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Another small laugh escapes before I can clamp my lips closed. I take a minute to compose myself, then say, “Oooh, we get to compose a suspect list? That sounds very exciting.”
Dax stares at me, his eyes wide. “This isn’t supposed to be exciting. This is serious. Someone is trying to sabotage us.”
“Really, Dax? Sabotage? I think you’re being a little dramatic. I’m sure this was an accident. We probably ran over those nails while driving.”
“This wasn’t an accident. If you don’t think it was Anthony, then I think it must’ve been the lady and her fiancé that sat across from us at dinner.”
The fact that Dax is one hundred percent serious is the only thing keeping me from laughing. “I’m sorry, but who?”
He throws his hands up in exasperation but then quickly regains hold of the wheel. “The couple who wore navy. You know, the peculiar couple from dinner last night. The blonde lady with the bob hairstyle. They sat across from us and glared at us all night. My money is on them.”
“You think the lady and her fiancé sabotaged our car?” I ask the question as seriously as I can manage.
He flashes an exasperated look my way. “They have motive, and they spent the entire evening glaring at us. I think it’s entirely possible.”
I fix my face into the most serious look I can muster.
“With the cameras all over the contestants, there’s no way one of them could’ve done anything to our car.” I pause but then abruptly ask, “Hey, by the way, do you think we can stop at the store?”
He looks at me quizzically, probably due to my sudden question and change in topic.
“I don’t think we have time. What do you need from the store?”
The smile that lights my face is completely involuntary, but I keep my voice as serious as possible. “I need to pick up a cape and a magnifying glass. If I’m going to be a detective, I need all the necessary tools. I only have one question, though. Do you want to be Sherlock, or do you prefer to be Watson?”
He rolls his eyes. “You’re impossible. I’m not talking to you anymore.”
“Okay. Okay. You can be Sherlock. I didn’t realize it was that important to you,” I joke. “I’ll be your second-in-command.”
“I’m done with this conversation.”
“You’re still talking,” I say.
“And you’re a pain in my ass,” he shoots back.
“Has anyone ever told you that you’re cute when you’re angry?” I ask innocently.
“Are you mocking me? That’s my line. I don’t give you permission to use my line, Jess.” He looks at me with reproach, then ruins it by cracking a smile. “You really are a pain in the ass. I’m sure you know that.”
“I’m just giving you a taste of your own medicine.”
He gives a low chuckle. “I guess you are, huh.”
“If I really wanted to give you a taste of your own medicine, I’d relentlessly flirt with you and steal kisses when you least expect it. Then, I’d use my sexy, come-hither voice to try to entice you to my bed. I’m sure that sounds familiar to you.”
“You think my voice is sexy?” His voice is laced with amusement.
“Of course that’s what you latch onto. Yes, I think your voice is sexy. The rest of you is kinda gross, but you have a nice voice.” I wrinkle my nose in distaste, hoping he’ll buy my lie.
He manages a pouty look that is completely unbelievable. “And here I thought you found me irresistible.”
“Keep telling yourself that.” I dig around in the bag at my feet and pull out my phone. “Now, if you’re done, could we talk about this leg of the trip?”
He sighs melodramatically. “I suppose so. I was hoping you’d expand on which of my body parts you find gross, but I guess we can talk about Colorado instead. Could you read the text again? I was in a funk when you read it to me earlier and didn’t really pay much attention.”
I open the app and go to our latest message. I scan it quickly and then read it out loud to Dax.
“This portion of the trip should take approximately two days. Your food/hotel debit card has been credited in the amount of $320.00 for this portion of the trip. On the second day, you will arrive in Colorado Springs, CO. Once you have checked in at the checkpoint of this round, you will be issued a new budget for the next segment of the trip. Reminder: You must stop at a hotel by midnight each night and stay for at least eight hours.”
