Partner Games
Page 3

“Here comes blue,” Georgie whispered after a moment. “Dad and his son, I think. Old dude and a younger dude. They look pretty fit.” She snorted a moment later. “Younger guy’s name is Bingo. That has to be a nickname. I hope.”
“Better than Clemmy,” I teased, reminding her of her nickname for me.
“You hush. Oh, here come a pair of ladies in red hats and purple team uniforms. Gray hair. We can totally beat them.”
“Are you stack ranking us?” I said with a smile. “I had no idea you were so competitive.”
“We’re in this to win this. Ooo, green is some hot looking dudes. I wonder if they’re athletes.”
“Sounds like green is the team to beat so far,” I murmured.
“And black, don’t forget them.”
Beards and bellies? Really? I shrugged. She was the one with the view.
“Teal is a married couple, I think. Or dating. Guy and girl. They look pretty fit. Oh, and there’s a pink team. I’m kind of sad we didn’t get pink.”
“What’s pink look like?”
“Mmm, two women. Not so fit, but they look like they’re having a good time. Jen and Alicia. And brown is another dating couple – I think their shirts say Gwen and Elon.”
“All right, red,” a voice piped into our tent. “Come on out and look excited.”
You didn’t have to tell my sister twice. She poked over at me, grabbed my hand, and then we burst from the tent together, running forward. Georgie waved her free hand in the air wildly to the clapping of the other teams, while I tried to look Not-Terrified.
We bounded forward and Georgie hopped onto our red line, grinning at the other teams. We were surrounded by cameras. Everywhere, there were cameramen and production people zipping around, and all the teams were lined up in a half circle. My breathing grew rapid with nervousness and I began to get dizzy. This felt like being on stage — my worst nightmare.
Georgie squeezed my hand. “You’re going to be fine, Clemmy. Just chill.”
I blinked rapidly and nodded. “I’ve got this.” Taking a deep breath, I focused on the person standing directly across from me.
It was a guy, dressed totally in black. No biker beard. Instead, he was incredibly fit and rather gorgeous. His chest said Swift. Oh damn. That was one of the bikers?
His mouth curled up in a smile and he gave an imperceptible nod in my direction.
 
 
Chapter Two
 
 
“What can I say? I’ve got a thing for girls that rock the nerd look. She’s fucking cute. What? No cussing? Shit. Sorry.” — Swift, The One Percenters Team, Pre-Game Interview, The World Races
 
 
Holy crap, the hot biker guy was staring at me.
I didn’t know how to handle that. All my life, Georgie’s been the one that everyone looks at. She’s the pretty one, where I’m the almost-but-not-quite-there one. I’ve got big nerd glasses and I’m not as svelte – or famous – as my twin. Shouldn’t he be looking at her?
I tried to act all casual. Fixed my hair. Looked around. Then I sneaked another peek at the biker guy. His dark hair was a little shaggy, brushing against his neck as he turned to watch the next team come in. I saw a flash of orange move past, and then the cute biker guy looked my way again.
He winked at me, clearly thinking I was checking him out.
I blushed and looked away, focusing on the team that had just arrived. Orange. Their shirts read Jendan and Annabelle and they were holding hands and cheering.
They were the last team. Everyone was here.
We’d been lined up inside the center ring of the big top. In the distance, I saw a long area that had been cordoned off with more of the striped tent material. My guess was that it was some sort of challenge that we weren’t supposed to see yet.
“Is everyone in their places?” someone in production yelled out, and another person rushed down the line, counting heads.
After a moment, he looked over at one of the headset-wearing people and gave a thumbs up. “We’re good!”
“Let’s bring in the host.”
My stomach fluttered nervously. At my side, Georgie grabbed my hand and squeezed it.
The lights went down and two spotlights began to whizz back and forth through the big top. Circus music began to play, and then the two spotlights both narrowed in on a door at the back. My gaze went there, and I’m pretty sure everyone else’s did, too.
With a loud blare of music, the curtains went up, and Chip Brubaker, the host of Endurance Island, The World Races, and a bevy of other reality TV shows appeared, his arms thrust into the air. He was dressed as the Ringmaster of the circus, a big top hat on his head and wearing a tailed tuxedo.
“Welcome to this season’s round of The World Races! I’ll be your host, Chip Brubaker. This year, you’re going to journey thousands of miles, by plane, by train, by automobile, and go to countries all over the world. One by one, each team will be picked off until only one remains. That team will win The World Races and the grand prize of a million dollars. Are you ready to play?”
Everyone whooped and cheered, clapping their hands. Even I managed a timid sort of applause.
Chip turned, scanning each team as if sizing us up. Then, he continued. “This year, we’ll be bringing back the Game Ace, which you can use to save an ally team…if you so choose. But be warned that if you choose to use the ace, there could be unforeseen consequences. Now, are you guys ready to play?”
More cheering. Of course we were ready. At my side, Georgie twitched with nervous energy.
Chip gestured to the far side of the arena. With perfect timing, the striped curtain fell away, revealing dozens of neatly lined up tables. Each one was covered with dozens of fluffy white whip cream pies.
I could guess how this was going to go.
“Here’s how this first challenge is going to work,” Chip said, an evil grin on his face. “Your first clue is hidden somewhere on the bottom of one of those pie pans. When I say go, you’ll grab a pie. The only thing you can do with that pie is throw it in your partner’s face.”
Georgie and I exchanged looks. I rubbed my hands together gleefully at the thought of throwing a pie in my twin’s face.
Chip continued. “When the pie is out of the tin, check the bottom. Some pies will have a clue at the bottom, and some will have nothing. You must keep pie-ing your partner in the face until you find a clue. Once you have your clue, you can proceed to the first location. Does everyone understand? Good!”
We readied, tension vibrating through our bodies. I wasn’t the most competitive person and even I was feeling pumped about this. Throw a pie in Georgie’s face? I was so ready to do that.
“And…go!”
Everyone rushed forward, including Georgie. I grabbed her arm, holding her back as she tried to surge ahead with the group. “Wait,” I told her. “Give me your bag. Let’s make sure they don’t get wrecked.”
Her eyes widened and she nodded at me, waiting.
I unzipped one of the bags and pulled out a towel, then tossed her backpack on top of mine. They were both super heavy together, but I could handle it. I gave Georgie the towel. “Tuck this over them. We’re going to be grateful later when we’re not pulling out whip creamed passports.”