Page 64 of Matched with Her Runaway Groom

And in a surprise turn of events, I actually like it. It’s scary and I’m sure I’ll have an ulcer by the end, but there’s a magic to it that’s freeing.

The passage of time isn’t something I register while in there, but soon enough Brad pulls me down and then almost has to shove me out of the tube.

I slump over on a bench, my chest rising and falling in rapid spurts. But it’s the exact rush and distraction I’d been hoping for.

“What did you think?” Brad asks, sitting on the end of the bench, with at least a body length of a person in between us.

“Just what I needed, thanks,” I say, holding my helmet and goggles in my hands. “Are you trained on all the attractions on the ship?”

He nods. “Yeah, this is my usual spot, but the go-kart manager is over in the sick wing so I got reassigned for a few days.”

“Well, I’m just happy I didn’t throw up on you. Thank you for helping me get through it.”

Brad smiles. “No problem. Let me know if you want to do it again.”

I thank him again after taking off the suit and head out onto the deck. The wind is blowing slightly more than before, and I can’t help but grin.

I just survived a skydiving simulator.

Chances of me getting to where I can dive out of a plane are slim, but at least there’s some improvement in my height paralysis.

Now I just need to find Landon. Hopefully, we can finish our earlier conversation without interruptions.

CHAPTER28

Landon

Roman is nowhere to be found on the ship. When I finally make it back to the deck where Rachelle and I had been talking, Savannah is sitting in my chair and Rachelle’s is empty.

“I never found Roman. Are you sure he needed me?”

She twists her hair around a finger and tries to give me a flirty glare. “I’m pretty sure, yeah.”

“Where’s Rachelle?”

“Why? Are you thinking of getting back together with her?” Her eyes darken and her mouth tightens into a line.

I frown, not in the mood for this kind of conversation after the diversion she just pulled. “Yeah, I am.”

Her smile drops and she stands, walking close to me. “She said something about getting out some adrenaline. But who needs her? We can make our own fun, Landon. Just you and me.” It takes a few seconds to realize she’s getting close enough to kiss me.

I stumble back and blink a few times, hoping that will at least restart my brain.

“I’ve got to go, Savannah.” It’s all I can get out before I hurry away. I don’t need a second attempt at a kiss coming from her.

I walk to just about every part of the ship trying to find Rachelle. I start with the go-karts and move on to anything that’s open. When I see her in the skydiving section, I almost didn’t believe it was her. But she turns to the side enough before putting her helmet on for me to confirm it.

I chuckle a moment. It’s possible Savannah drove her to need to do something like this.

The guy from the go-karts is the one helping her get into the tunnel and he works to get her comfortable. A slight stab of jealousy hits my chest.

It’s not because the instructor has his hands all over her, which I know is to keep her from freaking out. It’s the fact that she did this on her own.

She doesn’t need me.

The thought sinks in deep, and I feel like I’ve just fallen into the water, sinking lower even though I’m trying to paddle to the surface.

The first thing that comes to mind is our breakup achieved its purpose of helping her make up her own mind and to build her confidence.

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