He’s gazing at me like I’m some mythical creature. I think all this conversation has done is prove that we are about as night and day as two people can get. I don’t think the Million Dollar Marriage crew could’ve picked a couple that is more wrong for each other. But maybe that’s just what they wanted.
I almost laugh as I realize the knuckles of his one hand are white on the armrest. “And by the way, you can have mercy on the armrests. We’ve already taken off.”
His eyes move to the window, where the plane is climbing into the sky, leaving Atlanta as a patchwork beneath us. He leans over me. He has small sideburns, stubble on his caramel skin, and a shock of dark hair falling over his eyes that I just want to reach out and sweep back. I get a whiff of his smell, masculine, deep, and . . . delicious, enough to make my insides twist. “Wow. Would you look at that?”
“Would you like to switch seats?” I ask, wondering if he knows what he’s doing to me.
He turns his head a little, and now he’s just inches away. His eyes practically undress me, glinting with mischief. “Nah. I think the view is better right where I am.”
Luke
Sure, it was a surprise. I never saw myself as married or settled down. Especially not to someone like her. I’m easygoing. Whatever works, you know? But Penny . . . she’s another story.
—Luke’s Confessional, Day 2
I survived my first flight. We’re sitting blindfolded on the runway, ready to get off the plane and go . . . who knows where.
“Where do you think we are?” Penny whispers to me. “We were only in the air three hours. So based on that and the wind shear and the location of the airport as we were taking off . . . I’d guess that we’re in . . .”
“Philadelphia.”
“How do you . . .”
“I’m peeking.”
She nudges me. “Well, don’t. You know they’re filming us at all times. Even now. Don’t get us disqualified.”
I like that she’s thinking about the game. “Yes, ma’am.”
A staff member escorts us onto another bus, and we end up driving for another hour. By then, it’s dark. I’m ready to hit the hay.
Which might be exactly where I end up sleeping, knowing Penny’s rules.
“All right, guys!” Will Wang announces from the front of the bus after it stops. “We are at your first outpost. You may remove your blindfolds.”
I pull mine down around my neck. It’s dark outside. I scan all the windows. Hell, we might really be in the middle of nowhere. “What the fuck is this?” Ace says behind me.
We all file off the bus and form a circle around Will in some rutted, muddy field. It’s cold as fuck; I can see my breath. I stuff my hands deep into the pockets of my shorts.
“The time is now nine p.m. Go right to your quarters, where you may freshen up, eat something, and rest. When the siren sounds, you must all converge here for the instructions on your next challenge. From here on out, you and your spouse will be traveling independently from other contestants. Whoever arrives at the next outpost first will be given an advantage in the next leg of the journey. Any questions?”
Charity, a model with enormous tits the cameramen are clearly in love with, says, “I don’t see any quarters here?”
With that, a floodlight switches on, illuminating a handful of small tents.
Then I see Penny’s horrified expression.
Fuck. I’m sleeping on the ground, outside of the tent. In the cold.
We find the tent with our names on it. It’s even smaller up close. The producers are definitely fucking with us. I motion for her to go in first.
She climbs in and lets out a whimper. “I hate camping. God, it’s cold.”
I go in and see that there’s only one sleeping bag. I think the producers are trying to get us as uncomfortable with our new spouses as possible. It’s a two-person bag, but I don’t think I’ll be lucky enough to use it. I twist on a lantern on a small pack, and it casts a circle of light on Penny’s huddled shape.
“Hell yeah!” I shout when I open the pack and find a container of Cheez-Its and Cokes. I pass one to her.
She plops down on the bag and shakes her head. “I don’t eat that stuff.” She looks at her sneakers. “I’m all sticky,