I almost fainted on the spot.
The only thing that stopped my body from hitting the ground was Cade’s quick reflexes as he grabbed my waist.
“Ellie?” He gave me a light shake. “Hey. Stand up. Don’t worry about the money. It’s pocket change.”
“Two hundred thousand…” I mumbled in a daze just as Dr. Lovejoy blew a sharp whistle.
“And we’re off!” she shouted, sounding pretty excited for someone who’d just said this wasn’t a race.
Cade yanked me forward, and I stumbled along with him across the teeny tiny plank leading to a rope bridge.
“Oh my gosh, I’m gonna die,” I muttered, clinging to Cade’s harness like my life depended on it—which it kinda did.
He led the way across the bridge, while I focused on keeping my balance andnot looking down.
After the bridge came a rope ladder, which Cade made me go first on. I couldn’t blame him. If he hadn’t pushed me up each rung, I might’ve stayed at the bottom for the rest of my life.
The course just kept going and going, with Cade pushing me the entire way. My least favorite was a rope we had to swing on together from one platform to another. I doubted my stomach would ever stop fluttering after that one.
Cade talked me through each obstacle and picked up every inch of my slack. He just seemed happy we were moving somewhat quickly and ahead of Harrison.
I couldn’t believe we were actually working well together. Andwinning.
Until the creature from my nightmares reared its terrifying head.
Cade and I had just finished another dreaded rope swing when I spotted the snake. Wrapped around a branch with his head hanging down a mere foot away from me, his soulless eyes locked onto mine.
Terror rooted me to the wooden plank, forcing Cade to stop just behind me. “Ellie?”
My world narrowed to those two slitted yellow eyes staring back at me, and the forked tongue flicking out.
“There’s a—a snake.” Fear clawed up my throat, and my head swam. “A huge hungry snake.”
Cade stepped even closer behind me, his hands slowly moving to settle on my waist. “How do you know it’s hungry?”
“Because he’s looking at me like I looked at those s’mores last night.”
“Well, damn. We don’t stand a chance, then.”
“Cade!”
He only laughed softly.
“I need you to turn around. Can you do that?” His hands lightly squeezed my waist. “Don’t look at it. Just close your eyes and turn around for me.”
I didn’t budge. The snake was still right there. Watching me. Waiting for something. Taunting me with his little forked tongue.
“If I close my eyes, he’ll attack me,” I whispered, legs wobbling under me.
Cade chuckled, but it sounded a little strained, and I could hear the other couples yelling at each other as they moved through their courses. “Trust me. I won’t let it near you.”
The snake chose that moment to move his head a centimeter, and a squeak tore from my throat before I squeezed my eyes shutand whipped around to face Cade—clinging to the first thing I could reach, his shoulders.
He tugged me close at the same time I reached for him.
Cade lifted me a few inches off the ground and barreled forward, while I let out a sharp, panicked yelp. We crossed another bridge with me being as helpful as a sack of potatoes.
“All right.” Cade pulled to a stop after the bridge, setting me back on my feet. “The snake is gone.”