We hurry to the edge, where the walls open up to the forest. A net’s been placed far below, suspended in the air. It’s the finish line. We have to jump.
One of us does.
My thoughts race as fast as my beating heart. I wish I didn’t have to choose. I wish I could have both, him and the prize, thatwecould have both—
Huh.
I have another idea.
“Let’s jump at the same time,” I rush out. The idea is settling in my bones now, and I’m energized by the potential of aweand anusagain. “We’ll split the prize. Let’s do this together.”
I get it. Ireallyget it now.
There are a lot of things that are more important than winning.
Dean’s eyebrows jump up beneath his curly bangs. I reach out and grab his hand to shake him out of his shock. His fingers clench over mine. Dean watches me like I’m the most precious thing in the world right now, even though a million dollars is three steps and a fall away.
“Why?” he asks.
His voice is flint against the fire steel of my heart, and it ignites everything I’ve been trying to choke out. “Same reason I gave you half my points, idiot!” I yell, face burning. “Because I wantyoumore than I want to win. Do I have to say it out loud? Fine! I like you, Dean Parker, you—!”
He shoves me off the edge.
42
SEASON FINALE
DEAN
Seyoon’s scream rings through the entire forest. I wait, watching as she flails through the air, falling, falling,falling—
Until she plummets into the net.
She won. Seyoon won.
I huff out a breath of laughter, my glee making me dizzy. I steel myself to jump after her when the door to the treehouse bursts open behind me—Carter. His pink face pales as soon as he spots me.
“How—” he sputters. “How didyoubeat me here?”
I’m reminded of how different the circumstances were the last time I met Carter in this treehouse. “Not just me.” I gesture below, and I can practically hear his heart drop when he puts two and two together.
I step backward, one of my heels teetering off the edge. Carter is still frozen in place, his face slowly morphing from shock to fury. I grin, relishing the sight.
“Hey,” I say, remembering what he told me yesterday. “Don’t beat yourself up. Third place isn’tbad.”
Then I fall.
Carter’s angry roar follows me all the way down. It’s the most satisfying sound to ever grace my ears. The wind whizzes past me.My stomach shoots into my throat. Then I land. Before I’ve finished gulping in a breath, fireworks go off. Like, actual fireworks. There is no way Garrett has a permit for that—but he might have a fantastic legal team.
His voice crackles to life over the speakers, ringing with pride.
Ladies, gentlemen, and all the fine folk here, we have our winner ofForest Feud: Seyoon Shin!
Seyoon’s still disoriented when I look over and find her a few feet away, bobbing on the wobbling net. It takes her another moment to regain her bearings and realize what’s happened, and when she does, she crawls over. I sit back and don’t bother wiping away the smug look on my face.
“What the hell?” she asks, shoving my shoulder. “We could have both won! This was important to you.”
“It was important to you, too, and yet you still helped me.” I brush my thumb over the corner of her mouth, thinking of how she’s changed me. Turned me brave. Given me a reason to believe in myself and speak up. “Besides,” I say, softer, “Ididwin.”
