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Clarice licks her finger and holds it up. “I don’t feel it.”

“Must’ve been a ghost, then,” I joke. Before there’s time to dig this hole any deeper, I say, “What do y’all think the next challenge will be?”

Right on cue, all our phones buzz. I pull mine from my pocket and see a text in our group chat. It’s from Mina.

As I open my phone, my silverware rattles, like the magic in this town just perked up to attention.

Good morning, magical matches! The next challenge is all about communication, steadiness, and trust. Wear comfortable clothes. No heels. And remember, sometimes one wrong step is all it takes to lose.

I frown at the text. One wrong step? What will we be doing? Playing The Floor Is Lava?

“Mina sure likes to keep the hints vague,” Rhett murmurs.

“She wants us on our toes.” Clarice takes a sip of coffee. “Lucky for me, Beau keeps me on my toes.”

Beau flips his bangs from his eyes and smiles genuinely, the kind that hints that the duo might, just might, be falling in love.

No way.

But yay for Clarice! That’s what this whole thing is about, matches really becoming partners, and if Clarice and Beau can do it with their age gap, maybe other people can.

Like you and Rhett, a voice whispers in my ear.

Stop it, I whisper back.

It goes quiet.

We finish breakfast and Rhett stands. “I’ve got a full day of work ahead of me. So if y’all will excuse me, I’ll get right to it. Cristina?” My gaze flicks up and one side of his mouth tips up, eye crinkling. “I’ll see you before our trust challenge.”

My stomach bottoms out. “Trust challenge? You think that’s what this is?”

“Almost certainly. Tell you what—if I hear any hints of what might be in store for us, I’ll let y’all know.”

“Appreciate it, man,” Beau replies, dropping his napkin on the table.

“Yeah,” I mutter. “That would be great.”

Rhett walks away and the chair beside me, now empty, feels colder.

I hate that I notice.

I hate even more that I miss him already.

Then I recall the test. A trust challenge? That means touching. I’ll have to touch him. Touching Rhett means wanting more from Rhett. Touching leads to kisses.

How bad would it be to kiss him?

Not bad, just devastating, because no matter how much I try to push him away, Rhett’s right: We need to fight to win this thing.

Even if winning means exposing myself—my past, my heart, all of it.

Winning will push us together, and I’m already falling.

The question is, can I survive landing?

Chapter 30

Rhett