We leaned the next wall into place.
“I know I’m being hard on you,” Grant said. “I guess I just wish someone was here that I actually felt something for. Maybe I’m just jealous.”
“Jealous?” I asked, uncertain. The guy who’d gone around making inappropriate jokes and couldn’t pass a mirror without checking his hair was jealous because he hadn’t made a real connection?
“I dunno. I didn’t think I was, but it kind of sucks watching people fall in love around me while I’ve been sidelined this whole time. I’ve never wanted a relationship, but being here is a stark reminder of just how alone I am.”
“Trust me, same,” I said.
“Then keep trying with Eli. Don’t back off just because you’re scared. Even if it doesn’t end up working out, for whatever reason, you’ll always regret it if you don’t try.”
Never did I think I would be taking to heart anything that Grant said. “Look at you giving me sound advice.”
He smirked and turned toward me. “See what happens when you give people a chance?”
Grant’s advice spun through my head as we finished assembling the shed-like structure. We moved with surprising speed. Turns out, we were pretty good partners. We didn’t argue once about where a piece should go. If you’d told me at the start of today that I would spend hours alone with Grant and actually enjoy myself, I’d have laughed in your face. But we continued to talk as we went. I felt like I got to understand him a lot better. And he only made a dirty joke about wood twice.
Pretty soon, Grant had screwed in the final piece and we were calling over our cameraman and crewmember for a check. They gave us a thumbs-up and I squealed and high-fived Grant before we took off on our four-wheeler again.
When we pulled into the gravelly lot where we’d started, only Danny and Trace were back, standing on the sidelines getting interviewed.
We hopped off the vehicle and removed our helmets. Rita clapped from her position in front of a camera. “Congratulations to Calla and Grant, team number two! This was a close one. Danny and Trace only arrived minutes ago.”
Trace squealed and ran over to me, enveloping me in a hug. “Congrats,” she whispered before pulling away. “Was it awful working with Grant?”
“Um, hello? I’m right here.” He stood just behind me, crossing his arms.
“It wasn’t bad at all,” I said.
Her face registered surprise. “Well, we only beat you because Danny pretty much completed this challenge solo.”
“You were a great cheerleader,” he said, grinning.
She beamed up at him. “Thanks, babe!”
“Hey,” Brady approached us. “We need you and Grant for some quick interviews.”
We followed him over to the side where he positioned us and once again insisted that I take my hair down, even though I was a sweaty mess. He asked us how we had worked together and if there was any connection between the two of us.
“Just a friendship,” I said, and Grant nudged me.
The interview lasted fifteen minutes, and while we talked, Arnie and Rachel arrived. That left only Eli and Sofia.
“You okay?” Arnie asked me, looking worriedly between Grant and I after Brady released us.
Grant rolled his eyes and reached over to tousle my hair. “God, everyone is acting like I’m some kind of monster that poor, innocent Calla was subjected to. Is it so hard to believe that we got along?”
“Yes,” Rachel said, glaring at him.
“You’re biased because you hate me,” Grant pointed out.
“I’m biased because you’re awful?—”
“We did get along,” I interrupted, not wanting everyone to pile on Grant.
Rachel looked appalled at my statement. “If you say so.”
Arnie watched the edge of the woods. “How much longer do you think Eli and Sofia will take? We had to completely reassemble one of our walls because we missed a piece. I thought we’d be last for sure.”
