Maybe I was still scared to move on, but one thing was for sure. My heart was already being pulled forward, and I couldn’t fight it anymore.
Chapter Seventeen
“Now that you’veselected your partners, it’s time for the most intense challenge of the season.” Rita clapped her perfectly manicured hands together. Even though we were once again at the edge of a heavily forested area, she sported a hot pink studded blazer. “I hope you’ve not only connected well with your partners throughout this process, but that you’ve also learned a few things about yourself.”
Eli bumped my shoulder with his. “Think you can handle this without an injury?”
“I guess we’ll find out. You are my partner again, and our track record isn’t the greatest,” I said teasingly.
“Hey,” barked Shay from behind the camera. She pointed at us. “No talking while we’re filming Rita’s scene.”
Eli ran his pinched index finger and thumb along his mouth to indicate zipping it.
Rita continued as if there had never been an interruption. “Each of you will be driven to a different starting point and given a map. You’ll have to find marked clues along the way that will lead you to your partners. Once united, you’llcontinue on together, looking for one more clue that will lead you to the finish.” She turned, giving the cameras another angle. “Oh, and I forgot to mention. Since these are your final partners, we’re done with rankings. Instead, you’ll all receive the same prize—your first overnight date. A romantic tent set up will be waiting for each couple at the end and you’ll get to spend the evening together under the stars.”
“Cut!” someone yelled. “Bring in Robert.”
Robert came over, his usual assistants following behind. They handed each of us a backpack.
“All right, we’ve got water, food, bear spray, a satellite phone, walkie-talkie—” he began to explain.
“Bear spray?” Trace squeaked.
“Just a precaution. This is a well-trafficked trail, so we don’t get a lot of them. Also, since it’s September, many have already started hibernating. I walk my dogs on these trails every day and I haven’t seen a bear yet,” Robert answered.
“What’s this for?” Eli asked, holding up a small camera attached to a vest.
“To film yourselves,” Brady piped up from behind Robert.
Trace’s eyes grew wide with horror first. “You aren’t saying we’re going out there completely alone, are you?” she asked.
“Fuck that.” Danny’s features tightened. While he was by far the most capable person on this challenge, his partner was not.
“Yeah, we aren’t doing that,” Eli insisted, his eyes flashing with concern as they met mine.
“Not completely alone,” Brady swore. “A camera operator will be waiting for you at every clue, where you’ll decide where you’re going next. But it’s too much of a hassle to have someone following you while you’re getting to each point. Also, in the past, surveys have indicated that viewers like self-filmed portions of a show.”
“I can’t do this,” Trace murmured.
“I don’t like this either,” Arnie said as he fiddled with the strap of one of his small cameras.
“Guys, it’ll be fine,” Grant said, already strapping up. “They wouldn’t let us do anything actually dangerous. Well, unless you’re Calla. She can make any challenge into a life-threatening ordeal.”
“Hey!” I exclaimed.
“No offense.” Grant chuckled. “Plus, when was the last time we were alone other than in the confines of our rooms? Doesn’t it sound nice to be by ourselves for a little while?”
“You know we’ve been here too long when Grant starts making sense,” Rachel said. “Although he’s probably just glad he gets to spend half the challenge away from Sofia.”
“I’m right here,” Sofia said dryly. She hadn’t spoken to me at breakfast this morning, which I personally felt was an improvement in our current relationship.
Grant held up his hands. “It has nothing to do with the stunning—albeit challenging—Sofia. I’m just excited to actually be alone for once and reflect on all this.”
Arnie stared at him. “When did you get deep all of a sudden?”
Grant flashed a grin. “Ohh, I’m alwaysdeep.”
There were a few groans before Sofia lightly smacked the back of Grant’s head.
