Suddenly, George appeared beside us, wrapping one massive arm around each of our shoulders. “Called it!” he exclaimed. “Jeffrey had them pegged!”
“Their strengths weren’t obvious at first,” I said, watching as Zara and Maddox posed for photos with the check and trophy. “But they knew how to read the situation, adapt quickly, and work together when it mattered most.”
“Sounds like some other team I know,” Ernie said, joining our huddle.
Ray laughed. “Maybe in our younger days. These kids earned it, though.”
As the production crew began directing us for group photos, I took one more look at the stunning backdrop—the snow-capped mountains rising beyond the city skyline, the deep blue waters of the harbor, the historic totem poles standing sentinel over our celebration. It was hard to imagine a more perfect setting for the conclusion of our journey.
“Hey,” Ray said softly, his hand finding mine again as we prepared to join the group shot. “Win or lose, I’m glad we did this.”
I squeezed his hand, feeling the familiar calluses, the strength in his fingers, the wedding band that had nearly slipped away from us both. “Me too. Best race of my life.”
Together, we joined the circle forming around Zara and Maddox, our colored shirts creating a rainbow against thespectacular Vancouver backdrop—nine teams who had fallen short of the prize but who had, in ways large and small, found victory in the journey itself.
Later, at the wrap party, I found myself standing next to Adrienne at the bar. She’d changed out of her race clothes into a sleek cocktail dress, but the tension in her shoulders remained.
“Tough break,” I said, not unkindly. “You guys were front runners almost the whole race.”
She sighed heavily. “Never saw it coming. Who would have thought all those hours they spent on social media would be useful?”
“Different strengths for different challenges,” I offered. “That’s what makes the race interesting.”
Adrienne studied me for a moment. “You know, when we first met you and Ray, we didn’t think you’d make it past the first few legs.”
“Because we were the ‘older gay couple’?” I asked, unable to keep the edge from my voice.
She had the grace to look embarrassed. “Something like that. But you proved us wrong. You guys had something special out there.”
“Twenty-five years of practice,” I said, echoing what Ray had said.
Across the room, Ray was laughing with Zara and Maddox, probably congratulating them on their win. He caught my eye and smiled, that private smile that still made my heart skip after all these years.
Adrienne followed my gaze. “For what it’s worth, Fletcher and I are still working on our communication. Watching you and Ray figure things out during the race... it was kind of inspiring.”
I was genuinely surprised. “Really?”
“Really. We’ve got the physical stuff down, but the emotional stuff...” She shook her head. “That’s the real challenge, isn’t it?”
I thought about everything Ray and I had been through—before, during, and after the race. The betrayal, the healing, the hard conversations we were still having.
“That’s the race that never ends,” I told her. “But it’s worth running.”
As the party continued around us, Ray made his way to my side, slipping his arm around my waist. “Ready to head out?” he asked. “Our flight home is early tomorrow.”
Home. The word carried so much more weight now than when we’d left for the race. Not just a place, but a relationship we were actively rebuilding, day by day.
“I’m ready,” I said, and meant it in every possible way.
We might not have won the million dollars, but as we rose up in the elevator, Ray’s hand firmly in mine, I knew we’d gained something far more valuable: a second chance at the greatest adventure of all—a life together.
And this time, we both intended to finish strong.
Chapter 37
Beyond the Race
After coming in fourth, we won a grand total of $14,500. Not enough to change our lives, but it was a nice chunk to put aside for the future.
