Page 48 of Ex Marks the Spot

“Duly noted. Now”—he briefly scans the jump pod—“can we get the hell out of here?”

“Yeah, that’s a good idea if we want to maintain our...wait.” I tilt my head and study his face—the slight pinch of his brows, the tension on the corners of his lips now that he’s not smiling. “Are you scared of heights?”

“No, but as you’re aware, we’re in a tiny box that’s suspended about six hundred feet off the ground and that, I’ve learned, is terrifying.”

“So you’ve been pretending to be okay this whole time?” I’m flabbergasted. Bewildered. Astonished. You could knock me over with a literal feather right now.

He lifts a shoulder like it’s no big deal. “One of us had to believe in you. And besides, there’s no way you would’ve jumped if you knew I was scared too.”

Again, he’s right, but also . . .the whole time?

“I . . . I don’t even know what to say. That’s . . .”

Any chance I had at finishing my sentence dies when Court’s gaze drops to my lips. It’s brief, a second at most, but effective given the influx of tingles climbing up my neck.

“We should probably head back,” he says.

I nod but weirdly make no effort to move.

Even weirder? Neither does he.

It’s not until Oliver unlocks the gate to the cable car that I come back to my senses and discover Court and I are still hugging.

Why are we still hugging?

And why am I suddenly reluctant to let go?

And most importantly, what the hell am I supposed to do now?

The only solution, I decide, is to downplay it by hugging everyone else.

That’s right—Oliver; the other two employees I didn’t actually speak to; our crew (which is a logistical nightmare on account of the equipment they’re holding)—they all get a hug because I’m an idiot who apparently can’t keep her hands to herself.

“Let’s get a quick confessional,” the sound guy says on the way back to solid ground.

The last thing I need is for all of America to hear a voiceover of my thoughts on what just happened, so I wave my hand nonchalantly at Court and say, “Go right ahead.”

“Nice try,” the sound guy says with a knowing smile that has me wondering what kind of footage is on his camera. “We’ll do an easy one, though. How do you feel now that the scary part of this challenge is over?”

I can’t help the dry laugh that escapes me, because jumping a hundred and thirty-four meters has nothing on the growing realization that I don’t think I hate Court anymore.

And I don’t think he hates me either.

CHAPTER 10

COURT

Day 9—On the way to China

Standings after leg 4, New Zealand

1. Kick Asspen (Treva and Boyd)

2. Alaska Girls (Stephanie and Marcail)

3. Old Bay (Haylee and Kadeeja)

4. A Team (Mitchell and Kennedy)