Page 34 of Matched with Her Runaway Groom

Although I’m wondering more and more about what I should do about us. Dani fell asleep before we talked more about these ideas she has, but I need to come up with something that won’t scare her away.

We climb several flights of stairs and by the time we get to the top, my legs feel like gelatin. I probably need to get back to the gym more consistently after this trip. With all the appointments and adjusting to life back in Boston, I haven’t had the time.

Once I make it to the top of the slide, I take inventory of where everyone is. Tiffany is hugging Dani and the two of them are talking animatedly. Rachelle is clenching and unclenching her fists just behind them, almost dancing from foot to foot.

At least the weather isn’t cold right now, which tips me off that she’s freaking out.

I reach forward to lightly touch her arm, but am not prepared for the reaction. In one swoop, Rachelle turns with a clenched fist and punches it forward, reminding me of that old timey game where the two figures are fighting until the head pops up to announce the winner. Rock ‘em, Sock ‘em, I think it is.

The hard part is that I’m the one with the neck being lengthened and pain shooting through my jaw. My teeth feel like I’ve just bit down on aluminum foil and I now get it when people say they see stars after they’ve been punched.

“I’m so sorry,” Rachelle says somewhere close to me. “I didn’t mean to do that. I promise, no matter how mad I am at you, I never intended to hurt you physically.”

I stand upright again, rubbing at the spot on my jaw. The pain eases back and my eyesight returns to normal. “You’re that mad, huh?”

Her eyes darken at my smile and I raise my hands.

“Rightly so. I was an idiot, Rachelle. I never should’ve left you, let alone the way I did.”

It’s at that moment when I realize Tiffany and Dani are watching the entire exchange. All of us are semi-shivering on the platform of the slide on a cruise ship. Yeah, there’s no way I would’ve planned this for my apology.

I turn my focus back to Rachelle, taking a deep breath in the hopes she’ll respond at some point. Her expression is hard to read, which is saying something as she’s always been an open book, at least to me.

“Thank you,” she says slowly, “I’m glad you admit you’re an idiot.”

I hear the sounds of Tiffany and Dani’s twittering next to us and try to focus on the woman I love. The one I’ve always loved.

“Well, it’s the truth.”

“Are you guys filming a Hallmark movie, or are you going to ride the slide?” a guy says from behind me.

“Come on, man,” Dani says, gesturing between Rachelle and me. “These two have needed this talk for a very long time.”

“Does it look like I care?” he says, and I turn to see he’s a few inches taller than me. I doubt I’d come out with all my teeth if a fight broke out.

But Dani doesn’t even back down. “Do you have a heart, sir?”

A slight flicker of a smile crosses his face before he schools his expression to one of indifference. I just hope she doesn’t get sucked into his orbit. Dani’s been attracted to all the wrong men for her entire life.

“I’ll go down,” Tiffany says, looking like she’s not in the mood to watch a fight, which is unlike her. She disappears once she’s given the go ahead and Dani gets into position after her.

“Are you all right?” Rachelle asks, her gaze traveling to my jaw.

I move it back and forth and although it’s stiff, it’s nothing compared to what Rachelle’s been through. The inner scars I created. The delivery might’ve been wrong on several levels, but the changes I see in her probably wouldn’t have happened if we’d still gotten married. And now I’m hoping it’s been enough time that we can move toward the future together.

“I’ll be fine. Are you okay?” I dip my head to make eye contact with her.

She gives me a half-smile and nods. “I have to admit, I’ve thought about hitting you more times than I can count over the past year. Even though it was unintentional, it felt good.”

I laugh louder than I have in months. “Well, I’ll take any aggression you need to get out. I deserve it.” I rub my jaw and then say, “Where did you learn to fight?”

Her eyes widen and she says, “I, um, have been trying out some different hobbies over the past year. Kick boxing was one of them.”

“Oh, so I need to be worried about you kicking me, too?” I take a step back, pretending to be hurt.

“Dude,” the guy behind me says, “girls don’t want a guy who’s a wuss.”

I turn and give the guy a glare, wishing he would just butt out of this conversation. I mean, I’ve made significant progress here. She’s hit me with paintballs and now her fist. If I’d known she just needed a little boxing practice, I would’ve come to her sooner.

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