Page 38 of Chasing Sunsets

“Go.” He waved without stopping the camera.

Another white Audi SUV pulled in front of theirs. Brett, Kelly, and their cameraman hopped out.

“How can we help?” Brett yelled as they approached.

“Paramedics arrived moments ago and are handling it. Two guys are stuck in the truck, one is unconscious.” Sadie gestured to more rescue workers crossing the median. “We thought we’d continue with the race. Truman wants to keep filming.”

“We’ve lost Trent as well.” Kelly pointed at their cameraman shooting the underside of the truck.

“We should ride together and leave a car for them,” Sadie suggested. “Do you guys mind?”

“Of course not,” Brett and Kelly spoke in unison.

Zack popped the back hatch of their SUV with the fob and ran over to Truman. “Here. You and Trent take our car.”

Truman held out his hand, his attention still on filming. “Thanks, man.”

Brett carried their backpacks to his car, put them in the back and got behind the wheel. Sadie gathered their apples and bars that had been in the sack, and Zack picked up their cooler before locking the Audi.

Kelly offered, “Zack, you want to ride up front?”

“Sadie might. She gets carsick.”

“Have at it, girl.” Kelly slid into the backseat behind her husband and Zack behind his wife.

Once on the road, Sadie said, “Thank you for stopping.”

“Brett’s a volunteer firefighter. He always stops for wrecks or when someone is pulled over on the side of the road.” Pride colored Kelly’s voice.

“Sadie does the same. She even delivered a baby once.” Zack grabbed the wipes from the pocket behind the seat in front of him and offered one to Sadie before he cleaned his hands.

A moment later, she peeked around her chair and held an apple out toward him.

He purposely placed his hand on hers over the apple. “You did great back there.”

She smirked. “I can’t stop wondering what Louie did for his first strike.”

He laughed.

~

“Who’s Louie, and whatfirst strike?” Kelly rummaged through their lunch sack. She and Brett ate their apples earlier, but they had energy bars left. In this contest, you never knew when you’d eat another meal. She handed one to Brett over his shoulder.

Laughing at Sadie’s story of the elderly couple, Kelly glanced into the rearview mirror, and her gaze collided with Brett’s. They’d shared many looks the last five days. Looks filled with longing. If only there was a way to fix their problem. Since learning Sadie was a PA for gynecologists, he’d repeatedly asked Kelly to talk to her.

She refused each time, telling him they’d already tried everything. Only doctors, who swore the Hippocratic Oath, knew the reason for their separation. Brett told her he’d requested Sadie approach her. She was grateful her roommate told him she wouldn’t, but would be open to Kelly coming to her.

Her problem in speaking to Sadie was the same as with talking with anyone. She feared people would think of her as a failure. Or worse, they’d pity her. That was the one thing Brett never did, and she loved him for it.

Twenty minutes later, they pulled into a lot denoted asChasing Sunsetsparking, where a group of camera workers waited. The four doors on the SUV opened the second Brett put the car into park. They followed arrows down the sidewalk next to the busy traffic until they came upon two signs. RIVERWALK BOAT SERVER and ALAMO SOLDIER.

Kelly put her hands on her hips. “Which do you want, Brett?”

He’d always asked her first, and she wanted him to decide today.

Zack and Sadie ran in the different indicated directions. No wonder they were excellent racers, it didn’t take them long to make decisions.

“Either is fine,” Brett replied.

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