Thanks to 2brown-eyes for giving this a read.

All mistakes are mine!

LEG 6: Smells Like a Million Bucks

Edward and I are quiet as we leave the lake. A car takes us into the quaint German town and drops us at a cute hotel the race has booked for the teams. Even though we found our way back to normalcy by the end of this LEG, the first three-quarters was a shitshow, and it can't be packed in a box and put away.

At least, I'm unwilling to allow it.

"We'd be out of the race if it wasn't for that SAVE," Edward says, his usual clear eyes clouded. "Not only was losing this LEG partly my fault, but we wouldn't have the SAVE at all if it weren't for you."

I'm flabbergasted by his take. "Partly your fault?" I twist in my seat so I'm fully facing him. "It's much more than partly. Your prickish attitude is the reason we fell behind."

His brows climb his forehead and his lips purse tightly before he turns to stare out the window without another word. And it suits me just fine. I'm not ready to have this conversation either. This will be hashed out tucked away from the prying eyes of the camera and our crew.

When we get to the hotel, we do the normal gig of being filmed as we enter our room and shut out the audience. There's no playfulness, but I doubt the viewers will expect it after the garbage that was this LEG. I can see it now. Every woman watching will somehow find a way to place all the blame on me and defend Pretty Boy to their last dying breaths.

I sigh, walking right past Edward at the first bed and putting my backpack on the second one. It's a first, and maybe it shouldn't be the last. I allowed myself to fall right into him without taking much time to get to know the person he is. And I realize today was only a tiny part of him, but it was an ugly part, and I have no interest in running the rest of this race with that guy.

"Oh, wow," Edward says, causing me to turn to him. He rakes his hand through his hair and sits on the edge of the bed, stretching his long legs out in front of him. "This is way worse than I thought."

"It doesn't have to be," I counter, unzipping my pack and digging through it for my sleep shorts and a tee. "I'm not gonna lie, today was a shitshow, but we can move past it."

"It doesn't look like I have a shot at forgiveness." He motions to the bed with my stuff scattered on it.

I wave it off. "We were probably moving too fast anyway."

"Okayyyy." He drags out the word, and it annoys me.

"What's that supposed to mean?" My hand is on my hip, and I'm ready to brawl.

He stands, a towering presence in the small room. "It means that you're the one who was trying to move even faster."

Even though he's right, it has absolutely nothing to do with this argument, so I get defensive instead of being sensible. "Big mistake," I snap, doing the whole snake neck thing as I bring up my pointer finger. "Imagine how upset I'd be to find out what an asshole you are if things had gone further. Good call putting on the brakes."

He huffs out a sarcastic laugh, pacing the floor. I watch him do a couple of circuits; his hand firmly planted in his chaotic hair. I think I even hear him mutter a couple of times, but I can't be sure. I'm quiet as he does this and already chastising myself for being such a bitch, but I refuse to be the one to break first.

He stops pacing and looks at me then, his face scrunched in worry. "I don't want to do this, Bella," he says, and he sounds like the words hurt.

I swallow, licking my lips. "Do what?"

"Fight with you," he says, tossing his hands up. "I love the pace we're moving, and I love holding you at night. I don't want you over there."

My stomach flips, but it isn't enough.

It can't be.

"I like those things too," I say quietly, "but I didn't enjoy today. I hated when you dismissed me and acted like it was my fault that someone else saw the cars before either of us. I hated when you walked away without listening and moved far enough ahead that we were pushing our distance limits." I stand, my emotions taking over. "I applied for this race because I wanted this bucket list experience, and I ran through all the scenarios in my head before the starting line. Never once did I imagine my race being miserable. Because no matter who I was paired with, I knew we'd have a couple things in common." I hold up my hand, ticking my fingers. "One, we'd both want the big W, and secondly, we'd have a love for the race in common. I didn't get that with you on number two, but that was totally okay because we fucking clicked so damn hard." I drop my hands, defeated. "And then it all fell apart."

"It didn't," he murmurs, taking a step toward me. "All of that is still true." His voice is low, and his eyes are soft. "I just got frustrated that we couldn't see something as simple as a flag on a car, and obviously I don't handle failure very well."

"And that's a problem," I say, sighing as I sit on the bed. "If that's what I can expect every time we fall to second or third or even last place, then I don't know what to say. We could've been eliminated today, and it would've been a tragedy for that to happen because of a shitty attitude and not because we raced worse than everyone else."

"I know, Bella. Fuck!" He grunts, frustrated, tug, tug, tugging. "Don't you think I'm beating myself up over how rudely I treated you?"

"Are you?" I cross my arms, lifting a brow. I mean, yeah. He apologized at some point, but he hasn't addressed it otherwise, including admitting it would never happen again. "Because a simple 'I'm sorry' right before you get pissy again isn't enough. And I realize you regretted that—I felt it when you massaged my fingers—but it still isn't enough."

"I'm not accustomed to losing," he mumbles, looking away from my expectant stare. "I react badly when it happens. I'm sorry you had to see it, and even worse, I'm sorry it was aimed at you."

"And?" I tilt my head.

His eyes snap to mine. "And what?"

"How often can I expect to see this side of you?"

He shakes his head, rolling his eyes, and it grates on my nerves, but I let it pass in favor of hearing his reply. "I'm not proud of today, Bella, but I'm only a man. I'm not perfect."

He's right.

Maybe I'm making it into more than it should be because I had this perfect idea of him inside my head. "You're not," I say softly. "And maybe it's time I realize that."

"I want to be." His soft voice catches me off guard. "For you."

I release a shuddering breath, completely disarmed. "I don't even know what to say to that."

"Say that you forgive me." He takes another step toward me. "That you trust me when I promise you won't ever see me act like that again." Another. "Say I didn't break this." He motions between us as he drops to his knees and shuffles forward to stop only a few inches away. "For a little while there, I forgot what's most important, and if it were to cost me you, that would be the real tragedy."

I sigh, lifting my hand and resting it on his shoulder, our eyes locked. "It's not going to cost you this," I murmur, the air around us thickening. "I do think we should reevaluate things, though."

His face falls, and he bobs his head. "Whatever you think is best."

"Edward," I say softly, my chest tightening. "That doesn't mean things have to change. I just think we should actively work on getting to know each other better."

He smiles, his pretty pouty lips lifting at the corners. "I like learning stuff about you."

"Right?" I nod, returning his smile. "I think this is a case of the more we know, the better we can understand where the other is coming from. This is a high-pressure game, and tensions boiling over should be expected, but today really caught me off guard. I don't want to feel like that again."

"I don't want to make you feel that way either," he says, cupping my cheek. "I was an asshole, and while it happens at times." He pauses, pointing to himself. "Trauma surgeon who doesn't react very well when I lose someone—that isn't an excuse. Not when it comes to the race and especially when it comes to you."

His touch, combined with his soft words, muddles my mind. What am I upset over again? I blink, shaking myself from my Edward-induced stupor. "Strangely enough, I realized that at some point today." His brows angle downward, so I rush to clarify. "That when you lose, it comes at a huge cost."

He takes a deep breath and blows it out slowly. "It's still not an excuse."

"It's not," I agree, licking my parched lips. "But let's not pretend I was this perfect race partner either. I feel my snippiness was justified, but two wrongs don't make a right."

"Pfft." He waves me off. "You're hot when you're angry."

"Thanks, I think." I laugh. "Not that I could tell you saw me as anything other than an annoyance."

"Yeah." He snort-laughs. "That too, but I don't have complete control of every part of me."

My eyes fall of their own accord, and while I can't see much, my mind has no issue imagining the bulge might be there. "Crap," I say, covering my eyes. "That was inappropriate."

He tugs my hand away, holding it with his. "And entirely us."

"True," I concede. "And I don't want to lose that."

"Me either."

"Okay, then," I say, tugging his hand so he'll move close enough that I can lock my ankles around his back. "Let's just make more of an effort to get to know each other. On a level outside the race, I mean."

His large hands slide up my thighs and wrap around my lower back. "So, lots of talking and a teensy bit less making out?"

I loop my arms around his neck, my fingers burrowing in his hair. "Can't we do both without cutting back on one?"

He smiles, and for the first time since we entered our room, it reaches his eyes. "Tell me about yourself, Bella."

I scoot back on the bed, patting the space beside me. "This could take hours."

"Good thing we have eleven left."

I laugh, tugging him over me before he can settle in. "I don't want to talk anymore," I say, my chest heaving. "After today, I need to feel our physical connection."

"Are you sure?" He's poised above me, his bright eyes full of concern. "You just sa—"

I yank down his head and shove my tongue inside his warm mouth. A rough groan works its way up his chest, and I swallow it down, eager to lap up every part of him. His body is rigid against mine, and I melt around him, encasing him from every angle. My arms go around his back, my legs lock around his ass, and my torso squirms beneath him to quell some of the urgency inside me.

My lips stray from his mouth to his neck, while my hands roam his back, tugging up his tee. "Off," I mutter, needing to touch him. "Please."

"Shit," he hisses, lifting so he can stare down at me with those high beams of his. "I don't think …"

"Just …" I let out a breath. "I promise we'll stop. I want to feel your skin beneath my fingertips."

He lifts up to his knees, tugging the tee up and over. His hair glows like a wild halo, and my fingers itch to delve into the thick strands. In the back of my mind, I realize this isn't very practical after the shitastic LEG we had, but his sincerity disarms me completely.

I need to reestablish our connection, to remind him that what's at stake is worth more than a million dollars or the title of winner. We have something that could last a lifetime, and to lose it to ego and attitude would be a crying shame.

"Interesting," I say, trailing a finger over the ink stain that runs just along the bottom edge of his rib cage. "What does it say?"

Chills race up his chest and then down his arms as he cages me in. "Do no harm." His voice is a soft murmur, his lips preoccupied with the skin along my collar bone.

I smile, my fists clenching his hair. "Of course it does."

"I also"—he pauses, kissing up my neck to my jaw—"have another." His lips skate across mine. "A dare."

His scruff against my cheek causes me to giggle. "This is going to be good, isn't it?"

He draws back to look down at me, licking his lips, and I fucking sigh. He's so damn pretty and sincere and present. "You'll definitely get a kick out of it."

I move my hands from his hair, down to his shoulders, and then to his side, digging in for a tickle. "Then quit toying with me and spit it out."

His laughter is like water for my soul, and I drink it in. "I may or may not have a tramp stamp."

I gasp, sitting up so abruptly that I dump him on the bed beside me. "Let me see." I'm already reaching to flip him where it's visible, and when I lay eyes on it, my mouth pops open. "Is that … an anatomical heart?"

He flips over quickly, propping his hands behind his head with a shrug. "I agreed to get a heart."

I flop down beside him, my head resting on his folded elbow. "Tell me about it," I say, glancing his way. "Who has the power to dare Edward Cullen to get a tramp stamp?"

His chuckle is as light and happy as his smile. "That would be Doctor Sam Uley, at least he is now." He glances my way, his eyes sparkling with fondness. "We attended med school together and had a bit too much to drink one night and this is where it led."

"Does he have a heart tat as well?" I ask, rolling toward him, eager to watch his emotions play out on his expressive face.

"He does." He chuckles, rolling to match position. "Only his is one of those normal shaped ones with the heartbeat lines coming out of each side."

"Ahh." I tap my temple. "Outsmarted by my brilliant partner, eh?"

"Something like that." His smile is crooked and mischievous, and it makes me want him everywhere.

I scoot closer, my palms on his firm chest. "Maybe half-naked get-to-know-yous should be a thing." My thumb brushes his nipple, and it pebbles. "Tell me more about med school and your friend Sam."

He starts off slowly, unsure what I'd like to hear, but with assurances that anything and everything is good, he picks up the pace. While he talks, I explore the planes of his chest and abs and eventually I slide down to get a better look at the ink that adorns his ribcage. And when my fingers are tired, I use my lips, all the while staying as chaste as chaste can get with my mouth attached to his delectable body.

I learn that Edward Sr. is a pediatrician in upstate New York and that Jr. attended Dartmouth. He met Sam there right after his girlfriend had dumped him over his specialty choice, and they hit it off easily. He was in a bad place for a month or so, unsure if he should change his mind to make her happy, but Sam kept him on the straight and narrow. Their little tattoo excursion didn't come along until their final year, and Sam is now a cardiac surgeon in Pittsburgh. They only get together once in a blue moon, but they stay in touch by email and text.

His hand is splayed across the back of my head and the urge to push me lower is obvious by the slight trembling of his palm. "You're driving me insane," he rasps, his voice barely above a whisper. "This is literal torture."

I twirl my tongue in his navel one final time before scooting up so I'm eye level. "Payback will be a bitch, then, yeah?"

He lifts a brow, hitching my thigh over his waist. "Are you saying it's my turn next?"

"Next," I reply, skimming my lips along his jaw. "As in tomorrow or tonight or whenever the next pit stop is."

He expels a disappointed breath. "That's fair, and will you be telling me all about Bella Swan, fitness trainer and adventurer extraordinaire?"

I chuckle, my eyes scanning his hopeful face. "If that's what you'd like to discuss, then yes."

His hand brushes down my thigh. "Topless?"

"Shirtless," I correct, tilting my head.

"Hmm," he hums, pulling my lips to his for a slow, in-depth kiss before trailing off with a couple of soft pecks. "I can't wait."

What started as a terse discussion comes to a close with soft understanding. I hope I'm right to give him my trust. I hope the things I feel are real and deep, but it's scary because that's what infatuation does. The shiny bauble distracts you, tearing down your defenses until you're wide open and capable of being cut when the bauble shatters and the shards go flying.

The rest of the evening is quiet. We take turns showering before ordering room service and having a picnic on my bed, since we both know we're sleeping in the other one. After we eat, we put on a German romantic comedy, and I fall asleep with my head on his chest.

The morning is hectic as usual, as we have to get dressed and repack our belongings. In this instance, I strowed mine everywhere in my frustration, so it takes a little longer than I expected. After a quick breakfast of a cinnamon flavored pastry and coffee, we're ushered back to the starting line.

All other teams are gone as Alec counts us down. "And … go!"

Edward rips open the clue. "Get ready for the Riviera."

ROUTE INFO

Teams are now headed to the luxurious country of Monaco. They must fly high over the Alps to Nice in the South of France, and then find hotel Westminster where they'll receive a professional fitting to be dressed appropriately for their helicopter ride into Monaco.

"Holy shit," I say, jumping up and down. This is the most excited I've been. "The race has never been there before. Gahhh."

Edward smiles widely, pleased to see me so happy. "That's cool. Let's do this."

At the airport, we purchase tickets on the next available flight. We've yet to see another team, so we have no idea how far behind we are, and it's a stressful feeling. We do know that Carlisle and Esme were only thirty-two minutes ahead of us, but that can be a lifetime at the airport.

"Let's head to our gate," Edward says, sighing. "Maybe the others are there waiting for the same flight."

"It's all we can do."

He takes my hand and links our fingers together. "It wouldn't be the Amazing Race if it didn't equalize teams at the pit stop," he reminds me, swinging our hands between us. "Have a little faith."

I chuckle, knowing he's right but still worried. "Tell that to Tyler and Lauren."

"Ouch." He winces. "I guess that's true, but we aren't as far behind as they were."

"You got me there," I say, and then my eyes narrow as I spot a hulking blond man standing at a gate a few rows away. "Is that Emmett?"

Edward's smile falls and his serious face takes over as he uses his height to scan the crowd. "And Jasper," he mumbles, both of us spontaneously walking faster. "They were at the front of the pack."

By the time we make it to the gate, both teams have already gone on to board the flight, but that doesn't stop us from approaching the lady at the gate. "Hi," I say, smiling brightly at the attendant. "Could you tell me when this flight lands?"

She clicks a few keys. "5:05 local time."

I look to Edward. "That's more than three hours ahead of us." Turning back to the attendant, I say, "My partner and I have tickets for the next flight, but we were wondering if it's at all possible there are extra seats on this one?"

She tells me to hold on while she checks her computer and then makes a call. I stand, a ball of nerves, as we await the verdict. I cross as many parts of me as possible and wiggle around like I have ants in my pants. This is a make-or-break moment for us, and it could erase yesterday's mistakes completely.

I hold my breath when she hangs up the phone and the printer whirs to life. It's the longest seven seconds of my life as I wait for the tickets to spit from the machine and her to hand them over with a smile. I nearly squeal in my excitement.

The first flight holds Emmett and Rose, Alice and Jasper, and in a stunning upset, Edward and Bella have lucked their way into the top three.

The second flight, arriving 45 minutes later, holds Leah and Emily, Tanya and Jake, and in another slick move, Carlisle and Esme wormed their way ahead of Mike and Jessica, who end up on the final flight. It arrives twenty minutes after the second.

When the plane touches down, it's a race from the airport to the hotel, which happens to be a fancy five-star place. We're all taken inside and treated to champagne while we're fitted for red carpet type clothing.

My dress is a snug sparkly purple hombre evening gown, with a V neckline and thick purple straps. The tailor pins it in the necessary spots to customize it just for me, and I feel like a princess. Especially when Edward walks out from behind his changing station in a black suit that hugs his body and accentuates just how fit he is.

My eyes rake from his head to his feet. "Looking good there, Cullen."

He returns the once-over. "Same, babe. Same."

Other teams trickle in, everyone getting custom-fitted clothing for our helicopter ride in the morning. The champagne is flowing, and for the first time in a long time, we're all together once Mike and Jessica arrive.

"Looks like we have the night off in this swanky place," Tanya says, taking a sip from her flute. Her eyes find Alec's and she smirks over the rim. "I hear we even have dinner reservations at Le Duc."

Interesting.

"Together?" Jessica asks, adjusting the skirt of her silky red gown. "That should be interesting."

I make eye contact with Rose, my lips pursed as I think it over. "That's one way to put it."

"Oh, please," Mike adds, rolling his eyes. "What's interesting is the way you and Edward dog and pony show it for the cameras. Should I bring my pro lens and get a few shots?"

He's being a wise guy, and luckily, my guy lets it slide by using snark. "I'll take Bella's and my show over yours anytime. Who wants the world to think they hate the person they're with?"

"Fair enough." Mike chuckles, winking at Jessica. "But she knows better."

Ew.

"Edward," I say, turning my back his way to distract him. "Could you get this please?"

I pull my hair to the side, revealing my zipper. His breath is on my neck faster than I can anticipate, and I tense, the sensation of him so near doing strange things to my insides.

"Good grief," Emmett says, fanning his face. "Is it getting too hot in here or is it just me?"

Jake waggles his brows, his eyes on Edward and me. "It isn't just you."

"Oh, my God." I bury my face in my hands as heat creeps up my neck and fills my cheeks.

"Knock it off, idiots," Rose snaps, and I don't have to see her to know she's glaring. "It isn't Edward and Bella's fault they have the hottest chemistry in the race."

I want to melt into a puddle and disappear.

"Rose," I whine, lifting my head to give her an exasperated look. "You're supposed to be on my side."

She shrugs, blowing me a kiss. "True is true."

Edward chuckles and it vibrates down my spine, causing me to shiver. Everyone in the room laughs, and I pout. "Fine. You guys are just jealous."

"I know I am," Jake says, tugging at his collar. "Tan and me missed the love connection boat."

"Hey." She swats him in the stomach. "At least we don't have any distractions on the race."

I turn away so they won't see the laughter I'm holding in. They're too distracted with themselves to be able to take the race too seriously. Jake has his muscles and all the giggling girls, and Tanya has something with Alec, though I'm not sure exactly what it is.

"I don't know," Esme says, and we all turn to her. She's wearing a navy-blue gown with a deep V neckline, and it practically shimmers against her pale skin. "I can't speak for anyone else, but I'm positive the only reason Carlisle and I are still here at all is because we're with each other. Our strength comes from our relationship."

"Here, here," Emmett says, holding up his flute. "You tell 'em, Esme. I think it's the exact same for Rosie and me."

Carlisle joins us then, neatening his navy tie. "Yes, Emmett," he says, his eyes sparkling with mirth. "I'm sure your three years are an exact comparison to our forty."

Everyone laughs then, and Emmett's ears turn pink at the tips. "Okay, maybe not exactly but you know what I mean."

"No," Leah says, teasing him. "Explain it to us like we're kids."

He slaps his meaty hand over his face and peeps at Rose, pleading for help. She laughs, rubbing his back. "Don't let them bait you, babe. I know what you mean." She pauses, her eyes passing over all the blind date couples. "We have a leg up, and they're all quaking in their boots."

"As if." Emily snorts.

"I don't know," Mike chimes, rubbing his chin. "I'd have to agree. There are four of us and only three of you."

"Well," I say, dragging out the Ls. "We did start with six of you and only five of us."

"Right," Tanya says, nodding. "So, we're pretty much even at this point."

It's just that moment that the tailor steps into the room, his Frenchness on full display. "Everyone happy, no?" He claps his hands together as he looks over each of us. "You look spectacular. You are free to change and go up to your rooms. Ze hotel will host you for dinner at promptly eight o'clock on the terrace of Le Duc. Have a great evening, ladies and gentlemen."

He disappears as quickly as he arrived, and everyone scurries to grab a changing stall. Since there are only four, we have to take turns, and it gives me the perfect opportunity to check out Alice and Jasper, who hasn't spoken a word to any of us this entire time. They like to sit back and blend into the scenery, taking it all in while never giving anything away.

You'd think they'd look like fish out of water in these fancy clothes, but it's quite the opposite really. Alice's spiky raven hair is a perfect complement to her sparkling black gown and creamy white skin. She looks ethereal in a dark angel type way. And Jasper isn't much different. His straightened black hair is sleek and sits perfectly against his solid black ensemble. From head to toe, he's dark, an avenging angel with piercing icy blue eyes.

"Babe," Edward says quietly, breaking me from my ogling. "It's your turn."

My neck burns. "Right. Thanks." I lift my skirt and hustle into the changing room, eager to hide my embarrassment.

By the time I return, all three of the others have changed. Edward, Alice, and Jasper, and they're standing side-by-side making small talk. I'm almost too shocked to move their way, but I take a deep breath and trudge across the room.

"Edward," I say, probably a little too brightly. "That was quick." I finger his tee. "Who are your friends?"

I turn to Alice and Jasper, expectant. I mean, they have no problem talking to Edward, so why should I be any different. We are partners, after all. He helped Alice, so in effect, I helped Alice.

Right?

Edward chuckles, his hand finding my lower back. "Babe, I'd like to introduce you to my sorta friend Alice. Her guy there is Jasper, but he wants nothing to do with me yet." Edward leans down and stage whispers. "I'm working on winning him over."

"Oh." Not what I expected to hear. "Hi, Alice. I guess we sorta met at the wave park." Her eyes grow just a tiny bit bigger, and I bite back a smile. "You two really are great at the race."

Jasper shrugs, playing it all cool. "We're big fans."

"Me too." I beam, feeling like I made a tiny bit of progress. We fall silent, basically twiddling our thumbs, so I clear my throat. "Maybe we should go change for dinner?"

"Why?" Alice asks out of the blue. "Did you bring a fancy dress in that backpack of yours?"

"Uh, no," I hedge, not sure what she expects me to say. "I only have race clothes."

"Right." She bobs her head. "At least we'll all be misfits in this hoity-toity place."

"Uh, yeah. I guess so." I give her a small smile.

We fall silent again, and I'm annoyed that Chatty E isn't filling the quiet. He was doing just fine before I joined, so why isn't he speaking now? Why isn't he being his usual charming Edward self and swaying the holdouts? Everyone else is our friend—sort of.

The seconds tick by, and with each one, it feels like an entire minute passes. "I can't take this anymore," I finally explode, hand on hip. "So what's the deal?" I motion between Alice and Jasper. "You're like these silent but deadly assassins, quietly kicking every obstacle in the ass." Both of them stare at me blankly for an eternity too long before breaking into fits of laughter. Edward even chuckles with them. "What's so funny?" I demand, my eyes narrowing. "Do you just not want to make friends, or what?"

"Bella," Alice says, her expression completely serious after such a delirious laugh. It's almost like she's a Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. "We're race superfans. We're here to win, not make friends."

"Ha," I bark out, rolling my eyes. "If it weren't for my awesomely awesome partner, you'd probably already be eliminated." I cross my arms over my chest, feeling pretty cocky. "So maybe you should rethink that strategy just a teensy bit."

She huffs a laugh, waving a hand my way. "Well, I am still standing here. Near you."

"And we're happy that you are," Edward interjects, his hold on my back tightening just a touch. "As superfans, you have to know that relationships are an important part of the race."

She lifts a thin, dark brow. "Like your relationship? The one you oh so lovingly cultivated prior to coming here?"

"Okay, you gothpixies." Edward's lips tighten, and he wags a finger between them. "Don't say we didn't try. Next time, I'll leave you floundering."

With that, he whisks me away muttering under his breath. Before I've taken five steps I'm already wondering if it really happened at all. "That was really freaking weird," I say as we stand at the elevator. "Who do they think they are?"

"Oh, it's game on now," Edward says, and it makes me smile. He's cute when he's all puffed up. "I was trying to be friendly, and they threw it back in my face."

"Who needs them." I wave it off, humoring him. "We'll be much better off without having to worry whether the little pixie can loosen bolts or not."

"Thank you for helping," a small voice says from behind us. We both spin, eyes wide on the dark and dangerous couple. "With the bolts." Her eyes fall to the marble floors.

Jasper's narrow on Edward. "I tried to tell her this wasn't a good idea, but she seems to think it is, and I always trust Alice. So, against my better judgment"—he holds out his hand for a shake—"thanks for helping Alice, and you're right." He locks eyes with me. "We wouldn't be here if it weren't for your partner."

I feel like I'm only two inches tall under his icy glare. "I guess, but that was rude of me to say. I was acting like a brat."

He smirks. "You were."

"But to be fair," I retort, annoyed with his agreement. "You've acted like brats the entire race."

"Maybe," he concedes, tilting his head. "We'll try to do better from now on."

"See," Edward says, clapping him on the shoulder. "That wasn't so hard."

Instead of going up to change, we end up settling in a couple of comfy sofas near Tanya and Rose and have a decent chat with team doom and gloom. It's not hard either because they love the race like I do—well not like me. More like a crazy me would, but their passion is infectious.

Dinner ends up being a chill affair with Mike and Jessica sitting at the opposite end of the table as me. After our meal, when the wine is flowing, they start to get a little heated. Everything becomes an argument, albeit small.

Edward pinches my thigh under the table, his eyes shining in the candlelight. "Foreplay," he mouths, glancing to #teampaps. "Look at her flushed cheeks and shallow breaths."

I lean up, my lips to his ear. "As sexy as you sound, the subject matter is making me feel strange." I eye the couple, the not-so-good kind of chills racing down my arms. "Can something be sexy and gross at the same time?"

He chuckles, the husky sound chasing away the weird, and leans down to speak again. "Yes, no. To get to the other side. 1.77245—"

"Why are you telling me the square root of pi?" I snort a laugh.

"You knew that?"

"Of course." I roll my eyes. "But what are you doing?"

"Changing the subject," he says, his voice all raspy and low. "Getting rid of the gross and keeping the sexy."

"It's working," I whisper, looking up at him from beneath my lashes. "Carry on."

Before he can reply, Emmett sets his sights on us. He holds up his fingers in the shape of a cross. "No sexy stuff at dinner, guys," he whines. "It's dessert time, not dessert time, if ya know what I mean."

"Oh, Em," Rose says, chuckling. "You're adorable when you're flustered."

He lifts his fork and points to his chocolate souffle. "I'm hungry, not flustered."

She rubs her hand across his shoulder, her tone sultry. "I'm hungry too."

His fork freezes midair, and he looks to her with a lifted brow. "Seriously?" She nods slowly, her eyes never leaving his. "Okay, then." His fork clanks to the plate and he stands, taking Rose's hand. "Have a good night, everyone. Good luck tomorrow!"

"That was weird," Jessica says, eyeing Mike.

He takes the hint and stands also, stretching his arms. "I'm tired too. Let's call it a night."

"But I wasn't don—"

"I said let's go."

She stands now, tossing her napkin on the table. "Don't tell me what to do."

He turns and walks off, her hot on his heels. I watch them go back and forth until they're out of sight. Looks like they have a lot of frustration to work off.

Carlisle chuckles, putting his arm around his wife. "Kids these days."

"Oh, I don't know, dear," Esme says, smiling softly. "Things haven't changed all that much from when we were younger."

"We should probably head out too," Edward whispers in my ear. "I'm looking forward to a little shirtless get to know you."

"Uh, uh, uh," I say, shaking my head. "This LEG isn't over."

"But I thought …"

"Sorry." I shrug, hoping he understands. "I think we need to get a good night's rest, so we'll be fresh and ready to go in the morning. A repeat of the last LEG would ruin a lot more than our chances at winning."

"You're right." He smiles, nodding in agreement. "We have a duty to make sure we balance our race duties and our personal feelings."

"Yes, that." I smile widely, looking toward our empty plates. "Are we done here?"

"So fucking done," he murmurs, his bright eyes roaming my face.

We do make out just a teeny bit in the elevator on the way up, but other than that, we keep it chaste aside from a smoldering kiss good night. Our night in the South of France in a luxury hotel is one of the best nights on the race so far, and I hope we can continue the trend on the race tomorrow.

By the time we make it downstairs in the morning, almost everyone else is there. Helicopters will depart every five minutes based on arrival order, and we're lucky enough to be in third. It's a miracle after starting from the bottom. Everyone is dressed in our tailored clothes from last night, and the excitement in the room is palpable.

We're loaded into a couple of vans and taken to our departure location, where a line of whirring helicopters awaits. For the first time ever, Emmett and Rose take off in the lead, and as usual, Alice and Jasper are right there vying for the top spot.

ROUTE INFO

Monaco is home to more millionaires per capita than any other country on Earth, even though it's the second smallest, covering less than one square mile.

"It's gorgeous up here," I say in wonder as we make the seven-minute flight into Monaco.

When we top the final hill and the city is before us, I gasp. It's situated on a mountainside, with so many layers of buildings, stacked from the very top of the mountain down the hillside all the way to the Mediterranean Sea.

It's simply breathtaking.

After we exit the helicopter, we get our clue. "Who wants to treat their partner?"

"It's me," I say, thinking back on him doing the last one. "It can't be that bad, right?"

ROADBLOCK

This roadblock will let our couples spoil their partners by giving them two romantic gifts.

Roses and chocolate.

Traveling by foot, teams pick up two of Grace Kelly's favorites: roses named after her and chocolates. They'll then have to find their partner, who will be waiting on a luxury yacht in Monaco's harbor.

With a swift kiss to the cheek, I'm whisked away in a van to the starting point, while Edward is left behind to be taken to the lap of luxury. After being dropped off, I look to the clue to give me my destinations, and then I seek out a local to help me decide which I should do first.

"Excuse me," I say, approaching a lady with a shopping bag. "Do you speak English."

She wavers her hand back and forth. "Little."

I point to my clue and show her the two places I'm supposed to walk to. "Can you tell me how to get to these places?"

"St. Martin Gardens," she says, tapping the paper. "You go up"—she points to a roadway above us—"and on other side of building, you have the garden."

"Thank you so much," I say, giving her a little bow.

I'm not twenty feet up the steep incline before I realize that volunteering to run up and down these hills in heels wasn't the brightest idea. I quickly remove them and my speed increases dramatically.

When I arrive at the rose vendor in the gardens, she's just handing Emmett his bouquet. "Oh thank god, Bella," he says, relieved to see me. "You wanna work together on this?"

"Works for me," I tell him as I wait on my roses. I'm suddenly tied for second or first. "Have you already gotten directions to Chocolaterie de Monaco?"

"Nah," he says, sighing. "I was lucky to find this place."

I spy a couple of women admiring a display a little further up the path. "Go ask them." I point to the pair. "And use those dimples. I'll be over as soon as I'm done here."

He scurries off, already a wide smile on his face as he approaches them. "Excuse me, ladies."

I leave him to it and return my focus on the flowers in front of me, smiling as she hands me the most beautiful bouquet. "These are gorgeous. Thank you."

"Welcome," she replies.

After I have my bouquet, I join Emmett who's chatting up the ladies. It looks to be a mother and daughter duo and they seem enamored with him. It's cute, but we have a race to run.

"There you are, darling," I say as I attach my fingers around his elbow. "Were you able to get directions?"

"Got it." He beams, bowing toward the women. "Thank you, ladies."

As we leave, we pass Leah on the road leading to the gardens, so we pick up the pace. Just as we arrive at the chocolate shop, Jasper is coming out, and he has both the roses and the pink box.

"Dang it," I mumble, moving even faster. "Hopefully he'll get lost on the way to the harbor."

"Not likely." Emmett huffs, opening the door. "Those two are slick as oil."

I laugh once, nodding. "That they are."

Inside the shop, the attendant lets us know we should choose nine chocolates each. "You go first and then head outside and get directions while I select some for Rosie."

"Works for me." I pick three mocha, three caramel, and three of the Monacos. "I'll be outside."

I stop the first passerby, and though they don't speak English, they do recognize the word harbor and tell me to go down. I'm not sure why I didn't think of that. There's a view of the water from here, so it's obvious the harbor is below. The smart thing would be to go down to it, and then get directions to Port Hercules specifically.

Leah catches up to us before Emmett makes it out, and I start to get anxious. Who else may have already caught up or passed us even? You just never know with tasks like this where you take differing paths.

"Let's go!" He's out the door and already steamrolling past me. "Leah's rushing that woman."

We hoof it back down the steep roads until we reach the harbor, and we stop someone to point us in the direction of Port Hercules. Once we get there, finding the marked yacht isn't very hard, and our teammates are whistling and cheering us on as we arrive. Alice and Jasper are just taking off as we climb aboard.

After I give Edward his gifts, we receive the clue.

ROUTE INFO

Make your way to the Casino De Monte Carlo.

Since we're working together, Rose and Emmett and Edward and I take off together, tied for second. We know this because all the other partners are on the yacht. We pass Leah not long after leaving the ramp, so we pick up the pace, Rose removing her heels so she can keep up.

After a quick stop for directions, we move as fast as we can toward the casino, passing Alice and Jasper on the way out as we go up the steps to the opulent building.

"This is one fancy country," I say, taking in the grandeur.

"It smells like a million bucks." Edward pulls open the door so we can enter the casino.

ROUTE INFO

The iconic Monte Carlo Casino sets the standard for gaming palaces around the world.

Our couples now have exclusive access to gamble here. The roulette wheel will determine which side of the DETOUR our couples must perform. If it lands on red, they'll head to DON'T SLACK OFF. And if it lands on black, they'll go to WIN BY A NOSE.

Both sides of the DETOUR require teams to pick up a Ford Fiesta from the valet.

"You first," Emmett says, giving us a shot at the wheel.

Edward takes the ball and hands it to me. "This is all you, babe."

I take a deep breath as the dealer spins the wheel. "Here we go." I release the ball and we watch as it bounces a couple times before landing in a red slot.

"Here you are," the dealer says, handing us the clue for DON'T SLACK OFF.

We step back out of the way, but we do wait to see what Emmett and Rose get. By this time, Emily and Leah are already here, but it doesn't deter us. Working with another team could be huge for the DETOUR, so it's a risk we're willing to take.

Emmett lets their ball fly, and it bounces around before falling into a black slot. "Aw, man."

"It's cool." Edward gives him a fist bump. "Good luck, guys."

We pick a car and head up, up, up to La Turbie, where we'll learn exactly what our detour entails. The good thing about driving around here is that the place is tiny, so it isn't possible to get so lost you've driven thirty miles out of the way.

TEAM CHECK-IN

Alice and Jasper are just ahead of Edward and Bella and they too will be doing the DON'T SLACK OFF detour, while Emmett and Rose and Emily and Leah are headed to WIN BY A NOSE.

Mike is just returning to Jessica at the yacht.

Carlisle is at the candy shop after retrieving his roses.

Jake is down in the harbor looking in the wrong place for the yacht, where Tanya awaits.

END TEAM CHECK-IN

"Is that Alice and Jasper just ahead of us?" Edward asks, accelerating up the hill.

I look around him and through the windshield. "Oh, it may be. Looks a lot like this car."

"I think I can see the camera in the back seat," he hedges. "Yep, it definitely is."

"All right," I say, gripping his shoulder as we pull into a parking spot. "Let's do this, babe."

DETOUR

WIN BY A NOSE requires teams to make a bottle of signature perfume and cologne under the guidance of Fragonard Parfumeur, who have been making scents here for almost ninety years. Using twelve essences per fragrance, teams must try to match the original recipes. When the professional nose feels their scents smell like winners, they'll receive their next clue.

DON'T SLACK OFF requires teams to be daredevils, ziplining 2,000 ft above the city. And then they must walk their slackline back again before they'll be rewarded their next clue.

We're given clothes to change into, so we'll be safe, and as I change, my hands are shaky. I'm not sure why, as I'm thrilled by the idea of zip lining over this beautiful city, but I'm super anxious. It could be because I can hear Alice squealing from here.

Edward goes first, and he whoops as he soars through the air. His joy calms my nerves and allows me to center myself before I'm following behind him across the gaping cliffs. He cheers me on and is there to hold me for a second before we move to the scariest part of the task. Now we have to walk back across the gap on these thin wires.

"You wanna go first?" Edward asks, motioning to Alice, who's wobbling her way across the thin metal wires.

"I don't want to go at all," I retort, shaking my head. "But since we have to, I guess I can. It gives you a chance to make up some of my weaknesses."

"You got this, babe," he says, squeezing my arm in assurance. "Close your eyes and feel your way if necessary."

I take a deep breath and step out onto the wire. The wind whips around me, and my muscles lock up.

"You can do it, Bella." Edward claps, his encouragement an annoyance at the moment, but I don't say so.

I feel my way along the wire, careful not to lift my feet. I slide over a step at a time, first one foot and then the other. When an unusually strong gust comes along, I lock down and allow it to pass. All the while Edward is trying his best to be supportive.

He yells, "Two more steps."

My eyes pop open and I slide my feet the fastest I've moved yet, hurrying to the man who's waiting to help me off this death trap. I get there just in time to see Alice and Jasper race off to change and Mike being hooked up to the zipline.

I turn to yell at Edward only to realize, he's halfway across. I smile, rolling my eyes. "Show off," I yell, cupping my mouth so he can hear me.

He smirks, picking up the pace, and is caught up to me in no time. "Let's go, babe." He grabs my hand and pulls me along to return to the dressing rooms. "We can't let Mike and Jessica catch up. That would be terrible."

Alice and Jasper are racing to their car as we enter the changing booths in a frenzy. I've never changed so fast in my life. The ziplining outfit is off and my designer dress is back on before I can blink, and I run out with my shoes in my hand.

Edward is slipping on his suit jacket as he joins me, and we rip open the clue.

PIT STOP

Drive yourselves to the next Pit Stop, the Plage De Passable in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferret.

As I get into the car, I get a peek at Mike and Jessica racing toward the changing rooms. "Step on it," I say, tapping his shoulder. "Mike and Jessica are right behind us."

Edward races out onto the street, and we only know to go back down at this point. We pass a car stopped on the side of the road, and my head snaps around. "That was Alice and Jasper. They were getting directions."

"Bye, bye," Edward replies, a smirk in his voice.

"No, that's not a plus." I point to a gas station. "We should probably stop also."

"We can do it later," Edward says, eyeing me in the rearview. "Let's put some distance between us first."

"Okay, but we don't want to end up going too far without directions and having to make up ground we lost."

"Got it." He nods once, focusing back on the road. "I'll stop soon."

He does as he promised and stops another few miles down the road. I run into the store and get directions, James hot on my heels, before racing back out and us loading into the car again. We don't make a perfect drive, missing roads and having to turn around a couple of times, but we also don't get lost.

By the time we make it to the marked parking area, we have no idea whatsoever where we are in line, but we're pretty sure we aren't last. We park the car and follow the signs, racing down a set of steps and toward a pebble-filled beach that has a concrete pier that leads to Phil, who's dressed all dapper in a suit and tie.

He's standing on a large square concrete dock over the water. No other teams are in sight, so we hold our breaths as we jump onto the mat. "Edward and Bella," he says, pausing for suspense. "You are … team number three."

I cheer, jumping into Edward's open arms. "From last to third ain't bad, babe."

"Good job," he whispers, lowering me back to the ground.

"A better LEG this round?" Phil asks, smiling.

"Much," I reply, hanging onto Edward's arm. "I think we got a few wires crossed last LEG, but I doubt it'll happen again."

Edward places his large hand over mine, his eyes shining as he looks down at me. "It absolutely will not."

FINAL TEAM CHECK-IN

#teamfitasafiddle were able to smell their way to a top spot. Emily was the first to figure out the non-labeled scents and leave the other four teams at WIN BY A NOSE in the dust. This was their first top place finish, and it won them a trip for two to South Africa.

Alice and Jasper were able to get their directions and beat Edward and Bella to the pit stop for a respectable second-place finish.

#teamedwardandbella came in third, which is a huge win considering they started this LEG in last place.

#teamgrandparents were the second team to leave WIN BY A NOSE in the dust to earn themselves fourth.

Emmett and Rosalie fall from top to fifth, but they still make it after a disastrous showing at the DETOUR. Neither of them realized there were unnamed scents until it was almost too late.

The final two teams, Tanya and Jake and Mike and Jessica, both end up leaving their different DETOURS last, but they also both suffer by getting lost on the way to the pit stop.

Somehow, #teammuscleheads are able to right their ship and make it to the pit stop before #teampaps. They also won the DATE NIGHT, and they will enjoy a romantic evening at a hotel on the French Riviera

"Mike and Jessica," Phil says as they land on the mat with a huff. "I'm guessing you had some issues."

Jessica snorts, tossing a hand toward Mike. "Some people don't know how to listen when their partner is trying to help."

"You usually suck with directions," Mike snaps back.

"I need tell you," Phil breaks in, disrupting the almost-brawl, "you are the last team to arrive, and I'm sorry, but you have been eliminated from the race."

Race notes: The way ExB were able to jump from last to the first flight absolutely happened on this LEG for Mike and Rochelle.

So, earlier in the story I named E's little bro Masen without really thinking it through. That means E has to be a Cullen, so I won't be last-naming CxEs (the main characters need more in-depth details IMO), but let's assume it's something else. Platt maybe.

I finished LEG 7 yesterday, and it will post when I finish writing LEG 8. LEG 6 is the halfway LEG of the race!

See you when I can :)

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