Page 31 of The American

Discussion began between the other four which Sage and Thad mostly ignored. She was staring into his face, and the hopeful expression in his eyes mesmerized her. She didn’t get “Bad guy” vibe from him in any way. But his actions, and all evidence pointed to the fact that he was.

While watching her face, he reached his hand out, grabbed a worm and tossed it in his mouth. With barely a chew, he swallowed it whole.

Cameras clicked, and many applauded. He nodded his head, accepting their cheers.

Sage was amazed, and less inclined to ever kiss him after seeing a wiggling worm dangle from his mouth. But then a space underneath the worms opened up as they wiggled off the plate, and she saw what was underneath.

Their director smiled. “Oh yes, and the other one of you will eat our locusts. They have been fried, buttered and sprinkled with a heavy amount of seasoning.”

Sage swallowed.

Thad whispered in her ear, again leaving her with delicious goosebumps. “Just pretend it’s a cracker.”

She looked at the crowds around them. Several cameras were zooming in close to her. Thad’s eyes gave her confidence. So she straightened her shoulders, took a huge breath, grabbed a locust, closed her eyes and dropped it in her mouth. The wings poked out through her lips and she almost spit the whole thing out, but Thad’s voice calmed her. “We’re going to do something fun next. I bet we build something, or they might take us out on the water. Keep chewing. It’s just a crunchy cracker. You got this.” His low murmuring voice kept her distracted until she swallowed.

As soon as the others had each eaten their starting meal, the man gave them bottled water. Gratefully, Sage drank the whole eight ounces as quickly as possible.

They moved to the junk yard next and were given a building challenge. Thad looked more than impressed when she knew how to weld.

And the night progressed with one challenge after another. They lost one of the other couples because they spent time in a dog kennel for one of the challenges and she was allergic to dogs . As the challenges continued she felt closer to Thad than she ever had. They sat close together, relied on each other for strength and held hands as often as they could. She felt as if nothing this afternoon had ever happened. The press faded away in the background, and everything felt real and right and important. What they had this evening was special, and she never wanted it to end. She didn’t let herself face their coming conversation.

Their leader told them they were now headed to the final challenge. “This challenge has only a sixteen percent completion rate”

Sage predicted Thad’s muscle flexing even before he began.

They drove in the van across town towards the Bronx. They parked outside the High Bridge. The pedestrian walkway all but empty tonight, they made their way quickly to a man who had a set of harnesses at his feet.

Thad walked slower.

Sage reached a hand out around his waist. “What is it?”

“You’ve done it.”

“Done what? Oh! Found something you’ve never done before?”

“Worse. I’m awful at this.” His widened eyes found hers. “We’re bungee jumping, right?”

“With a twist.”

“What do you mean?” He walked slower.

“We are going together.”

He started to shake his head, then stopped. “This is not my thing.”

She searched his face. He wasn’t just teasing her or slightly nervous. His hands shook. His face drained of color and he had stopped walking, his eyes darting to the harnesses and back to her.

“Thad, you don’t have to do it.”

He nodded.

“But we might not win unless you do.” She felt her mouth crook up in a twisted smile and he groaned. “You didn’t just say that.”

“I did. I have to admit. I knew there would be something that would break you.”She took a risk, jabbing him like this, but she suspected it was just what he needed. He had five brothers.

She reached for his hand. “Come on. At least walk over there.”

He clung to her fingers in a tight grip. And they inched toward the edge.

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