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“Are you guys freaking kidding me?” I cross my arms as Annabelle and Ethan both add money to the bucket, not an ounce of remorse on their faces.
Annabelle shrugs, her lips quirking up in a smirk. “Oh come on, Kat. If roles were reversed, you’d be running the wagers like this was a horse track.” I scowl at her as Ethan chuckles and throws his arm around her shoulders.
“What she said. Plus…” He pauses dramatically and whispers to Cousin Jimmy before turning back to me. “You all as a team have been unstoppable. This is the only time we will get with all of you on opposite sides. It’s probably the event of the week!”
I open my mouth to tell them where they can stick it, but I’m interrupted before I can say a word.
"Alright folks, here's the moment you've all been waiting for!" Dad's voice booms out enthusiastically. "Let's unveil…the Sharpe Straightjacket Run!"
The massive curtain drops dramatically, revealing the bonkers course spanning the length of the beach. My eyes widen as I take in the hodgepodge of muddy pits, rickety rope bridges, towering rock climbing walls and a massive water slide dropping into the ocean. Leave it to my family to dream up an adventure this freaking mad.
“Disclaimer,” Dad’s voice lowers dramatically as he starts speaking quicker, like he’s listing the side effects on a medicine commercial. “Every participant starts the race in a straight jacket. You may try to remove it however you see fit, or you can try to complete the entirety with the jacket on. This is up to you to decide. Risk failing obstacles with the jacket on, or risk losing time to trying to remove it? Your choice.”
Excited murmurs and shouts rise up around me as everyone takes in the chaos, a few of my cousins stepping forward to dress us up in our straight jackets. I sneak a glance at my competitors, seeing their competitive natures are already rising to the surface even though they all have an air of bewilderment at the course rules.
They’re still not quite used to Sharpe shenanigans apparently.
I let my cousin tighten my straightjacket, trying not to laugh as the cousin helping put Emrys’ on has to run and grab a bigger size three times before finding one that semi-fits. Wilder is practically vibrating with anticipation at the wild and unanticipated rules, his eyes gleaming recklessly. Wyatt is ramrod straight, his gaze sharp and analyzing as he takes in the course.
"On your marks..." Dad calls out, building the suspense. I dig my toes into the sand, body coiled in readiness.
"Get set..." I block out the sounds of cheering family members, my focus narrowing to the course ahead. This will be a true test. I have no intention of losing to these men.
"Go!"
At Dad's bellowed command, the guys all take off like a shot at the course. I let out the massive breath I was holding and relax every muscle in my body that I had tensed and made larger than usual while being dressed. The straightjacket slackens and I twist and move until I have it shimmying out of place and pull my arms out. I quickly unstrap the contraption and remove it completely before sprinting towards the course.
All three guys have made it through the first two obstacles, but seem to be struggling with the third: a fifteen foot wall with a rope that they have to climb up. There are footholds to try and climb while wearing the jacket, but they’re spread apart just enough to have them practically doing the splits against the wall to reach each one. Wilder is struggling the most with his shorter stature, and Emrys is having the easiest time with his massive leg span, but all three are wasting precious time.
I grin fiercely as I army crawl through the first obstacle as fast as I can then vault over a set of three low walls at the second like I’m jumping hurdles in high school track. The cheers of my family members and my dad’s commentary in the mic like a dull buzz at the back of my mind.
I’m in this to fucking win.
I sprint towards the climbing wall, adrenaline and determination fueling my every stride. Up ahead, Wyatt, Emrys and Wilder’s frustrated grunts and the shuffling sounds of their feet scuffing the wooden wall urge me on faster.
Grabbing the rope, I start to scale the wall and pass Wilder first, unable to resist flashing him a smug grin as I breeze by. "Sorry boys, you should have paid more attention to my dad's disclaimer!" I call out in a sing-song voice.
Wilder's head whips towards me, his eyes widening comically as he takes in my freed state. "My stars and garters! Would ya look at that little cheat!" He hollers after me, though I hear the undertone of admiration in his exasperated tone.
I cackle and don't look back, too focused on the prize ahead. As I crest the top, pulling myself up and over, I chance a glance down and have to smother a laugh.
Wyatt's usually refined facade is creased in frustration, his movements jerky and uncoordinated as he tries to climb in the restrictive suit. Meanwhile, Emrys is practically snarling, his massive muscles bulging and straining the seams of the straightjacket. Just as I swing my legs over to start descending the wall, an almighty ripping sound splits the air.
Emrys lets out a roar as his jacket tears right down the back, the fabric no match for his hulking frame once he really lets his strength loose. He looks positively feral, eyes wild and hair disheveled, as the tattered fabric hangs limply from his broad shoulders. I gulp, a spike of desire shooting through me at the primal display. That was hot as hell.
Focus, Kat!
Shaking myself out of my daze, I concentrate on clambering down the rope netting on the other side of the climbing wall, racing across the sand as soon as I reach the bottom. I just barely reach the next course when a thud sounds behind me. I whirl around to see Emrys crouched on the ground, having launched himself clear over the top of the towering obstacle thanks to his newfound freedom.
His burning gaze locks with mine, muscles rippling and tattoos flexing as he rises to his full impressive height like Arnold Schwarzenegger from the Terminator. A purely male, victorious grin curves his lips before he starts prowling towards me, movements smooth and powerful like a jungle cat.
"Oh, it's on now, Kitten," his gravelly voice rumbles.
I feel my own lips curving in response, competitiveness surging hotly through me. I give him one last challenging look before taking off down the beach once more. We still have over half the course ahead of us, and I have no intention of relinquishing my lead easily.
My feet pound the sand as I race towards the next obstacle—a pit filled with wet cement and dotted with unstable floating islands made of wooden planks and cinder blocks. I hear Emrys gaining on me, his footfalls thudding rhythmically behind me. Gritting my teeth, I leap onto the first slippery plank, arms pinwheeling to keep my balance.
The plank bobs and sways under my feet and I nearly fall into the thick, gray muck below, but somehow manage to stay upright. Hopping quickly to the next floating platform, I chance a glance back. Emrys has made it onto the first island and strides towards me with agile grace, completely unfazed by the unstable footing.
