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“NO!” Hayden shouted, as I turned to glance over my shoulder. “Don’t look ba—”
It was too late. I’d already seen Kickin’ Asphalt, hot on our heels, digging themselves in. If they passed us during the final stretch, that was it. The four of us would be going home… with nothing.
Something deep inside me was almost relieved by the thought.
PUSH!
I pumped my arms even faster, thinking about how far we’d come. We’d left Nerd Herd behind in Vegas, and No Pain No Gain had gotten bitterly eliminated deep beneath a dusty New Mexican mesa. That left only ten teams still in the running, including us. And in only just a few moments, it would be nine.
“Brooke!”
Devin’s voice floated in, energizing me further. It could only mean one thing: that we were near the end.
Thank fuck.
I could hear other teams now, egging us on. Urging us to cross the finish line, as we dragged ourselves down the other side of the hill and through one last mud pile.
I just wish—
SLAP!
The sound of someone smacking into the hard clay surface came from behind me. With Hayden still running in my peripheral vision, it had me cautiously optimistic.
You got this.
I didn’t stop. Didn’t slow. I knew my lungs would be paying for it in the days to come, but there was no way I was losing this leg.
“YES!”
I don’t even remember crossing the line, or Hayden diving to ring the bell. All I remember was falling exhaustedly into Reese and Devin’s arms. Grey shadows faded in from all sides, obscuring my vision as my long, ragged gasps worked hard to bring oxygen back to my brain.
“You did it!”
Eventually my senses returned, and I saw the grim reality of the situation. One of the faster women from Kickin Asphalt had tripped mid-stride, face-planting hard in the cold, wet mud. So close to the finish line, it had been an unrecoverable situation.
Ugh.
The poor woman had started sobbing almost immediately. Even now, as she gave everyone in the Race lingering hugs goodbye, she was still bleary-eyed and heartbroken.
But that was the Race. No matter how good you might be doing, it could be over just like that.
“Rest,” Devin told me, the one arm looped around my waist still holding me up. “Breathe.”
“We’re off tomorrow, right?” I coughed wearily. “Tell me we’re off tomorrow…”
“Damn right you are,” Noah said cheerily, hopping down from the makeshift booth where he’d waved the checkered flag. “Thirty-six hour layover, too. Plenty of time to rest up and recharge.”
I wanted to flop on my back and smile at the sky in gratitude. I just didn’t think I could get back up.
“You really deserve it too,” Noah added excitedly. “All of you do!”
He let out a wicked laugh and pointed.
“Now everybody get on the bus.”
