Page 49 of Matched with Her Runaway Groom

I take in a deep breath and let it out. “Sorry, how are you doing this morning?”

“So much better. The doctor talked about having crackers by the bed when I wake up to help get my stomach settled.” She smiles. “So far, so good.”

I don’t have to move too much, pretty much arching my back an inch or two like I do when I’m stretching, to see a small package of saltines. “You eat those before you get up? Those are tasteless.”

“Well, I don’t care what they taste like as long as the nausea stays away. What’s the plan today?” She sits on her bed, probably waiting for the mirror.

“Today is zip lining day. Will you still be able to go?” That is the one piece of information my brain didn’t have an anxiety war with last night, but now it’s doing double-time.

Tiffany gives me a sad smile. “Do you mind if I cheer you on from the ground?”

I nod, doing my best to look happy. “Sure, that should be fine.” I won’t die of fright at the height from the platform or whatever we’d be launching off of and the ground, but whatever.

I pull the mental snark back a few notches, realizing that I don’t really want to zip line either, and if I felt like she does, I’d do the same. With my makeup bag on my arm, I step out of the small bathroom and head toward the closet.

“You know, if you don’t want to, you don’t have to finish out the Breakup Bucket List.”

I freeze mid-stride and wait a few seconds to let the words loop in my mind. “I thought you were the biggest proponent of it. Why the change of heart?”

Tiffany turns around by her bed, changing into her swimsuit. A pair of jean shorts and a t-shirt are spread out on the bed. “Well, we were all a little crazy when your sister ditched her fiancé. I think the goal was to put a little of everything and anything to help you get over Landon and move on with your life. You’ve already come a long way, Rachelle.”

“Have I? Because being on this cruise doesn’t make me feel like I have.” I walk over and slump down on the bed, wishing I had a crystal ball or something to direct me on my course in life. But then again, I can’t just rely on that.

If there is one thing I’ve learned over the past year, it’s that I’ve been able to do things I didn’t think I could do. Zip lining is the next level on that scale. It would just be nice if all these character building activities didn’t involve heights.

“I’m sure seeing Landon hasn’t been the easiest, but I think he’s got good intentions.”

“Good intentions?” I raise my eyebrows in disbelief and shake my head. “No way. We’re not sticking up for him right now. He basically admitted he was a coward and backed out of marrying me because he didn’t meet the express approval from my parents.”

Tiffany frowns. “Really? He never seemed to care that much about what they thought. Why then?”

Her words cause my mind to go on a hunt through the memories. Landon was always polite to my parents, but he never sucked up to them, like everyone else did in their social circles.

“That’s all he told me. I’m not sure it’s the complete story, but if it’s not, then he’s just adding to the strikes against him by lying.”

Tiffany stands and walks over to me, wrapping her arms around me. “Do the zip line and take your mind off things. I’ll make sure I’m there cheering for you and we’ll have a great day on land. We can worry about boys later.”

“You make me sound like I’m in middle school again with a crush on Bobby Thompson.”

“I guess crushes don’t change a whole lot, even with age,” Tiffany says, chuckling.

We dock on the island of CocoCay in the Bahamas, and after at least an hour drive on a bus, I stand on the edge of a platform for my ziplining adventure. If only my entire nervous system would relax because… heights.

Tiffany did her best to talk to me on the way here, probably to help my nerves, but I’ve had tunnel vision and haven’t paid attention to anything or anyone. I’d love to hang out on the beautiful beach instead, but I’ve got to cross this one off the Breakup Bucket List.

I’m strapped in with a helmet on my head. My legs are shaking as I wait for the attendant to send off the woman in front of me on her zip lining journey.

“I can do this. I can do hard things. The cord is completely safe and won’t somehow malfunction, causing me to plummet to my death.” The words are a jumble, but I’ve got to steer myself in a better direction or mental paralysis will set in.

I’m five steps from the edge of the platform and I don’t know if I can do it.

I’m about to step forward when someone says something in Spanish and the attendant raises his hand for me to stop.

“We just need to check something quickly.” His words are like a sounding horn to my nervous system.

Abort! Abort!

I glance down and see the straps around my middle and legs. I could easily take them off and slip down the ladder.

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