Page 63 of Matched with Her Runaway Groom

“Is there a chance I can ride?” This isn’t something I’d usually ask, but Savannah has me all keyed up.

He turns around and gives me a small smile. “Sorry, I’ve already cleaned up for the night.” Tucking his keys into his pocket, he walks by me, but I reach out and touch his arm, hoping I can convince him.

“There’s no way to do it?”

With a shake of the head, he says, “It takes a while to get everything back online. We have a few other options that are easier though. There’s a skydiving simulator. I can help you with that.”

“Skydiving simulator?” Why is my voice all squeaky at the end?

He nods. “Yeah, skydiving, but inside a tube? You wouldn’t have to jump out of a plane or anything.”

I suck in a deep breath, trying to decide if it’s a good idea. “And what if I’m scared of heights?”

“We’ve had a ton of people go through who’ve been scared at first. But it’s a controlled environment and I’ll be there the whole time.” He reaches out his hand and says, “I’m Brad.”

I take it, my arm shaking a bit at the thought of skydiving, even if it’s just in a wind tunnel.

“Rachelle. Let’s do it.”

We walk to the other end of the ship, and I’m surprised I haven’t been down this way at all. My cabin is in the middle of the ship and most of the activities we’ve done have been on the one end.

We walk into a section with a clear glass window and I can see someone already in there.

“That’s the simulator, huh?” Not my brightest moment.

“Yep. Here, what’s your size? I’ll get out a jumpsuit.”

I hesitate. I’ve always been a small, but thinking back to the paint balling attire that almost felt painted on, I figure I should give myself some grace. “I’m a medium or large, depending on the fit.”

There’s no judgment in his eyes, just like Landon hasn’t looked at me with disgust because of my change in size.

“Sit and watch this video while I get suited up and grab yours.” He’s gone for all of a minute, long enough for me to weigh whether or not I want to go through with this.

The instructional video is about as dry as the go-kart one was, but at least I have a better idea of how to do things once I get into the tunnel.

I pull the suit on and adjust my ponytail down low so I can fit the helmet on my head.

Brad waits for me to finish up and starts with the instructions. “Okay, we’re going to head into the chute. You’re going to fold your arms across your chest and then just lean in through the door to get started, just like in the video. Got it?”

“Y-yeah. Got it.”

I shake out my hands as I follow him toward the tube. The other rider steps out with a smile that takes up her entire face. If I come out looking like that, it’ll be a miracle. At this point, I’m just hoping to keep everything from going crazy in my body.

“Okay, I’ll stabilize you and then you’ll push your hips forward and kind of arch your back. That will help you get more comfortable in the air flow.”

I swallow, doing everything I can to stop from mentally freaking out.

“Now’s your chance. Fold your arms and lean forward.”

It’s a weird sensation to have half my body in regular air and the other with a semi-weightless feeling.

The air moves me upward and I can feel Brad pull on the harness attached to the jumpsuit, keeping me from sailing too far up, or at least that’s what it feels like.

He presses down on my hips slightly, and I can feel the difference in how my body handles the air pressure. He lightly tips my head back, allowing even more control.

With one finger pointed up, probably to ask if I’m ready because I can’t hear a thing in here, I take a moment and then nod.

I’m sailing up into the tube, but it feels like I’ve just jumped from a plane. My screams can probably be heard around the ship. We stay there for a bit and then come back down, Brad guiding me through the entire experience.

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