Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 63068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 315(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 315(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
The news was met with raucous excitement. After being here for almost three weeks, it seemed that food was the most gratifying reward for winning a competition. Josh grinned as he listed off the menu items for the cookout.
“Steaks, baked potatoes, pasta salad, corn on the cob, and for dessert—chocolate cake.”
Hell yeah. A good meal would give us the fuel we needed to push forward in this competition. When Josh was finished describing the challenge and the cameras were turned off for the time being, Lauren gave me a panicked look.
“I’m afraid of heights.”
I put a hand on her shoulder. “How afraid?”
She cringed. “I usually just avoid heights so I don’t have to think about it. And this isn’t just heights, it’s flying through the air attached to a tiny cable, hoping you don’t plunge to your death.”
“They’ll have you in a harness. You’re not going to die.”
She sighed heavily. “I might pee myself, though.”
I grinned. “I’m sure you wouldn’t be the first.”
“I’m not saying I won’t do it. I’ll definitely do it. It’s just…not something I’d ever do by choice. I hope I don’t pee and throw up.”
I cupped her face in my hands. “Close your eyes and think about something else. You’re going to be okay.”
She nodded.
“No!” a female voice yelled from nearby. “Nothing you can say will change my mind. I’m done.”
Jill, the partner of a player named Sam Maxwell, was walking away.
Andrea came over to us. “She’s quitting. Said she’s too afraid of heights and she won’t do it.”
Sam looked dumbstruck.
“You can’t quit!” he yelled as he ran after his partner. “We’ve made it this far, Jill!”
“Wow,” Lauren said softly. “So that’s it for them?”
Within a matter of minutes, Jill and Sam were being driven away from the competition site on a golf cart. Looked like that was it for them.
“I just want to get this over with,” Lauren said softly.
Production assistants started loading the male contestants back onto the ATVs then, and I waited until the last second to take a seat.
“You can do this,” I reminded Lauren, squeezing her hand. “I’ll be waiting for you at the end.”
She held on to my hand tightly, exhaling hard when she finally released it.
I had a knot in my stomach as we drove away. She’d have to face this fear alone, without me there to encourage her. I wished I could just do it for her.
It was about a fifteen-minute ride to the obstacle course, which had hurdles made out of hockey sticks, woven ropes we’d have to crawl under, ropes we’d have to climb, giant tires we’d be flipping, and a start and finish line which delineated the distance we’d have to sprint.
The obstacle course wasn’t my worry. Neil and Shayla were still in the competition, and I knew I could at least beat him. It was Lauren that was on my mind. I kept my gaze on the final platform, waiting to see her land there safely.
As the other male competitors talked hockey and island camp life, I stood alone, focused entirely on that platform. It wasn’t that I doubted she’d make it, but that I’d feel better when it was over.
“You worried?” Rod asked, walking over to me.
I shrugged. “Not worried. It’s just that I know she’s nervous about it.”
“Andrea’s got bigger balls than me,” he said, grinning. “But Lauren’s tough. Once she finishes the first one, she’ll feel better.”
“You ever zip-lined?” I asked him.
“Yep, in Costa Rica. It was a blast. What about you?”
“No, but I’d do it if I could.”
A figure came zooming toward the final platform on the zip line, and I squinted, trying to see if it was Lauren.
“That’ll be an instructor,” Rod said. “They send one first so they can help if you have trouble landing.”
He was right. It was an instructor, but the next person on the zip line was Lauren. I cheered, even though she probably couldn’t hear me. Five minutes later, she was on the ground, running toward me with a huge smile.
“I did it!” She flew into my arms and I spun her around. “And I only peed a tiny bit.”
I laughed, set her down, and kissed her forehead. “I knew you’d smash it.”
“I figured I’d go first and get it out of the way. Plus, Irina’s doing it, so I had to.”
I hugged her again, relieved that it was over.
All the other women finished the zip line course, and then the production assistants lined up the six remaining male contestants for the obstacle course. Adrenaline coursed through me as I waited for Josh to give the signal to go. Lauren had done her part. I sure as hell was going to do mine.
Josh gave the signal to start and we were off. I focused only on my lane of the obstacle course, jumping, crawling, flipping, and climbing. I could see Rod in my peripheral vision, but no one else was even close to me.