Page 110 of Stupid Matchmaking Love

Every breath is heaving. Rhett’s the same, and he’s so tall this could be awkward, but we’ve been doing great, and we’re now in the final stretch.

We start to gain on Holly and Jace. I look over as Holly sees us. Her lip curls back.

Rhett and I edge closer as Mina and the crew shout from the finish line, screaming us onward.

Then, so quickly I almost miss it, Holly’s foot flies out in front of mine and I hit it. My knee buckles and I’m down, pulling Rhett with me.

This man—he must be a superhero, because he doesn’t lose stride. He grabs me around the waist, hoists me up, and grips me like iron, solid and unshakable, even though I flail like a rag doll at his hip.

A wind rises from nowhere, coursing through my chest like the land itself pushes us onward.

We’re neck and neck with Holly and Jace as Rhett surges forward in a final attempt to win. The white tape breaks against his chest, and he lifts his hands in victory.

“Congratulations!” Mina shouts. “That was incredible. Rhett and Cristina won by a hair.”

Jace whirls on Mina, his face red, nostrils flared. “They cheated. Rhett picked her up and ran.”

Rhett slowly puts me down on the ground and turns to Jace. “Are you really going to claim cheating when Holly tripped Cristina?”

“Holly didn’t—”

Rhett shoots Jace a look so scorching I’m surprised Jace’s hair doesn’t spontaneously combust.

Mina, holding Flame in her arms, steps between the two men. “Gentlemen, let’s take a breath, shall we?”

Both men step back but keep their gazes pinned on each other.

“Good. Now, Jace, Rhett’s right: Holly did stick her foot out—whether or not that was intentional—”

“It was intentional,” Rhett says.

“They were so close to us.” Holly slinks up to Jace and cuddles against him. He grabs her by the waist and pulls her in. “If my foot accidentally wound up in her space, that’s more Cristina’s fault than mine.”

Yeah, right.

I curl my hands into fists at the idea of losing to a cheater. No way. Rhett and I worked too hard in that obstacle course to lose, even though Holly clearly tried to sabotage us.

What is up with that?

I glance over and see Holly’s lower lip tremble as if she’s about to cry. Just trying to get sympathy. It’s never been more clear that she and Jace are perfect for one another. His dirty looks and her blatant attempts at sabotage—screaming about the owl during the trust bridge and now this—piss me off.

They don’t deserve to win.

“Couples,” Mina says smartly, “the fact of the matter is, we saw on the live stream that Holly’s foot did indeed make a break for it.” She huffs a laugh but quickly stops when no one else joins her. “With Cristina down, Rhett did what any true partner would do—he picked her up and helped her cross the finish line.”

“I want other opinions,” Jace says. “Ask the people watching the live stream who won. Bring in a referee, anything.”

Mina considers this, her eyes sparkling. “Let’s ask the live stream, shall we?” Then she pivots toward her assistant holding the phone that’s streaming. “Audience, who do you think won the race? Be honest, and drop your answer in the comments.”

I cross my fingers. Please, please let us have won. I look up at Rhett, and he smiles, winds an arm around my waist, and holds me close.

There’s nothing better than this feeling, being held by him.

“Don’t worry,” he whispers. “We’ve got the audience on our side.”

I sure hope so.

It only takes a few moments before Mina begins reading. “Rhett and Cristina. Holly cheated, disqualify them—oops, that got dropped in. Rhett carrying Cristina is everything!”