Page 28 of Matched with Her Runaway Groom

Tiffany gives me a lopsided grin before saying, “You love cats. Too bad you’re allergic.”

I pout. “I know. It’s not the best analogy I’ve ever come up with. Dani was there. I miss her.”

“Me too. That girl is hilarious.”

“She spit out her drink all over the table.” I find a small section of thread from the comforter on my bed and twist it around my finger. “Anyway, the server mistakenly sat me at Landon’s company’s table. So I met his boss, Roman, and his wife, Isabella. She’s so nice.”

“Isabella? Not–”

“No, she’s French, so it’s not the one from Hillary’s wedding.”

“Of all the cruises in all the world—”

“Just because he’s here, nothing is changing between us.” I pause for a moment, remembering the woman who’d been all over Landon. “And you know what? I think the woman who sat by him at dinner was at paint balling. She was talking about him a ton.”

“I remember you saying something about that.” She adjusts herself to face me. “Rachelle, you’re amazing and smart, you have a fun sense of humor and if Landon can’t see that, then you’re better off not being with him.”

I nod, even though I don’t feel it completely. “Are you sure that’s how you really feel? Because I sense you’re still hoping we’ll get back together.”

Tiffany gives me a sheepish smile. “To be honest, it’s hard not seeing the two of you together. The guy drove you home from the grocery store. But if he’s changed that much, then even I need to move on from that fantasy.”

I sigh and nod. “Do you need me to get you anything? I can go buy a Sprite or something to settle your stomach.”

“Actually, that would be great. I’m going to just lay here for few more minutes. Or just go to bed now. Maybe if I get some sleep tonight, I’ll be able to get over this bug faster and we can do something fun tomorrow.”

“Like the go-karts.” I grin at her. If I choose the activities, maybe I’ll be able to avoid the slides on this trip.

“You’re feeling the need for speed, huh?” Tiffany chuckles. “We could always hang out with Landon’s company.”

I pause a moment near the door, giving her suggestion more thought than I should. “That’s a no from me.”

Tiffany closes her eyes. “Okay, well, I’ll be here. Go scope out the nightlife on the boat so we know what to expect tomorrow.”

I nod and head out into the hallway, freezing with my hand on the doorknob when I see who’s unlocking the cabin door next to ours.

Landon.

CHAPTER11

Landon

“Rachelle, did something happen? Are you all right?” I ask. My heart beats at least double the speed as when I walked down the hall moments ago. I didn’t expect to see her again this soon, or this close to my room.

Her mouth opens and closes a few times before she points to my door and says, “You’re staying here?”

I check the number next to the cabin door to make sure I didn’t go to the wrong spot. “Um, yep. This is me. And Dani.”

Nothing like adding more awkwardness to what’s already transpired over the past hour.

She says nothing, as if she’s still processing this.

“Are you staying there?” I ask, hoping to keep the conversation going so she doesn’t flee.

With robotic movements, she nods and turns her head to the door. “Yes.” And then, as if by a snap of the fingers, she talks quickly. “I, uh, I’m going to get a soda for Tiffany. She’s not feeling well and I figure it might be nice to check out what’s going on outside.”

I can’t help but smile. The woman standing in front of me is a lot like the woman I was going to marry a year ago. But from everything I saw at dinner, she’s also changed, matured. Gained more confidence in herself.

It’s little things like that which shove tiny daggers into my heart. I was an enabler. I’m probably still an enabler. Maybe I should stay away from her. Let her get closer to the future she deserves instead of one I kept misdirecting her to.

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