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The curtain dropped. Kelly Hartford’s blood froze in her veins as her husband stared back at her.
She turned toward the host, ready to refuse to race.
Gemini started chatting about how the couples this season were separated and someone who knew them sent in their names. She explained they had three minutes to decide and swiftly hurried out the door.
Once alone, Kelly faced Brett. “You didn’t tell me you were going to be on the show.”
He crossed his arms. “Neither did you.”
Damn, she hated when he turned the tables on her. She hadn’t mentioned it to him because she was doing everything to keep their lives separate, to live without him. “Our families did this. I’m sure of it. Everyone keeps asking if I’ve spoken to you.”
Their families didn’t understand why he’d agreed to an assignment in another state and hadn’t been home to see Kelly or why she’d not traveled to visit him. The reason was too painful and embarrassing to explain.
His t-shirt stretched tight around his biceps. He worked out most days, and his glorious body showed it. His brown eyes, curved down at the edges, always appeared a little sad.
They’d talked on the phone once a week while he’d been on an assignment in Colorado for the last year.
She headed for the door. “I’ll tell the crew we can’t participate.”
“We can’t?”
Kelly halted, inhaled a much-needed breath to face him again, and spun around. “Brett, I don’t want to raise our families’ hopes of us reuniting.”
“I suppose you’re right. It’s just—” He looked away from her. “I can use the money.” A proud man, he wouldn’t admit something so personal if it wasn’t true.
Even so, it amazed her he wanted anything to do with her. “I can’t believe you’d agree to this contest.”
“You’re the one who—” He didn’t finish his sentence. They’d discussed their problem, her problem, many times and both understood it didn’t help. After a few seconds, his gaze returned to hers, and he pinned her with a stare. “I was perfectly happy in our marriage.”
“You weren’t perfectly happy,” she argued.
“Yes. I was.”
The pain she’d been dulling with work jabbed at her insides. She damned up the barrage of tears she wished to cry. “Divorcing is the only fair thing for us.”
“So you’ve repeatedly said.”
A fierce competitor, Brett would do anything within his power to ensure they triumphed in this competition. She would be the weak link. Weak link perhaps, but not weak. It’d taken every ounce of her strength to separate from him, which made her the strongest person in the world.
Her brain said no while her heart shouted yes. If their marriage wouldn’t succeed, they could partner in this race and maybe win. At the very least, she’d have more memories of him.
“Why do you need the money?” she asked.
“I didn’t have a job while I was in Colorado.” He’d left the day after she asked for a divorce.
“I thought you were working, everyone did. I saw Roscoe at the store and he raved about the assignment and your performance.” Roscoe had been his boss for the last five years.
“Yeah, he told me. I admit it wasn’t my proudest moment when I lied and got him to cover for me. I had to get away. Clear my head.”
She’d taken the opposite approach, keeping busy made the endless days without him less brutal. She wished things were different, but like he’d frequently told her, wishing didn’t make anything better.
“The money would help me,” he admitted.
“And pay off my college debt.” She thought her words would cause him to look hopeful.
His expression didn’t change. Same Brett. He kept his emotions schooled at all times.
~
Brett stared at Kelly for the longest heartbeat. Her blue-green eyes with gold flecks always fascinated him. Her shoulder-length strawberry blonde hair glistened, even in the dimness of the fluorescent lights. Fair skin she thought too freckled, he found beautiful.
A year away had been necessary, but also caused a dark void inside of him. She’d always been a necessary, bright presence in his world. His every instinct wanted to grab Kelly’s shoulders and shake some sense into her. He’d never do it, of course. Somehow, he’d convinced her to put off the divorce, though she brought it up every time they talked.
Her belief their marriage couldn’t work was bullshit. He’d told her he’d been extremely happy. She simply didn’t trust he was telling her the truth. Considering everything they’d been through, her not believing him stung worse than anything.
Kelly worriedly glanced at the clock.
He knew her well, if he pressured her, she’d refuse. He kept his mask in place and said, “Your call.”
She inhaled a quick breath and let it out. “Let’s do it.”
Her willingness gave him hope. The hope he needed after so much time away.
~
Zack’s phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out to check the sender.
“You should answer that,” Sadie urged. “I’m sure they’ll take them up soon.”
The contract explained contestants were only allowed to use phones on their one day off during taping.
“Take the call. I need to speak to my mom as well,” she insisted.
They stood and walked toward the wall of windows. Zack swiped his phone. “Hey, Dre.”
“You make it there?”
“Yeah.” He’d only told his mom, Cal, and his best friends—Dre and Kasey—he was going to be on the show.
“I expected voicemail to pick up. When we last talked, you thought they would take your phone when you arrived.”
“I’m not sure why they haven’t.”
“You know you got this, right?” Dre—ever the optimist. One of the leading running backs in the NFL, Dre remained the most down-to-earth guy Zack ever met. “Whoever you’re paired with will thank their lucky stars when it’s over.”
“I’ve met my partner.” He peeked at his wife, who faced the other way with her phone to her ear. “It’s Sadie.”
“Come again?”
“They’re pairing separated married couples to race. She agreed on the stipulation that we don’t discuss our separation.”
Silence stretched between them.
Certain his friend didn’t know what to say, Zack changed the subject. “How are things in Miami?”
Although Dre’s team was in Dallas, they spent their preseason in Florida. “Same as every other year. Rookies are eager and overly excited. Guys on the practice squad from last year are trying hard and hoping to get their big break. Old-timers like me are exhausted, wondering why we go through this hell year after year.”
Zack knew exactly why Dre continued to play. “You can’t give up before you get the record for the most receiving touchdowns for a running back.”
“That is the goal.” Dre continued, “Mom thinks it’s time for me to retire.”
Zack snorted. “She never wanted you to play football in the first place. There you were, a first-round pick, and Mama B sat beside you looking like her dog just died. Other draft pick parents’ faces were lit up like a Christmas tree.”
“That’s Mom.” Dre hesitated. “Man, you don’t have to do this. I can take care of your bills.”
Sure, Dre had more money than Zack would see in five lifetimes, but accepting his friend’s help felt too much like a handout.
“I can’t let you do that.”
Two male contestants, easy to spot because all the racers wore the same shirt and shorts, stepped into the room. The worker he met before, Jessie, entered behind them. Many others had arrived while he was on the phone.
“We are waiting on one last decision,” Jessie called. “I’ll collect your phones soon.”
“We’re starting, I better focus. On the forty,” Zack said.
“On the forty,” Dre returned. Since that fateful game where Zack became the starting quarterback, he and his best friends always said on the forty, meaning they were always there for one another.
Zack powered down his cell and stepped closer to Sadie, who still spoke into her phone. Discussing money with Dre brought him back to why they needed to win this competition. He didn’t want to forget what brought him here, never wanted to forget, he merely didn’t need it to consume his every thought.
He’d fake a smile for the next two weeks as if nothing were wrong.
Meanwhile, his memories and the reality of what happened six months ago would continue to eat at his insides. He doubted Sadie would ever forgive him for the decision he’d made.
And he couldn’t blame her.
“The person who starts the race is not the person who ends the race.” ~ Unknown