Page 71 of Glamour & Gumballs

It was cloudy and windy outside, but not raining.

For once, I wanted the rain. Anything to erase the wetness gathering in my pits and on my back.

I was so close to getting everything I wanted.

And so, so close to losing it.

The puzzle went on, slowly.

Chris was halfway through, and I was fervently whispering please to anyone or anything that might be listening, when Rhett finally got his first piece.

A bolt of gratitude raced down my spine.

It vanished as quickly as it had hit.

But Rhett was moving, then.

The pieces went down quickly as he worked through the sections he’d made.

Kyle got a few, though his sorted piles didn’t look terribly organized.

Travis had about a dozen up, but they didn’t look correct next to the other guys’.

Rhett finally caught Chris halfway up my puzzle’s face.

“I’m going to rip my fucking hair out,” I told Jordan, breathing rapidly.

“Same.”

I would’ve grabbed his hand if I thought he would let me, but given the game, that was an instant no.

Chris put another piece in.

Rhett did too.

Chris got another.

Rhett got two more.

My stomach clenched so painfully, there was a real chance I was going to throw up.

Suddenly, Chris put three pieces in.

Fuck.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

He only had one left. One piece. On the table beside him.

Rhett still had four.

He was so laser-focused on the puzzle, he didn’t know how close Chris was.

My heart started to sink.

I never cried, but my damn eyes flooded with tears.

That was it.

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