Page 109 of Stupid Matchmaking Love

She rolls her eyes. “Of course I didn’t say any of that. I just said from what I’d seen, she looked really sweet and I wished you both good luck. I mean, I would’ve killed—killed—to have been handed my soulmate on a silver platter. I wouldn’t have had to kiss so many frogs before I found my prince. But you, you have all the good luck.”

“I do, don’t I?”

“So . . .” Her face changes, and I know what she’s gonna ask. “Have you told her about the, you know, sleepwalking?”

“Didn’t have to.”

“That’s good.”

“Because I woke up in her room one morning.”

She slaps her hand to her cheek. “Rhett! Didn’t you lock the door?”

“Bolted, latched, chained, all of it. But it didn’t matter.”

“Was she okay? I mean, you told her about Sarah, right?”

I tap my pen against the desk blotter. “I did, a few nights ago.”

My sister sucks in a breath. “You did?”

“I did.”

“This must be love. You’re smiling! Oh my God, you’re smiling. You are in love, aren’t you? Like, you’re gone for her. It’s scribbled all over your face.”

I peek at my image on the bottom corner of the screen and notice I am smiling. I’ve actually been doing that a lot lately. More than normal. More than I’m used to. I haven’t smiled this much since before . . . Well, not since a long time ago. Might break a mirror if I keep doing it too much.

“Have you told her that you love her?”

“Jessie,” I say in a warning tone.

“What? Don’t you think she should know?”

“It’s still fairly new.”

“And you don’t want to scare her off, I get it. But first of all, the quilt matched you—hello! And secondly, she’s in love with you, too.”

My heart leaps right out of my chest. “Now, how do you know that?”

“Did you experience the kiss at the end of the trust bridge? She practically melted into your arms. Mark my words. That woman is in love with you. Full stop. No holds barred.” More blocks clink in the background. “Don’t you think she deserves to know?”

“Maybe we’ll give it a couple more weeks before I overwhelm her.” Because if anything, Cristina is fragile. This thing with her is brittle, and I don’t want to shatter it. “Ease her into it—and my family. If you even think about calling when we have another live streamed date and telling her—”

“Don’t worry, Your Majesty. Your secret’s safe with me. But I can tell you right now, the two of y’all have a massive fan club. Everyone wants you to win.”

I smile at that. “Well, guess what? I want to win, too.”

For real this time. Everything—the competition and the girl.

But mostly the girl.

Chapter 34

Cristina

“Go, go, go!” Rhett shouts as we hobble-sprint through the tire obstacle, our bound thighs forcing us into an awkward three-legged rhythm that somehow—miraculously—keeps pace with Holly and Jace.

Rhett’s hand on my back steadies me, helps me focus as we propel through the last few tires and head toward the finish line.