We were doomed from the start.
“It’s cold,” Linus says gently. “Let’s get to the truck.”
I’m still in the dress. It was a whirlwind of chaos after Yvonne picked us up, and we were whisked on the jet so quickly, I didn’t even get a chance to ask about the roses that were back in my room.
Honestly, I’m surprised Clark let me on the jet. I’m sure he would have preferred to leave me stranded in New York. He argued with Mason in hushed whispers the entire return flight.
The Christmas special’s camera crew spotted me in the crowd, so we were ruined before we stepped foot in Rockefeller Center. Clark wasn’t informed until after we’d left the building, and Riley couldn’t get a hold of me because I’d silenced my phone.
When the jet landed, Mason and I barely got two seconds together before they separated us, and Mason looked ticked. He refused to leave until Riley texted to let us know that she and Linus had arrived.
“It will be all right,” he promised before they escorted him away. “I’ll take care of it.”
But how?
I’m officially considered a conflict of interest for Mason, and there’s not a thing we can do about it. It doesn’t matter that Mason’s not a judge—he’s representing the show.
The moment I’m in the truck, I yank my heels off. Then I stare out the window, numb.
Thankfully, the sky is clear, so we’re not dealing with snowy roads on top of everything else. Riley and Linus attempt to keep up happy, light-hearted small talk, but I brood in the backseat.
Just as we begin to climb into the mountains, my phone rings. I glance at it, wondering if it’s Mason.
But it’s not Mason.
I stare at the name on the screen. Finally, knowing I’m about to get the lecture of my life, I answer. “Brandon.”
I mentally prepare myself, and my shoulders stiffen before he even begins to speak.
“How are you holding up?” he asks.
Startled, I hesitate, wondering if the question is a trick. “I’m peachy.”
“No, you’re not. Where are you at?”
My shoulders sag.
“With Riley and Linus. We’re on I-70, just west of Denver.” I pause. “How’s Sadie?”
When she figures out who I’m talking to, Riley shoots me a concerned look from the front seat.
Brandon’s quiet for several seconds. “Well, you know Sadie.”
But I really don’t.
“What does that mean?” I ask.
“She’s worried they’re going to kick you guys out of the competition, but she’s dealing with it. Chrissy and Christy have blown the whole thing out of proportion, so we’ve mostly been hanging out in her room to avoid the other teams. I’m back at the hotel now, but I plan to return to the lodge first thing in the morning.”
I realize that the thought of them together doesn’t sting like it did a few days ago. There’s a chance, if I hadn’t botched this all up, that Sadie and I might have found a way to be friends.
Sighing, I settle back in the seat. “Why did you call, Brandon?”
“We were worried about you.Iwas worried about you. I know things didn’t work out between us the way we thought they would, but I still care about you. You’re one of my best friends.”
“You’re not going to tell me I was stupid to let this happen?”
“Nah,” he says, and I can almost see him smiling. “There’s plenty of time for that later.”
