Page 60 of Matched with Her Runaway Groom

He nods and lifts an arm to wrap around my shoulders. “Thanks for giving me another chance to fix things.”

This is the feeling I’ve hoped for, the need to get everything back to normal. But now I know how far I can stretch myself. And hopefully he won’t be pulling me along for the rest of our relationship.

CHAPTER25

Landon

This day hasn’t been what I expected, but I’ve been able to secure time with Rachelle, and that’s the main goal right now.

I’m soaking up every detail she’s offering, hoping to remember them for a critical moment in the near future. I also hope she’ll let me in further, that we can patch up the problems in our past, even if it’s slower than I want it to be.

I’m lying on my bed in the cabin. Dani stayed out longer again, and I’m sure I’ll have to find her at some point. I’m just hoping she’s not chasing a guy with all the secrecy.

My mind goes back to the conversations from earlier.

Rachelle signed up for a dating app. It doesn’t sound like she did it willingly. I mean, Tiffany is a very persuasive gal. But then she also created a Breakup Bucket List?

But what did I expect she would do or feel when I left? I let that question course through me. It’s probably miniscule to the pain I’ve given her.

I’m just glad Rachelle could finally go on a cruise. And that I could be here as well.

I can’t sleep and decide to head out and sit on deck. I’ve had a fantasy book I’ve been trying to read for the past year. Tonight might be the night for me to make some progress on it, at least enough to get the guilt and regret flooding my mind to take a nap.

I take a seat on one of the lounge chairs away from the pool and turn it toward the ocean. With a few white lights strung overhead, there’s something calming about the scene.

My mind replays our kiss the day before on the boardwalk, and the way Rachelle responded to it, like she’d been hoping a kiss would happen.

I crack open the paperback book and try to focus on the words. Instead, my thoughts are with a woman I’ve never stopped loving. But will she ever be able to truly trust me again? It’s all I can hope for.

CHAPTER26

Rachelle

The newest urban fantasy from my favorite author is on my tablet and I’m determined to read a good chunk of it, if not the whole thing tonight. I’ve almost forgotten about it with all the highs and lows over the past few days.

With Tiffany already snoring in her bed, I decide to head out to the deck. The breeze is light, making it just barely cooler than earlier today.

I scan the deck in search of the perfect spot to read, one where I can glance up and see the vast expanse of the waves. About halfway into my sweep, I see a familiar jacket around the side of a pool chair.

My stomach does a fancy flip like gymnasts on the uneven bars, and I hesitate, debating if I should go to him. We’ve made some progress over the past two days, aside from him talking crap on my sister.

I know it sounds crazy, to pause and wonder if this is all reality, but I guess I’ve conditioned myself to be cautious around him.

“I can do this.” I say the words out loud, as if that will help my body and brain to finally work in cohesive union. Friend, boyfriend, fiancé or husband. There’s no rush to put labels on whatever we are yet. And maybe we’ll discover that off the boat, we’re not really working. Closure is what I need.

I can do this.

I walk over and point to a chair that’s turned toward the pool but still close to him.

“Is this seat taken?” I ask, giving him a small smile.

His face lights up and he nods. And then, in a quick move, he’s up and pushing the chair to sit right next to his. I’m talking there is no room between his arm platform and mine and I’m okay with it.

“What are you reading?” he asks, glancing over at my tablet.

“Um, it’s about a witch and how she falls in love with a shifter.” My cheeks are getting hot. Why are my cheeks hot?

Landon tries to hold back a smile as he nods. “Okay, I’m sure there are hurdles for that relationship.”

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