Page 48 of The Amazing Date

Ten yards. They are free yet still haven’t spotted us. They high-five each other and begin another silly time-consuming dance. Let them dance—I can taste the win.

I fly past them before they ever spot me. I would pay a million dollars to see the look on their faces, but I don’t dare turn and break my stride. The race mat is in the distance, and they will never catch us. We’ve got this.

I spot Wilma at the mat, and I wave as I approach. Both my feet land in a plop on the mat, and I pump my fists. “Yes!”

Wilma gives me a soft smile and quirks her neck behind me. Roberto is six feet behind me, his feet locked in place. “I can’t check you in until both of you are on the mat,” she states the obvious.

I turn and smile at Roberto. He must want to make a dramatic entry. I bow and wave my hand toward the mat. “Our victory awaits.”

He’s not smiling. He’s not stepping forward; he’s not doing anything. He looks over his shoulder at the approaching Ronnie and Thelma, who are merely walking as usual.

“Rylee, we should let them have this one,” he starts.

I step off the mat toward him, hooking my arm through his and giving him a hard yank. “Why? We’re here first.”

“We would still be on the interstate if it wasn’t for them,” he states, not budging an inch.

“Yes, and we gave them damn near a forty-minute head start at the rappel. We’re even. Let’s do this, Roberto. Two steps and we get to sleep in a five-star hotel tonight.”

“They could use it more than we can. You heard them; they never get to travel like this. Won’t you feel better if…”

“If what, Roberto? If we gave them something we busted our asses for? Look at them.” My voice fills with frustration. Why can’t we ever be on the same page for longer than a minute? “They are walking. Walking,” I repeat. “Are those the actions of a team that even wants to win?”

He takes a glance at them, but he doesn’t see what I see. His view is filled with rose-colored glasses. He has the nerve to smile. All he sees is a happily married couple living and loving life. It’s a fantasy. Life doesn’t hand you victories; you must fight for them, and even then, you are thrown curveballs along the way. He’s hopeless. When they’re only a few yards from us, I turn to Wilma, hoping for some assistance.

“Tell him it’s a competition. There are winners, and there are losers. And today is not their day. Please tell him.”

Her lips flatten, and she stares at me as if I’m a test subject in a lab. I know that look—it’s the look the creative team gives me when I’ve gone off the deep end and have to explain the simplest of concepts such as a deadline to them. Why must everyone be so damn hardheaded? I want to scream, I want to shout, I want to throw something.

Thelma stops next to Roberto. A confused glance toward her husband and then toward Wilma. “What’s going on?”

“You guys deserve this leg,” Roberto states plainly, pointing toward the mat. “We appreciate you sharing the driving tip with us.”

I bite my tongue as Ronnie’s gaze scans my face. “And you both are okay with this?” His tentative question floats toward me.

“We will be,” Roberto responds, and I cross my arms across my chest. Nothing good will come from my response.

Ronnie squeezes the hand of his wife, both staring at me, waiting for my permission.

“Why don’t we all wait and have Kelly and Caitlin waltz in with the victory,” I snap at all of them. This is beyond ridiculous. This isn’t a charity walk. I’ve spent my entire savings on this competition. I’m in it to win it—why else compete?

My eye roll finally gets them moving. I fight the urge to push Roberto onto the mat ahead of them but resist. He attempts to place a hand on my shoulder, which I quickly squirm out of. “Don’t touch me.”

Ronnie and Thelma step onto the mat while holding hands, and Wilma smiles. “Ronnie, Thelma, I’m happy to report you are team number one for today. As the winners of this leg of the race, you will be staying at the Ritz-Carlton in nearby Goose Prairie. In addition, you will have a choice of spa services and a candlelight dinner.”

I shake my head, not believing what I’m missing out on. That should be us in the spa. Us sleeping on a bed with a thousand thread count.

“But wait, there’s more.” Wilma’s eyes sparkle in my direction. She is getting a special joy twisting the knife in my chest. I hold my breath, knowing I can’t prepare. “As I said at the launch party, this is our thirtieth anniversary, and we are doing things a little different. As the winner of tonight’s challenge, you also get to keep the vehicle you drove today.”

I twist away, not wanting to see their celebration, but I can’t avoid it. Ronnie shouts, “Hey, hey. Kid and Play time.”

He and his wife smack their feet together, once, twice, and on the third tap, they hook their ankles and hop on one leg, swapping places. I have no idea what Kid and Play time means, but I’m sure it kills at the senior citizens’ home.

The couple has a few years on Wilma, but she smiles in appreciation. Apparently, there is someone under sixty who knows what the hell is going on. “And”—Wilma claps her hands, capturing their attention—“you have also won a seven-day, six-night stay at any city we’ve visited or will visit during this year’s competition. It’s a prize pack worth over forty thousand dollars.”

I stomp away, afraid the blood in my veins will begin to boil.

“Damn.” Roberto’s whisper isn’t silent enough. He attempts to step toward me, sorrow in his eyes, his hands reaching for me once again.

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