“Nix the dirty looks, and you have a deal.”
I could tell that one hurt. Then Olivia saw Miller and Rosie sprinted past us. “I’ll take it,” she said.
My side pressed against hers as I shared the list of clues, and we both speed-read number one:Take a photo of a boat that never sinks.
“Treasure Island,” we said in unison.
“Already got us an Uber.” I slipped my phone into my pocket and grabbed Olivia’s hand. “Let’s go, partner.”
* * *
Two hoursand ten stops later, with adrenaline pumping through my veins, I kept the pace behind Olivia as she ran inside the Tropical Paradise Club.
I blinked against the darkness and pulsating techno music vibrating the walls. Following instructions, we wove through a mass of partyers and hightailed it to the neon green bar.
Hattie sat in an acrylic barstool sipping a drink straight from a pineapple, happily watching our approach.
“Congratulations, team,” Hattie said. “You’re the first to successfully complete the tasks and arrive.”
I was just about to high-five a grinning Olivia when most of our group burst in.
“No way!” Miller broke through the crowd and yelled over the deafening music. “How did these two beat us?”
Frannie and Sylvie walked over, each carrying a fruity concoction. “Oh, were we supposed to check in?” Sylvie pursed her lips against a glittery straw. “Frannie and I met some mai tais and just had to say hello.”
Rosie ran straight to us, holding her side as if it ached. “Don’t tell me we came in last!” She paused a moment to catch her breath. “Of course Olivia would win. She probably had a strategy before she got in her Uber.”
“Lachlan loved my flowcharts and graphs,” Olivia teased back. “Though I did not appreciate his rule of not stopping at bathrooms.”
“What’s our team motto?” I asked Olivia.
She rolled her eyes. “Tinkles are time-wasters.”
“Very impressive work from everyone.” Hattie eased off her stool and slipped a medallion over Olivia’s head. “I award you the first and only pre-wedding party medal.” Hattie had to practically jump to reach my head. “Here’s your medal, Lachlan. Now, drinks on us. Let’s celebrate!”
Without even thinking, I hooked an arm around Olivia and gave her a quick hug. “Great job, Livvy.”
Olivia threw her arms around me and squeezed. “We did it. We beat them all.”
High on victory, I spun her around until the world tilted.
Then our eyes met, and reality came crashing back.
The woman in my arms was Olivia Sutton. I didn’t like her, and she most certainly didn’t like me.
With a delicate cough, Olivia took a step in retreat. “That can’t happen again.”
She didn’t have to tell me twice. “Purely driven by the thrill of the win.”
Olivia’s hair caressed her shoulder as she glanced behind her at the bustling dance floor. Then back to me. “I’d like to pitch an idea.”
I was ten times a fool, but I stepped closer. “I’m listening.”
She seemed reluctant to share and delivered her pitch slowly. “We could extend our truce for a few more hours.”
I could see some merit in this. “Keep talking.”
“We finish out tonight’s event,” Olivia said, “then tomorrow, we’re—”
