“I apologized for that already.”
“But you didn’t say sorry for not backing me up. Or for insulting me and my mom.”
“You first. I think you goaded me within five minutes of meeting and then called me pathetic?”
We both glare at each other. Dean’s hazel eyes are pitch-black in the night, drilling into mine. A moment passes. Another. Then his back slouches, and my shoulders loosen. We both shift on the log. I’m tired, and I think he is, too. An unspoken truce settles in the space between us for now.
I inspect his handiwork, flexing my fingers. It’s not the neatest job in the world, but I hardly mind. My hands do feel better, I guess.
“I should’ve let you finish patching me up earlier. Would’ve made the challenge easier. It’s cool you know how to do this,” I say, the closest thing to an apology I’ll give him right now.
“My sister got really into rock climbing for a while, and I’d help patch up her callouses,” he explains. “Anyway, I’m surprised you played as well as you did with both your hands like that.” Dean stiffens, as if he didn’t mean to let that slip.
“Was that a compliment?” I ask excitedly.
“No.”
“Aw, thanks, I’ll take it.”
He groans and I laugh, momentarily forgetting it’s the middle of the night and I’m still ticked off at him. After a moment of deliberation, I say, “You did pretty good in the race, too. You caught up super quick and solved that riddle so fast.” I don’t mention how I tried but failed to do the same.
For a long, awkward moment, I don’t think he’s going to reply. Then, “I got lucky that there was a strategy component. The rest of it wasn’t in my favor.”
“Just take the compliment, dude.”
He huffs. “Thank you.” Begrudgingly, he adds, “If it wasn’t for Carter cutting our line, you probably would’ve won.”
“Ugh. Whatever. I’ll beat him next time.”
“If he doesn’t pull some nepotism strings again, that is.”
I scowl at the grass. “With that sleazeball Garrett on his side, he has an advantage over all of us. No way his uncle will play fair.” I dig my shoe into the ground. “It’s almost funny. Garrett screwed your dad and my mom over, and now he’s helping his nephew do the same to us.”
“We have different definitions offunny. But agreed. I don’t think any of us on our own stand a chance against CarterandGarrett.”
There’s a sharp, bitter edge to Dean’s usual monotone voice that has me turning his way. He glares at the cabin like he’s trying to pierce Carter through its walls.
On ourown.
He’s right. Carter’s fast, strong, and he has game show knowledge on his side as Garrett’s nephew. I have him beat in the first two categories, but the third? I just gave my daddy issues away in a confession booth—that should show how little I know what I’m doing when it comes to TV etiquette. Good thing Dean interrupted me. He probably has an edge over Carter when it comes to understanding how to play the game; he’s seen every season ofForest Feud,after all. Wish I could borrow some of that.
Huh.
I have an idea.
“What if weweren’ton our own?” I ask carefully.
“What?”
“Don’t let it get to your big head, but you are kind of smart. Plus, you understand how reality TV works better than I do.” Dean flusters at the compliment, tugging on the string of his hoodie. I grin. “And as we both know, I’m fast, and strong, and athletic, and—”
“And humble.”
“Exactly right, thank you. Garrett did say we should play to the whole ‘family legacy’ thing, follow in our parents’ footsteps, so…”
“Spit it out. You’re making me nervous.”
I shift around on the log so I’m facing him fully. “What if we worked together?”
