Alex’s suspicion was immediate. “Trish, you’ve got that voice… the one you used when you told Mom I was the one that broke the window.”
Tricia just grinned. “I’m just saying… what if there was a roommate situation that didn’t suck? Someone you already get along with. Someone who, conveniently, has an extra room and could use the help. ”
Understanding dawned on Alex’s face. “You’re talking about Cassie.”
Tricia’s smile didn’t falter. “Am I?”
“That’s a terrible idea.”
“Why?” Tricia challenged. “You already spend half your time together.”
“It’s complicated,” Alex muttered, eyes fixed on their cereal.
Tricia shrugged, leaning back. “Maybe. Or maybe you’re overthinking because it scares you.”
Alex exhaled slowly. “You’re not subtle, you know.”
“Subtlety is for cowards and bad wingmen.”
Alex didn’t reply, and Tricia let the silence sit, hoping the seed would take root on its own.
Across town, Kellan and Cassie ate breakfast at their favorite cafe. Kellan swirled a forkful of pancakes in syrup. “… if only there was someone you already knew and trusted that was looking to split rent.”
Cassie raised an eyebrow. “You’re insufferable.”
“I’m just saying,” Kellan replied innocently. “Sometimes the universe hands you a perfect solution.”
Cassie didn’t answer, but Kellan knew she was thinking about it. They could almost see the gears turning.
Kellan just smiled, taking another bite of pancakes, and let the idea settle.
***
Returning from the cafe, Cassie shoved her hair into a messy ponytail and glared at the industrial fans, their relentless hum gnawing at her nerves.
The faint scent of mildew still hung in the air despite her best efforts.
The water damage was mostly contained, but the warped floorboards and gutted baseboards hinted at the true extent of the damage.
Over the next few hours, Cassie reached out to several contractors, setting up appointments for the following Saturday.
After hanging up with the final name on her list, she dropped her phone on the couch beside her.
Yesterday’s deposit for the water heater replacement had drained her savings…
again. She hated this… the money, the helplessness, the way problems always came in multiples.
Her phone buzzed… a text from Alex.
Alex [1:05 PM]: Thinking about you. You okay?
Cassie hesitated, her chest tightening. Alex always knew when to check in.
Cassie [1:06 PM]: Yeah. Just dealing with the mess.
Alex [1:06]: Wanna grab lunch before your game?
Cassie hesitated again, caught between wanting to hide and wanting to see Alex.
Cassie [1:09 PM]: Sure. 2 pm?
Alex [1:10 PM]: Done. See you soon.
She set the phone down and exhaled slowly. Whatever this was between them, it wasn’t casual. But naming it would make it real. Maybe she wasn’t ready for all of that. But maybe… just maybe… she was getting tired of doing everything alone.
Cassie was already seated on the shaded patio when Alex arrived. She managed a small smile when she saw them.
“You look like you haven’t slept,” Alex said, dropping into the seat.
“That’s because I haven’t. Industrial fans are loud.”
Alex winced. “Sorry.”
“Not your fault.”
Alex reached across the table, fingers brushing hers. “You don’t have to do this alone.”
Cassie’s heart fluttered, but she gave a wry smile. “I’m not great at leaning on people.”
“I’ve noticed,” Alex said gently. “But I’m here if you ever want to.”
Cassie didn’t say anything, but she didn’t pull away either. They stayed like that, fingers barely linked, until the waiter showed up and they both pretended nothing had happened.
***
Cassie slid her hockey sticks into the trunk, glancing at the rink. “You sure you don’t want me to stay for your game?”
Alex pulled Cassie into a hug. “Go home, relax. You’ve got enough on your plate.”
“I like watching you play,” Cassie admitted, snuggling into them a little bit more.
Alex smiled. “I like it too. But take the night off. I’ll text you after.”
Cassie hesitated, fingers grasping tighter at Alex’s hips. “You’re sure?”
Alex leaned back to look her in the eye, brushing a stray hair behind her ear. “Positive.”
The kiss was soft and unhurried, like a promise they didn’t quite have the words for yet. Cassie lingered, forehead resting against Alex’s. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”
Alex nodded. “Yeah. Tomorrow.”
Cassie stepped back with a little wave, disappearing into the golden haze of late afternoon.
***
Cassie stared at her mess of a kitchen, her arms crossed.
She decided to turn off the fans for the night, a decent night’s sleep more important than speed-drying drywall she was going to have to rip out anyway.
The new water heater would be installed on Monday.
Thank God. I can’t wait to take a hot shower.
She wasn’t looking forward to tomorrow… several hours of removing drywall and insulation, then the unenviable task of pulling up the linoleum to see the damage underneath.
Sure, she could leave that for whichever contractor eventually got the job, but with her savings on life-support, anything she could do, she needed to do.
She turned off the light, went to bed without brushing her teeth, and tried not to think about how warm Alex’s body always was, or how nice it would feel just to not be alone tonight.