Page 53 of Chasing Sunsets

Leaning close, she softly asked, “Do you know what it means?”

“Latitude and longitude coordinates.”

Sadie cleaned up in the gift shop restroom while Zack put the coordinates into the Audi GPS. They followed the car map until they found markers that led them to a parking lot on the Comal River. A man in a Chasing Sunsets t-shirt met Zack when he opened the car door. “I need your keys. Your vehicle will be waiting where you finish this task.”

Zack passed him the keys and hurried behind Sadie toward a female umpire and male crew member heading their way. The umpire gestured toward the river. “You’ll find an inner tube on the dock. Your derriere must be in the hole of the tube and your arms and legs outside of it as you float. You aren’t allowed to put your feet down to walk along the bottom. The stretch of river you’ll be going down doesn’t have any low spots, so your arms and legs must stay on the tube at all times until the finish line.”

He and Sadie had floated this same river a few times on their weekend trips to San Antonio.

“You’ll find food, drinks, and sunscreen in the backpacks,” The crew member led them to the dock. “We’ll remove your microphones before you start.”

Sadie unhooked her microphone and handed it over before she grabbed a backpack and rummaged through. She found a tube of sunscreen and handed it to Zack as she tugged her shirt over her head to reveal her bathing suit.

He squeezed some lotion on his hands, excited to get the opportunity to touch her bare skin. Turning her back to him, she lifted her ponytail out of his way. He relished the softness of her warm shoulders and back while quickly applying the sunscreen.

Much too soon, she hastily spun around and grabbed the tube. He whisked his shirt off and enjoyed the feel of her hands caressing his neck, arms, and back. They each lathered up their own face and legs, knowing they were likely to get a lot of sun.

They entered the water with two other couples. Some tried to use their hands and feet to move faster but found it futile. They both complained about not being able to control their speed.

The forced leisure was fine with Zack. He relaxed and kept ahold of the handle on Sadie’s inner tube to stay close to her since they wouldn’t be able to get out and steer their tubes if they were separated. They enjoyed the pears, nutritional bars and energy drinks in the backpack as they drifted.

Camera crews filmed from tubes, from the shoreline, and from walking in the water.

The competition would end in three days, and he had no idea what would happen. He liked to think they’d made progress even though they hadn’t spoken about their future. He was a hopeful kind of guy, yet didn’t want to raise his hopes too much. Sadie had been too unpredictable in recent months.

When the sun is setting, leave whatever you are doing and watch it. ~ Mehmet Murat Ildan

Chapter Fifteen

The next morning, Geministarted the race by saying, “Your next clue awaits at the Volunteer Firemen Monument on the grounds of the Texas Capitol Building.”

Sadie offered to drive. Each day her mind became clearer and her body fought against the exhaustion of the race. It was a strangely welcomed fatigue.

They left the hotel right at six, not encountering much traffic on the short drive. The capitol came into view from the highway, illuminated with strategically placed lights since the sun hadn’t crested the horizon. Truman picked up his camera to catch the beauty of the Austin skyline. “The capitol looks white from here, but the brochure I read said it was red.”

“Some call it Texas Red or Texas Pink granite,” Zack clarified. “It’s light pink in color.”

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