Page 74 of The Baking Games

Why do I feel so sad? I feel like I just lost something. I feel like I left Sadie all over again at the airport. This is a foreign feeling to me. I've dated several guys in my life, some seriously, but I never felt such a sense of loss knowing that I wouldn't get to spend all my time with anyone. Maybe I'm just lonely in here, missing my sister. Maybe that's all this is. But I don't think so.

Still, I don't know if Rhett is playing pretend or if this is reality. I can't imagine him having the depth of feelings that he seems to. This is Rhett Jennings. Rhett Jennings doesn't have those kinds of feelings.

It's all very confusing, and I suppose being unchained from him will make things easier. It will give me more time to think. Maybe I can talk to Maggie about it. And then I remember that everything I say is on TV. There is no privacy. There is no asking her for “girl advice.” I have to keep this to myself and figure it out alone. If we’re lucky, we have weeks left in this house, and I can't let these crazy thoughts derail me. I have to remember why I’m here: to win that money and change my and my sister’s lives.

RHETT

Another day, another main challenge. These are becoming old hat for us. I've won one time; Savannah hasn't won at all. I'm starting to worry a little bit about her longevity in the game, but since she still hasn't agreed to a fake relationship with me, she's kind of on her own.

It makes me worry. I don't want her to leave. I want her to stay as long as possible. Of course, I still want to win—I am competitive, after all—but I would like it to be Savannah and me at the end.

As Dan explained, today’s main challenge is a mystery ingredient challenge. We can make whatever we want, but we must choose to use one of the crazy mystery ingredients on the table. They are wasabi paste, cayenne pepper flakes, and candied jalapenos. None of them are exactly helpful when trying to make a sweet treat.

This is the first time that I've been unchained from Savannah in three days. It feels weird. It feels like one of my limbs is missing, even though she's at the station right next to me, working away on whatever it is that she's making.

I miss her. I've never missed anybody in my whole life. Even when my grandmother died, and I was grieving that loss, I didn't miss her like this. This is like a longing, something I've never really felt before. Like I’m missing something I’ve never had but know that I desperately want.

I've dated a lot of women in my life. Being from a wealthy family gets you a lot of attention. You could be the ugliest guy in the world, but if you or your family has money, you will have dates. But I never felt like this, and that's scary because Savannah probably doesn't feel that way about me. She was just overly intoxicated on wine last night. She doesn't remember what she said. You can't take those kinds of feelings to heart.

I'm looking around the room and noticing everybody diligently working on their desserts. I crane my neck a bit, trying to see what Connor's doing, but I really can't tell. I have decided to make some wasabi white chocolate truffles. It’s not the easiest thing to do, but I hope the judges will like them.

"Dang it," I hear Savannah say under her breath.

I'm not sure what's going wrong, but I immediately look over at her. "Hey."

She turns and looks back at me. "Yeah?"

"You can do this. You've got it.”

What has come over me? I don't encourage other competitors. It's like my heart has a mind of its own and it's controlling everything I do. It's unsettling, and I don't like it. My brain needs to be in control. It is the only organ in my body that has ever been in control of everything. If my brain doesn't tell me to do it, I don't do it. But now, it seems like my heart has fought back and overtaken my mental capabilities.

I notice Connor looking in my direction. He has obviously heard me encourage Savannah. He shakes his head and rolls his eyes before returning to work.

The three hours fly by, and now it's time for the judges to walk around and give their verdicts. I think I did a pretty good job on my truffles, but I don't know what anybody else made.

They go to Connor first, who made wasabi white chocolate macarons. The judges seem to like them, but they're not nearly as impressed as I've seen them with Connor in the past. Maybe he got distracted watching me and Savannah.

Lainey made a spicy chocolate cake. That sounds disgusting, and the judges don't care for it. Maybe she'll go home. That would be one of the best pieces of news I’ve received in a while.

Zara made spicy jalapeno chocolate truffles. Chef Alain said they were innovative, but Marco said they were disgusting, so I don't know what to make of that.

Hank made wasabi vanilla cupcakes with orange buttercream. The judges were not amused.

Sophia created a beautiful cake with some kind of candied jalapeno icing, and Marco gagged. Tessa’s face turned a shade of red I’d never seen before.

Finally, they come over to my wasabi white chocolate truffles. They compliment them and say they have an interesting taste but that they wouldn't necessarily order them to eat at a restaurant. Yeah, I'm not winning this competition.

They also go to Leo, who has made a candied jalapeno peppermint cake. What in the world? Why would anybody make such a thing? Needless to say, Leo is the one they target. He's obviously going home.

Then they finally come to Savannah, who has made a jalapeno pineapple upside-down cake. It was such an interesting thing to make, and I’m kind of proud of her for coming up with something so unique. The judges rave about it, telling her it’s the best out of everyone’s and proclaiming her the winner.

I'm more excited about her win than I was about mine. In fact, I find myself shouting out and clapping to the point where everybody turns around and looks at me. Leo is proclaimed the loser and will be going home. That’s fine; I don't really know him all that well. As long as Savannah is staying, I'm okay.

Suddenly, I feel like she is my security blanket, which seems very dangerous. I’ve never needed a security blanket. Until now.

SAVANNAH

I won! I won! I can’t believe I won!

---