Stuck on You by Heather Thurmeier Page B

hopefully the camera would never notice. “You are not. You’re going to use that money on something for yourself. Something fun.”
    “My mind was made up the second you agreed to come on this show with me, so nothing you say is going to change my mind. It’s my money and I’ll do what I want with it.”
    “I don’t know what to say … ” Ben’s voice cracked.
    “I think we’ll end the interview for today. Our time slot is up. See you guys tomorrow.” Bill packed up his stuff and wandered out of the room. Ben and Miles followed behind him, leaving the room for the next group.
    “I can’t believe you’re really doing that for me, for us,” Ben said, shaking his head.
    “It’s the least I can do. Now I don’t want another word about it, okay?”
    Ben nodded. “I can’t wait to tell Tammy. This is going to make a big dent in our remaining bills.”
    “I’m happy to hear that. Let’s see if we can win you the rest before the show is over.”
    • • •
    Miles took a swig of his third beer and scanned the room. The other teams were either mingling or huddled together, no doubt talking strategy. He and Ben probably should’ve been doing that too, but it was hard to think about the game after another long day driving, hiking, and searching. All he wanted to do was relax with a cold beer and some good food, and enjoy a night just hanging out with his best friend.
    The game could wait until morning. Or at the very least, it could wait until they went back to their room for the night. He didn’t think the other teams were being especially smart talking game out in the open like that anyways. Not when their hotel rooms were private and camera free.
    In the corner of the room, he spied Zoe, talking with one of the other teams. Cosmetic surgery doctors, if he remembered right.
    Ben appeared to have started a game of chess with the father portion of Team Father Daughter. Sam, he thought he remembered the man saying on their first night here. Seemed like a nice guy. But chess was a two-person game and he didn’t feel like being a third wheel.
    In the far corner he spotted Eve sitting alone. Normally Rayne was with her. Eve waved him over and smiled. He didn’t really have any desire to spend the night chatting with her since he didn’t find her the least bit entertaining. She did though, and enjoyed laughing at her own jokes. With a laugh that got on his nerves. But he didn’t want to be rude.
    Walking over to where she sat, he tried to think of a way to get out of joining her. Luckily, before he got there, her sister came out of the kitchen and sat in the free chair. Perfect. Now he wouldn’t be able to stay long. If he wasn’t mistaken, Eve glared at her sister.
    “How’s it going, ladies?” he asked, trying to sound friendly. He wasn’t here to make enemies.
    “Better now that you’re here,” Eve said. “Care to pull over a chair and join us?”
    He scanned the room looking for his escape. His gaze landed on the one person sitting alone, staring into the fireplace as if the world around her didn’t exist. “Actually, I was on my way to talk to Paige, but I thought I’d say a hello since you were so sweet to wave me over. But it looks like you two are ready to do some strategizing. I’d hate to interrupt.”
    “Thanks, Miles,” said Rayne. “Not all of the other teams seem to get this is a game, not a vacation. And we definitely need to plan our next move.”
    “Rayne,” Eve said with annoyance clear in her voice. “Don’t be so rude to Miles. We can talk about the game later. If he wants to join us now, I think we should be more gracious, don’t you?”
    “I — ” Rayne started.
    “No worries. Really, I was on my way to talk to Paige. I’ll catch up with you some other time. Have a good night.”
    Without waiting for Eve to put up another fight, he wandered over and took a seat on the couch beside Paige even though both armchairs were empty. For whatever reason, he wanted to be