Read A Royal's Love (Unit Matched #1) for Free Online Page A

there was some relief that came over me. I knew the rules of Unit, but there were a few people that didn’t follow them. Especially, if they had already decided to leave.
    “So, why don’t you want to be Matched?” I asked.
    “How about this,” his voice boomed out. “Why don’t we just have small talk tonight and not get too in depth? Deal?” He turned into the city heading downtown.
    “Deal.” He was right not that I’d tell him that, but we shouldn’t jump into big topics yet. “I think that’s the most you’ve ever talked to me?” I giggled softly at the realization.
    “I’m not a huge talker. Ask my sisters.”
    “Am I dressed okay? I mean,” I looked down at my dress, “are we going somewhere very fancy?”
    “You look…fine,” Thaddeus stammered. “This is casual.”
    Fine .
    That was it?
    Well, I feel pathetic right now. I keep my focus on the scenery passing me. Thaddeus finally parked and came around to open my door. We didn’t talk as we strolled up the street, and I followed him into a small restaurant that was in the basement of a large green building.
    “Well, Thaddeus.” I heard an old Italian woman with a short gray bob and watched her face light up when she saw him. “It’s been forever.”
    “Yes, ma’am, it has been a little bit.” I thought I could hear a little glee in his voice.
    He pulled my chair out as she seated us at the table. My heart did a little flutter from the gesture.
    I browsed the menu that she handed me trying to figure out something that wouldn’t be too sloppy or get all over me.
    “I think the Eggplant Parmesan looks good,” I tried the small talk like he suggested.
    “Hhmm,” was all he replied. I guessed that was what he classified as ‘small talk’.
    The waiter came over, and we ordered. I got the eggplant, and he ordered spaghetti and meatballs.
    We sat there in silence again. Until Thaddeus broke it. “What are you studying in school?”
    “Medical administration.”
    “Why that field?” He sipped his water.
    “Well, I don’t want anything to do with banking. I couldn’t be doctor or a nurse because I don’t like blood or gore. Being a lawyer makes me sick to my stomach because I can’t see defending someone I knew was guilty. But I’m a people person, and I like helping people, so this seemed like a good fit. What about you? Did you always want to be an architect?”
    He shrugged. “It’s what I’m good at.”
    “Do you like working at your dad’s firm?”
    “It helps me gain a lot of good contacts and experience, so yeah.” He kept staring out the window.
    “Do you find this as weird as I do?” I know he said ‘small talk’, but I’m about to tear my hair out not knowing what he’s really thinking.
    He looked at me. “What do you mean?”
    “Well, I’m twenty, you’re what, twenty-one?”
    He nodded.
    “Right and this is our very first date. In this day and age, people our age have been on tons of dates, and we haven’t. Isn’t that strange?” I was rambling, and I should just clamp my mouth shut, but I didn’t have the ability to do so.
    Thaddeus had the same serious expression on his face. “We’re from Unit. This is our life, apparently.”
    “Right.” I guess that answered my question. He wasn’t one to discuss anything that had to deal with Unit. Then again, that wasn’t the hottest of topics right now.
    “So, how does your sister Michelle like being Matched?”
    “I guess okay. She’s pregnant now.”
    “Oh,” I gasped. “I didn’t know that. You’re going to an uncle.” I figured Mom would have told me that, but I’ve not kept up with the latest gossip in Unit like I should.
    “Yeah, I guess.”
    “You’re lucky on that part,” I commented quietly.
    “Why do you say that?” He looked perplexed.
    “I don’t have any siblings. I’ll never be an aunt.” I could hear my own sadness in my voice.
    “I forgot that, sorry.” He hung his head.
    “There are good things to being an