Page 69 of Matched with Her Runaway Groom

“At the spa, I think.”I need to get a handle on my own emotions before I can charge in to tell her I still love her. But time is running out with the trip almost over. Maybe my own trip in the simulator will help jog things into place in my mind.

CHAPTER31

Rachelle

No amount of searching helps me find Landon. I know it’s a big ship, but he shouldn’t be able to hide this well. And is he avoiding me?

Tiffany and I attend the regular dinner with the Hamilton Group people and I keep waiting for Landon to walk through the door, his bright smile easing all the worries built throughout the day.

Still nothing.

I knock on his door, and even put Tiffany and Dani on watch to alert me if they hear from him. Maybe I should see if he’s gone to help cook the food in the kitchens. Yeah, he burned Top Ramen once, so I doubt that. But how did he develop this talent for disappearing? He’s always been the worst hide-and-seek player.

I struggle to sleep that night, having to talk myself out of walking to the cabin next to us and pounding on the door until he comes out.

The next morning, my eyes struggle to open from the exhaustion of worrying about him. I know I kind of wished he’d jump off a bridge earlier, but please don’t let him fall into the ocean.

“Let’s go on land. Maybe he’ll show up there.” Tiffany gives me a hopeful look, but I’m still a ball of nerves.

I’ve gone over every interaction we had right before he left to go meet Roman the other night, but I can only think of the fun conversation. Nothing to cause him to stay away.

Please don’t tell me I scared him off again.

I dress and head off the ship with the other two, not feeling like doing much of anything. This, this is why it was easier to keep going without worrying about him. But the happiness I have with him is something else.

“Where are we going?” I ask, finally tuning into the present. If he wants to find me, he will. I’m not going to waste the rest of this trip pining for him.

“Blackbeard’s Castle.”

“What?” I ask, turning toward the large building in front of us. “Is it a museum?” That’s not going to help me keep my train of thought moving forward.

Tiffany glances down at a paper she must’ve retrieved from the ship. “I’m not sure. Maybe? There’s a tour or something we can go through.”

Great. Where is my adrenaline rush now? I’d almost rather be in the skydiving simulator again.

We walk into the building and pay for our overpriced tickets, waiting in a room with a movie playing that has several stories about Blackbeard. I tune them out.

“Are ye ready for yer tour?” a voice asks from the back of the room. I stand, willing my feet to move forward enough to follow after Tiffany.

A hand grasps my arm and then nails dig in. “Ouch, what’s wrong?”

I glance up and instead of a shooter, which is the impression I got from Tiffany’s panicked arm grab, there stands my sister, Hillary.

“Sugar,” Hillary says, her eyes wide. “Why don’t the rest of the party head down that way and we’ll get your guide all set up.”

“What happened to your accent?” an older man asks as he walks by her.

She gives him a small smile. “Life, sir. Sometimes you’ve just got to be real with it.”

Her gaze turns to me and I’m conflicted, my emotions ranging from high to low. The last time I saw her, she was about to get married and now I find her on an island leading out tours and talking like a wannabe pirate.

“What are you doing here?” I get out, and Hillary motions to someone outside the door before stepping inside and closing it.

“Trying to pick up the pieces of my life. It’s good to see you too, sis,” Hillary says. I’m surprised she says it without the snark I’m so used to.

“A note or something would’ve been nice so I knew you were alive,” I say, the last couple words choking on a sob.

She nods and walks forward, giving me a half-hug, the Stewart signature. “I’m sorry. I figured that I’ve screwed up my life enough and didn’t want to mess up yours anymore.”

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