“At least my shows don’t make people eat bugs,” Leo countered, dropping into the armchair.
“That was only one season,” Ray and I said in unison, then exchanged surprised looks that melted into reluctant smiles.
Leo rolled his eyes, but I caught the pleased look that flashed across his face. He’d been oddly attentive all weekend, watching Ray and me with careful eyes. Had he sensed the tension between us? We’d agreed not to tell him about the affair or the counseling until we knew whether we were staying together or separating, but Leo had always been perceptive.
On screen, the divorced couple completed their fishing trap first and raced toward the next challenge.
“Told you,” I said, nudging Ray with my elbow.
“They’re not at the finish line yet,” he replied, but I could tell he was warming to my prediction.
“Why do you guys love this show so much, anyway?” Leo asked through a mouthful of cold pasta. “It’s just a bunch of people doing crazy stunts in foreign countries.”
“It’s about teamwork,” Ray said. “How people handle stress together.”
“And strategy,” I added. “When to push yourself versus when to play it safe.”
For the next twenty minutes, we were completely absorbed in the final race to the finish line. The divorced couple maintained their lead, communicating with quiet efficiency that stood in stark contrast to the bickering roommates and the distracted newlyweds.
“They’re going to win,” Ray said, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. “You called it, Jeffrey.”
“They trust each other,” I said, watching as the woman calmly talked her ex-husband through a panic attack when they had to cross a suspension bridge. “Even after whatever broke them up, they still have that foundation.”
The divorced couple reached the final mat first, jumping up and down in celebration as the host declared them the winners of the one-million-dollar prize. In their post-win interview, the woman said something that caught my attention.
“Even though our marriage didn’t work out, this race reminded us why we were friends first. We had to relearn how to listen to each other, how to trust each other’s strengths.”
Her ex-husband nodded beside her. “The race stripped away all the noise that had come between us. At the end of the day, there was just the two of us against each challenge.”
“And now,” the host announced as the credits began to roll, “we’re looking for teams for our next season! If you think youhave what it takes to travel the world and compete for one million dollars, applications are open at our website.”
“You guys should totally do that,” Leo said.
Ray and I both turned to stare at him.
“What?” Leo shrugged. “You love the show, you’re both in decent shape, and you’ve been married forever so you’ve got the whole teamwork thing down. Plus, Dad’s super athletic and Pop’s good with puzzles and strategy. You’d be perfect.”
If only he knew how fragile that “forever” marriage currently was, how tenuous our teamwork had become.
“It’s not that simple,” Ray started.
But I was already considering it. What had I told Ray after our first therapy session?I need to see if we can function as a team again, not just reminisce about the good old days.
“You know,” I said slowly, “that’s not a bad idea.”
Ray raised his eyebrows. “Seriously? You hate flying.”
“I could get over that.”
“And heights. And swimming in open water. And eating weird food.”
I gestured toward the TV, where they were showing highlights from the season. “If those divorced people can do it together, surely we can.”
I thought about our day on the water—the moments of connection, the difficult conversations, the simple pleasure of moving in tandem through the mangrove tunnels. It had been just a taste of what the race would demand from us, and yet it had already revealed so much.
Something shifted on Ray’s face—a flash of understanding as he realized what I was really suggesting. This wouldn’t just be a reality TV adventure; it would be a test. A way to see if what we’d built over twenty-five years was strong enough to survive his betrayal.
“I could help you guys make the audition video,” Leo offered, oblivious to the undercurrents between us. “We just did a whole unit on promotional videos in my film production class. I’d make you guys look awesome.”
