Page 130 of He Loves Me Knot

How is that even possible?

Callum shrugged. “It happens during the rainy season. We should be fine, but I’m going to wade out there, make sure it’s not too deep.”

“Wait, what?” Liddy set a hand on his shoulder. “Isn’t that dangerous?”

For some reason, a smile curled at the corners of his lips as he met her gaze. “It’ll be fine. There’s an umbrella in the back if you want to help hold it over Elle so she can . . . relieve herself.” He nodded toward the trunk area.

“Let me go with you, mate,” Quinn said as Callum opened the door.

“Please don’t get killed and leave my baby fatherless,” Elle said, a hint of anxiety in her voice.

Quinn winked at her, then stepped outside.

As both men walked forward in the rain toward the swollen river, tense silence settled between Liddy and Elle.

Liddy gritted her teeth, then said, “Listen, Elle, I’m sorry. I really am. I didn’t mean to cause you more stress.”

“I just . . .” Elle studied her. “None of this is like you. What are you trying to prove? And to whom?”

Good question.

Why had she felt the need to prove so much lately?

She didn’t have an answer for that. “You know, why don’t I get that umbrella and get Quinn to help you. I’ll see if Callum needs anything, that way you don’t have to worry about your husband drowning on top of everything else.”

Something unreadable flashed in Elle’s eyes, then she nodded.

Liddy couldn’t get out of the car quickly enough.

She hurried over to Quinn and handed him the umbrella. Callum was already wading into the river, his back to them. “Why don’t we switch?” Liddy said as brightly as possible.

Quinn gave her a look of surprise, then squeezed her shoulder. “It’s going to be all right.”

As Quinn went back, Liddy stared at the gushing brown water just a few feet away. She took a few cautious steps into it.

After the tensionof the morning, standing in the river with rain dripping down her face, soaking her shirt was . . .

Relief.

More than anything, she wanted Callum to tell her everything would be okay. Thattheywould be okay. Not that there even was a “they.” But with their fake relationship exposed to more people, it all felt so close to being over. Just when they’d barely gotten started.

She splashed out into the water and grabbed Callum’s hand. “Wait?—”

He turned toward her. “What are you doing?”

“I don’t know. You were just standing there and . . . I just wanted to be here with you. I don’t know why.”

He smiled sadly. “God, you’re so beautiful. You know that? Especially when you’re fearless.”

Her stomach roiled.Why does it feel like he’s going to push me away again?

She grabbed his hands, interlacing her fingers with his. “Thank you, Callum. For everything you’ve done this week. I’m sorry Elle is mad at you, but I just want you to know—I’m not. And I don’t care what she or anyone else thinks.”

He raised a brow. “Is that so? What about Sergio?”

“Ugh, don’t remind me. Hopefully he got the hint and went home.” She didn’t want to rehash that stupid argument right now.

Liddy shook her head, trying to clear some of the rain from her face. Feathery strands of hair stuck to her cheeks. “Why does stuff like this keep happening to us? We’re seriously going to drive through a river in our car? This is like the Oregon Trail or something.”

---