Page 52 of Reckless Rival

“It’s not safe for you to ride on the back with your arm cuffed to mine.” He stopped and looked at her.

Nami was surprised he was thinking of their safety when all she was thinking about was winning. They saw some couples file into jeeps one after another through the same door and drive off. “I have an idea,” she said, stepping close to him as they faced each other. “What if I sit in front of you on the bike, facing you?”

Her eyes shimmered with excitement, and she saw something spark in his eyes as a small smile formed on his face. “Brilliant, and I have a way to get us there safely.”

“Let’s go.” She let out a joyful squeal, running with him to where his bike was parked.

He paused for a moment like he was thinking through something. “I have an idea for the task, then we will be done in no time.”

“Okay, tell me on the way. Let’s go.” She watched as he climbed on the bike with his hand tied to hers with the cuffs. “This is so much fun.”

He looked at her and chuckled. “You are crazier than I thought.”

Without letting any of his words get to her, she placed her cuffed hand over his shoulder and climbed onto the fuel tank, facing him. It didn’t bother her that she was facing him, her body plastered to his as she was focused on getting the tasks done. “Just don’t drop me.” Her one arm was stretched to her back so he could hold the bike handle, and she wrapped her other arm tightly around him and placed her chin on his shoulder.

She heard him grunt as he kick-started the bike, and to her horror, he turned the motorbike in the opposite direction of the town. She was about to call out that he was going in the opposite direction when he turned to go onto the beach.

While the other couples were either driving their jeeps or running to avoid taking their bikes, her rival was riding along the water on the soft sand with her clinging to him.

“Not bad, Simha,” she yelled over the sound of crashing waves. “I like this.”

He let out a laugh. “I told you, I’m the perfect boyfriend.”

She would normally roll her eyes, but she could only laugh. “Get another girl to say that.”

“They have,” he said victoriously, and those two words made a scorching burn start on the inside. Just as she was about to process what she had felt, he stopped the bike. “We should walk from here.”

“Okay.” She hopped off the bike first and moved around the bike so he could park it in a good location away from the water.

A moment later, they were heading toward the small town where most of the university employees’ families lived, and some had their own businesses set up.

“Do you know the nearest sports store? We might find things we need for a beach there.” Nami kept looking up and down the small street to find one of those vendors.

“Not required,” he said as she felt a tug on her hand when he stepped into a small store.

She looked around the store and asked, “What do you think we will find in a shoe store?”

He ignored her, pulled her along, and when he stopped, he did abruptly, and she bumped into him. “We are wasting time. Let’s go.”

“No.” His tone was firm, and that’s when she looked up to find him holding two pairs of flip-flops. “What’s your shoe size? These are what you can wear to a beach.”

She smiled. “Nice. I like the way you think.” She reached for a floral pair in her size and held it up for him to take a picture.

“Don’t be too impressed, Varma. You are my fake girlfriend.” He had to slither that in.

She rolled her eyes. “Whatever makes you think my compliment is real?”

“I just know.” He shrugged and slipped on the new pair of sandals he bought. They had shed their footwear before the first task, and these flip-flops came in handy.

“What’s next?” she asked, feeling impatient, the novelty of the game exciting her.

“Hold your horses, Varma. Why so eager?” A curious eyebrow raised high.

She looked up at him for a long moment before taking a step closer. She slowly raised her cuffed hand up to his cheek, “I can’t wait to get away from you.”

“Too bad you’re stuck with me… literally.” He scoffed.

“Will you miss me after tonight?” She fired back, confident they were going to win the game, and she would be free.

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