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“The twosomes this season are separated married couples.” Gemini’s words barely registered over the thunderous beat of Sadie’s pulse in her ears. “Since you both had previously applied for the contest, either one of you or an acquaintance replied when we discretely announced our search.”
She’d not heard of any announcements from the network. From Zack’s reaction, he hadn’t either.
“If you didn’t mention being on the show to each other, I’m sure you’re surprised. And even if you spoke to one another about it, you’re still shocked because while we’ve had married couples, we’ve purposely never paired them together. That’s why we’re giving you three minutes alone to decide if you want to participate.” Gemini turned and walked from the room.
It’d been four months since they inhabited the same room and almost as long since they’d talked. His dirty blond hair, longer than he normally wore it, brushed the collar of his t-shirt.
Oh, how she’d missed him.
Every night.
Every day.
Every second.
Tears stung her eyes. “I can’t do this.”
“Then we won’t,” Zack replied without hesitation. No matter what transpired between them, he’d truly always been concerned for her welfare.
Anger, elation, embarrassment, frustration, and every other emotion hit her at once. She inhaled and let it out slowly. “We need the prize money.”
“I’ll find another way to get it.”
He’d have to work, they’d both have to work, for years to raise the kind of money they owed. If they won, the contest winnings would erase their debt.
She’d approach this like a business arrangement. Two associates striving toward a common goal, nothing more. Plus, Zack was fit, smart, and easygoing—the exact type of partner she’d prayed for.
Their gazes hadn’t wavered from each other.
Decision time was running out.
“We’re here, and it’s a great opportunity. We have to try,” she said.
“Not if running this race together is going to hurt you.”
Simply looking at you hurts me. “I’ll do it provided we aren’t required to explain what broke us up.”
~
“Agreed.” Zack thought his eyes were deceiving him when the curtain dropped. He believed he must be dreaming of Sadie, as he did so often. Brown hair in a slicked-back ponytail, she wore no makeup, but her lips were still ruby red. His heart had buoyed at seeing her. Then his elation was quickly erased by the ocean dividing them. There were many unsettled things between them. He couldn’t believe she’d decided to compete with him. At least she recognized they needed the money.
If she was ready to discuss reconciling, she would’ve called him by now. So, his focus would be on winning.
Nothing else.
Except, she’d always been the biggest distraction of his life. Not necessarily a bad distraction, usually a wonderful one, still—a distraction nonetheless. How would he keep his mind on the contest and nothing else?
Impossible.
The door opened, and Gemini strolled inside. “What’ll it be, you two?”
Zack stepped over to stand next to Sadie, close enough to catch the scent of her vanilla lotion. He’d longed for the slightest whiff of the smell since the night she left. “We’ll agree to compete as long as we don’t have to discuss why we’re separated.”
“But—”
“No buts,” he interrupted.
Sadie stood next to him, a determined expression on her face.
The host bit her lip. “Very well. However, be warned. The staff, your rivals, and I will ask.”
“It’s not a subject we’ll talk about.”
“I guess time will tell.” She handed them each a packet. “These are a copy of the legal documents you signed agreeing to race in case you need to verify anything during the competition. Any questions?”
He shook his head, as did Sadie. When he’d gotten the papers, he’d read them and paid his lawyer to do the same before he signed.
Gemini smiled. “Welcome to Chasing Sunsets. Good luck.”
Escorted from that conference room to a large one filled with couches, stools, tables and chairs, Sadie sat next to him on one of the couches. Ruben, a bald WWF-looking guy he’d met this morning in the atrium of their hotel, perched on a high stool while a woman sat across from him inspecting the ends of her numerous long braids. They gazed anywhere but at one another. Others occupied chairs in the corners and spoke in quiet conversations.
Zack turned to Sadie. “The team challenges should go well.” They knew each other’s strengths and weaknesses. “If we know what the individual tasks involve prior to picking who will perform them, you’ll have to do the ones requiring colors.” Colorblind his whole life, he didn’t have a problem with most bright colors, only struggled when trying to distinguish between green and blue or white and yellow.
Sadie nodded. “And you’ll do everything involving heights.”
“Not a problem.” Uncertain if he should, yet not able to stop himself, he asked, “How’ve you been?”
She glanced away. “I’m sure my mother has you up to date with my life’s activities.”
“She told me you haven’t returned to work.”
A deep sigh left her. “I can’t.”
He wanted to say he understood, except he didn’t. Working would give her something to do and occupy her mind. Take her focus off—
A couple barreled into the room hand in hand, sat at a table, and kissed.
“They appear happy to be reunited,” Sadie whispered.
He grinned. “We’ll see in ten days.”
After a long pause, she reached out and touched his arm.
He looked at her, and his heart skipped a beat—his love for her stronger than ever.
Although no smile came to her lips, her eyes, the color of dark brown sugar, were filled with hope as she leaned closer and softly uttered, “We have a good chance of winning.”
“Bet your ass we do.”
“You’re not defeated when you lose, you’re defeated when you quit.” ~ Paulo Coelho