“If you’re sure.” Jessica hated the thought of Gabby running all that way without a shoe, but they couldn’t stand here all day in freezing cold mud looking for it either.
“I’m sure. Last year, I fell and was disqualified. This year, I’m crossing the finish line no matter what.” Gabby pulled herself up straight, muddy water dripping from her chin.
“All right then, let’s get the hell out of this mud.” Jessica had no idea why it was causing her so much pain, but the longer she stayed in here, the worse she felt. She sloshed off toward Mandy and Carly as fast as she could go with Gabby at her heels. A few minutes later, she finally,finallypulled herself out onto dry land. Her knees buckled under her, and she landed on her butt at the edge of the muddy trail.
“You all right, Jess?” Mandy asked, extending a hand to help her up.
“My muscles are cramping up from the cold.” And she couldn’t stop shivering.
“Better keep moving then,” Mandy said. “Oh crap, Gabby, you lost a shoe!”
“I know,” Gabby said with a smile. “I’m ready to run for it in my sock. Let’s go.”
They certainly weren’t the fastest team as they headed for the finish line. Gabby half limped, half jogged over the rocky terrain in one shoe. Jessica was powering through on sheer adrenaline as her muscles cramped and chills wracked her body. Carly looked similarly miserable. Only Mandy was still in good spirits, jogging energetically and cheering the rest of them on.
“Almost there, ladies!” Mandy called as they rounded a bend on the trail and the finish line came into sight. “Come on. Let’s finish strong.”
I can do this.Jessica forced her legs to keep moving. Gabby grabbed her hand, and together they sprinted toward the finish line.
“You got this, sweetheart!” Ethan called out from beyond the finish line, and Gabby lurched forward, dragging Jessica along with her.
Then they were through the inflated archway marking the end of the race. A volunteer draped a medal around Jessica’s neck. Someone handed her a bottle of water and one of those space blankets that looked like tin foil to warm up with. She wrapped it around her shoulders, but it didn’t seem to do much good.
“We did it!” Mandy pulled them all in for a group hug.
Gabby was grinning from ear to ear. “I finished. I really did it. This was so great!”
Emma ran toward them from across the field. She barged into their group hug, flinging her arms around Jessica and Carly, and then she shrieked, “Holy shit, you guys are cold and wet!”
“Um, yeah. We just swam through a mud pit that was slightly warmer than ice,” Carly told her, teeth chattering.
“Jess, are you okay?” Emma’s eyes crinkled in concern.
“Really c-cold.” Jessica couldn’t stop shivering, and these awful pains were shooting down her arms and legs.
“You look…blue,” Gabby said.
Mandy gave her a discerning look. “Yeah, you really do.”
“Sweetie, let me get you some hot chocolate,” Emma said.
“I’m f-fine, you guys.” Jessica hugged the silver blanket closer around herself. “We should go rinse off.” There was a line of outdoor showers along the edge of the field so that they could douse themselves in fresh water to rinse off the worst of the mud. But, oh God, it was going to be cold. And she was already so friggin’ cold.
“Hang on a second.” Gabby toed out of her remaining sneaker and then ran off toward Ethan in her socks.
Jessica looked down at her hands, which were shaking uncontrollably and still caked in mud. She’d just rinse off quickly here so that she could go straight home and take a long, hot shower.
Gabby walked back over and nudged Jessica in the direction of the house. “Come on. Spouse privileges.”
“What?” Jessica started walking in the direction Gabby was guiding her.
“We’ll catch up with you guys in a little bit, okay?” Gabby called over her shoulder to Carly and Mandy. They both nodded.
“You get Jessica warmed up,” Mandy said. “Beers later to celebrate?”
“Definitely,” Gabby said, still marching Jessica toward the house. She led them over to the table where they’d checked bags earlier with clean clothes to change into. “Grab your bag.”
Jessica handed her claim tag to the teenager behind the table, and he handed her the black duffel bag she’d brought. “Where’s yours?” she asked Gabby.
