"Everyone does," the driver said, pulling away from the curb.
"Perfect. Thanks, man." Liam sat back and then pulled me against him again. When I wouldn't meet his gaze, he put his fingers under my chin and tilted my face toward his. "Tell me what happened."
"Muh-my pretzels spilled everywhere," I sobbed. "And I got lost and went in the wrong direction and I couldn't find the place and everyone knows I'm really bad with directions but I kept looking because I knew you would think I was throwing the challenge but I wasn't, and I don't want Brodie to get ahead at all, I just want us to get back to being cool and I wouldn't even let him see how I twisted my pretzels because I didn't want you to think I was helping him and—"
"Shhh," he told me. "Katy. I know you didn't help him. It's okay."
I looked up at him in surprise, wiping my eyes again. "How do you know?"
He gave me a crooked grin. "Tesla peeked in and said you were hiding your pretzels from Brodie so he couldn't cheat. She was really annoyed about it, too."
I gave him a tremulous smile.
"And we couldn't help but overhear everything you guys were yelling at each other," he told me in a low voice, his thumb stroking across my lower lip. "Turns out your brother blackmailed you, huh? You should have said something."
I took a shuddering breath. "I felt stupid. Like, he used me. And I gave him the Ace and then you guys fought, and I felt like I couldn't tell you. I'm not exactly proud of it."
"You should have told me." He leaned in and kissed me, light and lovely, on the mouth. "I'm not a heartless beast, you know."
"No, but you were mad and you thought I was working with Brodie to fuck you over."
"That's my own hang-up," Liam admitted. "Remember I told you Tesla and I dated once upon a time? That was pretty much how it ended up. She lied and saw other guys behind my back. So I guess once I heard that, I kind of got blinders on and assumed the worst."
"Well, that's not my problem," I told him with a sniffle.
"No, it's not." He gave me a sheepish look. "And I wanted to say I'm sorry."
"Thank you," I told him softly.
He leaned in and kissed me again, his tongue stroking over my parted lips. I felt the stud of his piercing glide along the seam of my mouth, and I opened for him, letting him flick against my tongue as we deepened the kiss. It was apology and comfort and desire all at once, and I melted into his arms. He broke the kiss a moment later and smiled down at me. "Forgiven?"
"Forgiven," I agreed, sliding my hands under his shirt to caress his bare skin. "Not that I suppose it matters, since we've lost the race."
"We'll finish strong," Liam told me, wrapping his arms around me and hugging me close. "No shame in second place." He leaned in. "And with you in my arms? I've already won."
Those three sweet words did a lot to soothe my worries, I admit.
"We're here," the cab driver announced.
I looked up from where I was snuggled against Liam's chest. The minutes had flown past, and though it wasn't a long drive, I'd enjoyed every moment of it, wrapped in his embrace, his hands touching my face, my hair, my skin as if he couldn't get enough of me. All the while, he hummed a wordless tune under his breath. I wasn't sure if that tune was for me or for him, but it was pleasant nevertheless.
"Thank you," Liam said, handing the man some money. "You don't have to wait."
I started at that, then realized…this was the last stop. He wouldn't have to wait because we were done with the race. Mouth dry with a sudden burst of anxiety, I grabbed my bag and handed Liam his, and we piled out of the cab. As we emerged, Liam held his hand out for me and I took it.
To my surprise, he lifted our twined hands to his mouth and kissed the back of my hand. "We didn't start this as a team, but we'll end it as one."
I smiled at him. "I'm just sorry we couldn't win."
"I'm not," he said. "I got a lot more out of this race than just a paycheck."
I felt my entire body flush with the heat of those words and we headed forward.
As soon as I saw the Rocky statue, I laughed to myself. This was why this place was referred to as 'the Rocky Steps.' A large statue of Rocky Balboa was off to one side and we passed it, heading toward a massive series of steps led to the pillars at the front of the museum. I vaguely remembered a scene from the Rocky movies where he'd jogged up them.
At the base of the steps, there was a World Games mat, a series of boxes off to each side of the judge waiting there. I squinted at the top of the stairs - Chip Brubaker waited there, along with a fleet of cameras and a finish line tape that was intact.