Page 33 of Matched with Her Runaway Groom

Yep, the Greek god known as my former fiancé.

Can’t a girl catch a break?

CHAPTER14

Landon

It’s not my finest moment, but when I overheard Tiffany and Rachelle talking about the waterslides as they left their cabin this morning, I convinced Dani to switch our plans. Not that she needs much encouragement because she’s ready to make shirts that say “Team Lachelle” on them. That was the nickname my younger sisters gave us, kind of like the celebrity relationships of Brangelina. Back when they were together.

We make it to the pool but I don’t see them anywhere.

“You’re sure they were coming here?” Dani asks, casually walking around the pool.

“Yeah,” I say.

Dani shrugs. “Well, we might as well have fun while we’re here. Let’s go to that slide first.”

We race to the top and find no line. The water takes me through the slide, twisting and turning until it shoots me out at the bottom.

The high-pitched scream coming down the slide next to me sounds a lot like Rachelle’s, except she’s not a fan of water slides, especially the kind that last longer than three seconds to make it to the bottom.

We’d gone to a water park just after we started dating in high school and she avoided all of the larger slides, taking care of my younger sisters in the smaller kiddie areas.

So, for her to actually go down a slide that caused the adrenaline to course through me, is a big deal.

I stand next to the end of the slide for a moment, letting my gaze slide from her closed eyelids down to her pink lips. When her eyes open and I see the brilliant blue of them, it takes a minute for my brain to work again.

She sits up, her hair trailing down her back, and I have to check myself because seeing her in a bathing suit like that makes me regret everything that’s happened over the past year. Okay, every time I’ve run into her in the past week, I’ve felt like that, but she’s not running away from me at the moment. I’ll take that as a good sign.

“Did you need something?” she asks, brushing her hands down her hair and squeezing out the water.

“I was just trying to make sure you’re all right.”

“Of course,” she says, standing and getting out of the slide tunnel. “That was exhilarating. Probably one of the best things I’ve done in a while.” There’s a small wobble in her voice. I’m trying to decide if she’s lying for my benefit when another splash of water comes down.

Tiffany stands up and says, “Landon, it’s been a while. No business meetings today?”

At least Rachelle talks about me a little. But is that a good thing or a bad thing? I’m hoping it’s not bad. Since when did I become the over analyzer of everything?

“Where is Dani?” Tiffany asks and I turn to point toward the stairs.

“She’s heading for the next slide.” Then I get an idea that will help me solve whether Rachelle is being brave for me. “Would you ladies like to join us?” I give Rachelle a smile and turn with pleading eyes to Tiffany. She used to be a good sport about things and I can only hope she’ll take pity on me and work her magic.

“Of course,” Tiffany says. She winds her arm through Rachelle’s and directs her toward the stairs.

“Are you sure you wanna do this?” Rachelle asks and I can see a small sliver of terror in her eyes.

“Why not? We’re trying everything here, right?” Tiffany says.

“So much fun,” Rachelle says, her lips puckered like she just ate a lemon. Her laugh is off. “What about lunch though? Shouldn’t we be heading to eat?” She pulls away from Tiffany’s arm a bit, as if she’s about to head down the five stairs we’ve climbed.

Tiffany taps her arm. “We just had breakfast.”

“Oh yeah. Right.”

The two of them walk up the stairs and I follow, doing my best to not watch Rachelle’s backside as we climb. It’s not like we’re together or anything and I’ve got to keep my thoughts in check before I do something stupid, like kiss her too early. Which I would willingly do at any point on this trip.

But laying the groundwork to make it seem like I’m just a good friend again is brutal. I want to break the barrier and take her hand in mine, or even pick her up and carry her to a part of the boat that’s actually quiet so we can talk. Or kiss. I’m in favor of the kissing.

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