As soon as our feet cross it, we look to the clock.
One minute and thirty-two seconds.
Fuck. We lost. By a lot.
Landon charges at me like a bull, snorting ragged breaths through his nose as he fumes. “What the fuck was that? You couldn’t even hold on to a goddamn bar!” he shouts.
“Um, newsflash, asshole. You ripped me through the thorn-covered pillars and tore me the fuck up!” I snap back, showing him my now mud-caked and blood-soaked hands.
His eyes flick over them, something akin to regret passing through his gaze, but it’s gone as quickly as it appeared.
“You said you could run fast enough. Clearly, that was a fucking joke,” he scoffs. “Hope you’re happy now, Court. Do you not understand what’s on the line?”
“More than your Neanderthal brain could ever comprehend,” I snap.
Landon narrows his eyes at me as several crew members jog over and push us apart. From an outsider’s perspective, I understand the need. In reality, no matter how much we hate each other, it wouldn’t get physical.
“Alright, everyone. Let’s head back. Get cleaned up and be gathered outside for the elimination ceremony at eight o’clock sharp,” Daryll says as the camera crew begins packing up.
Landon is the first to stalk off, practically stomping all the way back to the house. Luna hesitantly approaches me, and I shake my head and sigh. She gives me a sad smile in return.
Well fuck, look who’s up for elimination after all.
Chapter Nineteen
Landon
I’m fucking fuming. It’s like she tanked us on purpose. That’s the only thing that makes sense. Even the prissy girls too afraid to break a nail did better than her. The only way we could have lost that bad is if she did it on purpose. What does she have to gain from that, though? Is she playing the martyr? Is she too bent out of shape over Noah that she just wants to go home? She can do whatever the fuck she wants, but we’re locked in, so what she does affects me, and I’m not ready to go home. I can’t.
As soon as I get back to the house, I take a shower and rinse off the layers of mud I’ve accumulated thanks to Courtney. Goddamnit. I don’t think a woman has ever gotten under my skin the way she does. Just looking at her drives me fucking nuts.
Once I’m back to being mud-free, I change into “nice clothes” as the crew instructed and see how drunk I can get off the last of this bottle of wine I found in the kitchen. I think they’ve purposefully not restocked the booze we’ve gone through after that first alcohol-free night, which is a shame because if we’re getting voted off tonight, I’d rather do it with a buzz on.
I hear footsteps behind me, and when I turn around, it’s the last person I expect.
“Hi,” Courtney says quietly.
Her hair is still wet from the shower, presumably, and her face is makeup-free. She’s wearing a white bathrobe that brushes the floor as she folds her arms against her chest almost nervously.
“Hi,” I say carefully, attempting to read… I don’t know, who am I kidding? I can’t get a read on this woman to save my life.
She sniffs loudly and fidgets as she looks down at her feet. “Um, I just wanted to say that I’m sorry. Thinking over the challenge… I tried my best, but, uh, it wasn’t enough. I’m not used to that. To not getting things done. Once I fell behind, it just… I guess there was no catching up. Anyway, I just wanted to say that if we go home tonight because of me, I’m really sorry. Trust me when I say, I can’t afford to be going home so early.” She laughs pitifully, her eyes shining as she looks up at me.
I’m taken aback by the emotion in her apology. Hell, I’m taken aback by the apology, period. I watch her for several moments, attempting to gather any kind of response as I look into her eyes. I always thought she had these dark, kind of bland eyes. They aren’t, though. They’re a myriad of browns blended together to create a totally unique color. I don’t know why I’m sitting here surprised at the way her eyes look right now instead of doing literally anything else. I’m having a hard time looking away, though.
Eventually, I’m able to, and I stare down at the glass of wine in my hand and clear my throat before I nod.
“I guess, uh, I guess it’s partially my fault too. I expected you to keep up. I felt you falling behind, and I was hoping you’d just catch up. If I’d known you were hurt, I would have stopped,” I admit.
Courtney surprises me by laughing. “No you wouldn’t have.”
I snort. I have portrayed myself to be quite the fucking prick,haven’t I? I’m not surprised she thinks of me like that. Haven’t exactly given her much else to go off.
My eyes meet hers once more, and just like that, I’m sucked right back in. The teasing flare in her gaze softens as she understands the seriousness of my tone.
“Yes, I would have.”
My words linger between us for several seconds before she swallows roughly and nods.
