Page 154 of Stupid Matchmaking Love

“So that’s what was wrong with it,” I mumble, recalling how the stupid thing was spinning in the wrong direction.

“Yeah, and when Rhett turned around, Jace was throwing a punch.”

My hands fly to my face. “Oh no!”

“Don’t worry, Jace only grazed him. Then Rhett threw a punch and knocked him out. Cold.”

Holy crap. Rhett came to my rescue like a knight in shining armor?

Her words take their time sinking in, settling in the grooves and crevices where Rhett’s love used to live. “So you think maybe he still cares about me?”

“Come on, babe.” She rolls her eyes. “That man is destroyed. You didn’t see his face during the trust bridge. He was so scared of letting you fall. It was obvious. And when you nearly did fall through the boards?” She touches her heart. “Not only was I scared, but he was, too. He didn’t want to let you down. You could see it in his eyes. I mean, there’s a reason why the magic put the two of you together. Why you were—”

We say in unison, “Soulmates.”

We stare at each other as the word hits me. “But is it enough?” I ask quietly.

“Maybe not. But it’s a great start.”

My heart lurches, and for a second I can’t breathe—not from the asthma, but because he fought for me even after he let me go.

Sometimes, in order to love something, you have to set it free. I always thought that saying was about parents letting go of their children, but now I think it’s more about deeply loving someone and knowing that in the end you’ll wind up hurting them, so the most sacrificial thing you can do is to let them go, even if it destroys you in the worst way.

That was what happened with Rhett. But what if he was wrong? What if the most destructive thing isn’t his fears—it’s living without each other?

I open my mouth to ask Rowe what she thinks, but she takes one step and stops. Her face goes pale.

“What is it?” I ask. “Everything okay?”

She pauses for a moment and then exhales a low breath.

“Rowe?”

“Yeah, I’m okay, but I think my water just broke.”

Chapter 52

Cristina

We get into my car and head for the hospital. On the way, Rowe calls Pane, her doctor, and the hospital to let them know we’re coming.

I feel like I should put my flashers on, but Rowe is incredible. She isn’t grunting or screaming in pain yet—but I know it’s coming.

We whip into the hospital, and I help her out of the seat. She’s exhaling long, slow breaths and rubbing her side. We’re almost to the doors when she scrunches up her face and grabs my arm to steady herself.

“We’re almost there,” I tell her. “You can do this.”

I grab one of the wheelchairs stationed inside the entrance and push her to the maternity ward.

There, the nurses take her and direct me to the waiting room. I’m about to walk in when I hear footsteps coming toward me at a clipped pace. I look over to see Pane charging down the hall.

I look behind him, expecting—no, hoping—to see Rhett with him. They were fishing, after all.

But he’s alone, and my hopes fall.

“Where is she?”

“The nurses took her back. They can tell you.”