No real future risk.
“If we followed the original plan, finding ourway out would've been faster because I would know which way to turn.” Scott smiled, trying to prove once again that plans were important.
I shrugged. “We’ve already won. Why does it matter how fast we leave? Out of the maze, it’s back to real life, and this isn’t so bad.” It had been fun.
“In that case . . .” Scott slowed his pace to a crawl.
Laughing, I pulled him along. I was not ready to stop in this maze with the way he kept glancing at my lips. Besides, what if they ran out of cookies?
“If sprinkles make me bright and fun, what does being an oatmeal raisin guy make you?”
He pulled me to the right and watched as I stepped over some fallen corn stalks.
Scott scrunched his nose. “Underrated and gooey?”
I laughed. “Oh, you are fun,” and let my head lean against him.
“Not usually.” Scott sounded genuinely surprised.
We continued in silence for a bit, him rubbing the back of my hand with his thumb. It was soothing. I haven’t allowed myself to have any physical contact like this since Tyler. Would it feel this comfortable with anyone? Maybe I should start holding random stranger's hands and test the theory. I shook my head at the absurd thought.
“This was fun. Maybe we could try it again sometime.” Scott squeezed my hand.
My body went rigid and sweat started ramping up right on cue. Nope. “What do you mean? I thought this was all just for fun.”
“It has been fun, and I just meant we make a good team.” Scott shrugged noncommittally, but I watched his eyes. He was nervous. He wanted to see me again. Like after tonight.
Crap.
“We could go pick up the prize cookies together.” He raised his left shoulder.
I bit my bottom lip to stop it from trembling. I had rules. Thiswas supposed to be safe. Why was he ruining it? Why had I let Rose and Faith talk me into this stupid date, anyway?
“Um, yeah, I don’t do the whole dating thing. Remember?”
“Why? Was this so bad?” Scott gestured down to our linked hands.
“It’s complicated. This was for a challenge. I have these rules . . .” I felt the weight of my real life rush back in, threatening to crush me.
I’m not Mary.
I fought the urge to run and caught myself as I pulled on my green undershirt again. “Look, you’ve been great. Best pretend date ever.”
His head tipped in confusion, and I had to close my eyes. He had been great and felt nice. Ugh.
“This is a one-time thing for me,” I said, grasping at straws for an idea why. “Besides, I’m not from Clifton.” Then I remembered Faith putting in my order for London. “And I'm leaving the country.”
Scott leaned away. “Thanks?” His voice sounded anything but grateful. “I don’t think you need to flee the country. It’s not that big a deal.”
“No, it’s not because of you. It was Fate who decided.” I was making everything so much worse. I needed to stop talking.
Scott bristled. “Okay. Whatever, I got it. No more dates.”
I stared at the ground. My hand, once comfortable in his, began sweating profusely. The circles had stopped.I needed to get out of the maze and drop his stinking hand.
The exit now loomed in front of me, and I fought the urge to leave at a dead sprint.
“Team 106 has won!” The woman in the blue shirt called out from the trailer. “Nice job!” She hopped off the trailer and came to us with the dog-ear man following right behind her.
