Page 54 of The Amazing Date

I steal a glance toward Rylee to see if there is any hint of embarrassment. Instead, she is shining, not a hint of shyness or denial on her face. “My cup runneth over.” She curtsies, and we all fall into a fit of laughter.

“Looks like everyone had a good evening. Good,” Wilma states, standing at the mat, capturing our attention. “You’ll need it. We are down to our final three teams.” Wilma swings her arms toward the plaza behind us. We turn and aren’t surprised to see the blonde duo of trouble walking across the plaza. “This is the closest we’ve ever had at the start of a final round. Only seventeen minutes separate the three teams.”

Rylee’s elbow presses against my ribs. “Wait, what? Did you say final round?”

I totally missed the comment, but Rylee and Thelma picked up on it. “Aren’t there two rounds left?”

Kelly and Caitlin arrive at our circle. Both of their faces are filled with tension and focus. “Good morning, losers,” Kelly grunts out.

“I keep telling everyone that things are different this time around. Why won’t anyone believe me?” Wilma laughs at her private joke, and I know it means yet another curveball is coming. “Now that you’re all here, I can announce that the special thirtieth-anniversary finale starts today. At the end of this leg, two teams will be eliminated. The team who steps on the mat first will be our winner.”

“Good. I’m so tired of these teams,” Caitlin says not so quietly.

“Not only is this our closest finale, but we expect this to be the longest leg in our thirty-year history.”

I feel the squeeze of Rylee’s hand, and I lean over to whisper, “We got this.”

“I know.” She shoots a smile that warms my heart. For the first time since this crazy competition began, I’m looking forward to the next leg.

“Okay, team one. Ronnie and Thelma, here you go.” Wilma waves them forward and hands them an envelope.

A cackle causes everyone to pause. We turn to face the blondes, who are slapping their thighs, bent over in laughter. “Oh my god, it’s true, isn’t it?” Kelly bounces on her toes and wipes a tear of laughter from her eye. “You two morons gave up first place for them? The oldest couple in the world.”

Rylee releases my hand, fists forming by her side and fire in her eyes, the peaceful morning disturbed with one statement. I step in front of a charging Rylee, blocking her with my shoulder, Kelly unaware of the danger in front of her. “You mean the first-place team that is seventeen minutes ahead of you? Maybe you should focus on your own team and figure out why you are in last place.”

A flash of anger crosses Kelly’s face before Caitlin pulls her on the elbow. “Don’t bite. We’ll pass both of them soon enough.”

“Team two, Rylee and Roberto.” Wilma’s voice cracks with urgency, her need to get everyone back on track apparent. Her gaze scans both teams, her observant eyes recording every interaction.

I slip my hand into Rylee’s and lead her away from Kelly and the threat of an impulsive act leading to disqualification. Wilma waves the envelope in front of her face as if she knows it’s the one thing that will get our focus. It has the desired effect. Rylee grabs the envelope, and we jog across the plaza, putting distance between us and the blondes. To our surprise, Ronnie and Thelma stand in the distance, waving us over.

“What are you two still doing here?” I ask.

Ronnie laughs. “It’s only been thirty seconds, Roberto. As if we’d ever beat you two in a foot race.” He turns to his wife.

“It says to head to the airport in Seattle and fly to New York. We’re going to take the country road, hoping to build a lead on the girls once again. We’re going to need it if today’s going to be a long one,” Thelma says with concern in her voice. “We figured it worked out well for us yesterday to pair with you that we’d offer to partner up once again.”

I nod, understanding their thought process. But I also remember the mistake I made yesterday. “We appreciate it, but this is the finale. There can only be one winner.” I turn to Rylee. “What do you think?”

Rylee blinks quickly, doing a double take as if not expecting my ask. “I think the plan has merit and say we should get a move on. The blondes are only a few minutes behind, and we don’t want them following us to the country road.” Rylee lays her hand on the back of my shoulder. “Thanks for asking,” she whispers before turning toward the walking Ronnie and Thelma. “Like Roberto said, if you have an advantage, take it and run with it. No hard feelings—this is the finale. We’re going to play to win from here on out. I hope you understand.”

Ronnie shares a warm smile with his wife before responding. “We wouldn’t expect anything less. We just don’t want the blondes to win.”

I nod, all of us in agreement. We begin to jog to the car, not surprised that they continue to walk.

We are the first to reach the cars. I hop in and start it. “New York, your adopted home. I’m hoping that will give us some advantages. Are you excited?”

I pull out of the parking lot, signal, and head toward the exit. “I don’t know if my heart can take any more excitement after this morning.” Her words cause me to smile. Today feels light-years away from yesterday. I’m hoping we can take this feeling and momentum all the way to the finish line. The thought of a win seems like a reality for the first time since we started this strange journey. I began the race as a favor for my sister, but now with Rylee in my arms and my sister’s future at stake, the need to secure the win has never been stronger.

“On to the finish line.” I pump a fist out my open window and point the car to the country road. I adjust the seat, placing my hand back on the wheel as my right hand lands in Rylee’s lap. She slips her hand into mine, lifting it and placing a quick kiss on the back of it. We both freeze as we realize her lips rests on my angry scar.

Sorrow floods her eyes, and I know exactly where her mind races to—my last days on the island with her.

“What the hell were you thinking?” I snap at Rylee while leading her through a crowd at the piers. “You have no business being down here, at this hour, by yourself.” Gabby and I returned to Abuela’s after a late dinner to find Rylee missing. We searched frantically until I discovered her at the one place we’ve told her to never go by herself after hours.

Her desperate need to dance and impatience on waiting for us to return made her think going to the piers during the hours we’ve warned her the local motorcycle club comes through would be a good idea.

“You are not my keeper, Roberto. You promised to bring me back here before you get on that plane tomorrow. Where were you?” She spits the words back at me as if I’m the one out of line.

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