Page 66 of Stupid Matchmaking Love

“I’m serious, Cristina. I need to know you’re okay.”

The intensity in his voice makes my breath catch. This isn’t casual concern. This is something more.

But then something shutters behind his eyes, like he’s said too much, revealed something he didn’t mean to, as if he’s not just asking because he’s worried, but because the idea of me being hurt weighs on him.

I scoff at myself. Come on, Cristina. He doesn’t even know you.

But there’s something familiar about Rhett, something so easy, like we’ve been friends for years. Or maybe frenemies.

“Oh, look, we’re here.” I scratch the bunny behind the ears. “Are you ready to get out, little rabbicorn?”

“Is that what we’re calling it?” Rhett pulls into a space. “Not a bunnicorn?”

“Maybe it can be both, depending on your mood.”

“Whatever you call it”—he flashes a smile full of straight white teeth—“let’s get it some supplies.”

“Sounds perfect.”

As we walk inside, Rhett stays close but careful. Something about what I shared—my childhood, my parents—has made him gentler. More protective.

And somehow more distant.

But it’s the protective part that scares me more than anything.

Because protective means caring. Caring means getting involved. And getting involved means I’ll eventually have to tell him about Glen.

I can’t do that. Won’t do that.

So I hold the bunnicorn closer and remind myself: Six weeks. That’s all this is.

Even if it’s starting to feel like something more.

Chapter 21

Cristina

“Derek, I think you forgot your Bitty Being.” I place his sculpture, head glued on the right way, on the reception desk. “Someone had thrown it in the trash. But don’t worry, I saved it and fixed it for you.”

My coworker eyes me coolly. “Thanks,” is all he says, not bothering to admit he’s the guilty party.

I push the little statue toward him, daring him to admit he tossed it in the trash. In return, Derek stares me down, daring me to admit I found it.

We freeze like that until Maya comes up.

“You ready?” she asks, sliding her arms into her light jacket.

As much as I want to win the stare-down, I turn to Maya. “I’m ready.”

“Let’s go.” She opens the door. “Or we’ll be late.”

I shoot Derek a final look, eyes narrowed.

He rolls his in response.

Shaking off my annoyance, I follow her to the front of the resort, where the other female contestants and Mina are loading into a van.

“You’re here,” Mina announces when we arrive. She takes one look at me, and her eyes widen. “You tired, Cristina? Long day?”