After making sure everything was ready, he, Ryan, and Ethan headed back to the registration area. Already their volunteers were starting to arrive. Emma came out of the office carrying three coffees in a cup carrier from the coffee shop.
“Thought you might need these,” she said, setting the tray down on the registration table.
“Do we ever.” Ryan leaned in to give her a kiss. “Thanks, babe.”
“Lifesaver. I mean it,” Ethan said, grabbing one of the cups.
Mark nodded. “Thanks, Emma.” He snagged a coffee for himself and took a grateful sip.
“As bummed as I am that I can’t race this year,” Emma said, “I’m not all that sad about staying warm and dry today.”
Ethan grinned. “The Adrenaline Rush is late this year because of mine and Gabby’s wedding, but we’ll be back to our summer schedule next year.”
“I’m so there,” Emma said with a smile.
Mark’s gaze caught on a familiar figure headed their way. Jess had on black jogging pants and a long-sleeved purple athletic shirt, her hair in a ponytail.
“Hey, Jess!” Emma called out, heading toward her. “I’ve got flowers inside for everyone’s hair. Plus, we can hide out in there for a while where it’s warm.”
“That sounds perfect.” Jess glanced over and caught his gaze. She looked tired. More than that, she lookedill, and it raised his protective hackles.
More than anything, he wanted to go to her, pull her into his arms, and hold her tight, but he couldn’t do that. She’d been the one to suggest they keep their relationship under wraps. It had suited him fine at the time. But right now, he fucking hated everything about it.
***
Jessica sucked in a deep breath and jumped. With a splash, the muddy water swallowed her up, andholy shit, it was cold. She kicked against the muck beneath her feet, and her head broke the surface. Spluttering, she scooped mud off her face while her feet scrambled for purchase against the bottom of the pit.
Gabby shrieked as she splashed into the mud beside her. Carly, the tallest of their group, was already walking along the edge of the pit. She hadn’t even gotten her head dirty! Jessica scowled as she swiped more mud out of her eyes. Her whole body tingled from the cold.
“Come on, ladies,” Mandy—the smallest member of Team Flower Power but also their leader in Emma’s absence—called as she swam through the muddy water, headed for the opposite side.
“I’m going to kill Ethan for dreaming this up,” Gabby grumbled as she sloshed—half walking, half swimming—after Mandy.
“Oh, come on, this is fun!” Mandy said with a laugh.
“Sorry, but I have to agree with Gabby on this one.” Jessica headed for the edge of the pit, where it was shallower, so that she could walk like Carly was doing. The muddy bottom sucked at her shoes and oozed around her ankles.
“Gross. Gross. Gross!” Gabby chanted as she splashed after Mandy.
Jessica slipped and almost went under again. She enjoyed the mud baths she offered at the spa, but this was not at all the same. For one thing, she had mud up her nose, in her ears, and who knew how many other places she’d rather keep clean. For another, it was so friggin’ cold, she couldn’t think of anything else but getting out as quickly as possible.
She’d had a headache since she got up this morning, and the icy mud didn’t seem to be helping matters. Pain stabbed at her temples, matching the throb of her pulse. Her hands cramped, andugh…
“Oh no!” Gabby stopped, staring down into the muddy water swirling around her. “I lost a shoe.”
“Uh-oh.” Jessica sloshed over to her, feeling around in the mud with her sneakers as best as she could.
“This is so bad.” Gabby giggled as she bent lower, searching for her shoe.
Mandy and Carly had already reached the other side. They stood on the bank, dripping with mud and staring back at Jessica and Gabby.
“I don’t feel it anywhere,” Jessica said.
“Me neither.” Gabby’s foot bumped into Jessica’s as they rooted around in the mud looking for the missing sneaker. “Screw it. I can finish barefoot.”
“Um, are you sure?” Jessica was shivering now, and pains were shooting up her arms. “How much of the race is left after we get out of the mud?”
“It’s not far. We just have to run past the zip-line to the field behind the house. I can totally do it.”
