LEG 12: Part 10
In the brief interlude before the guy checks our map, I tune into the other teams. Emmett is rushing Rose to hand him the last image, while Tanya and Jake are squabbling pretty hard over what picture is first.
Thank fuck I took good notes.
"No!" the guy says after looking at our map.
"Let's get these extras down," Edward says, showing me how he bent the corner on all the ones that weren't Pit Stop images."
I hear "Check!" from Emmett, just as we're pulling the final two pictures down. I don't let it get to me because I convince myself that they've probably made the same mistake as we did.
"No, Jake, it doesn't say all selfies!" Tanya yells from somewhere nearby. "Only Pit Stops."
"Shit." That's Emmett and he knows before he's been told.
"Yes!" Edward fist pumps as we take a step back. "Check!"
The guy steps in and everything goes silent. I can't hear what's going on with the other teams, I can't hear anything Edward is saying, and I can't hear the guy's answer. The blood is rushing so loudly in my ears that I only react when Edward scoops me up in his arms and spins me around.
We did it!
Edward promptly puts me down and grabs the clue. "Drive your truck back through the bog pit and receive your next clue."
As we race off, we hear the booming voice of Emmett as they celebrate their own accomplishment.
"Fuck." Edward tugs on my hand, picking up speed. "Let's go. They're coming!"
My ankle smarts just a tad under the pressure, but I ignore it. Nothing is going to stand in the way of us winning but a faster, better team, and I don't think that exists.
We're in the truck and strapped in barely ahead of #teamblond(e)bombshells. Edward takes off, roaring through the mud pit twice as fast as before, this time having to make a complete U-Turn and go back through an identical bog beside the first. The truck slides sideways as Edward whips it around. But I get it. The roar of Emmett and Rose's truck is nipping on our heels, and after turning we see how close they really are.
Edward slams the truck into gear, and we jump out, grabbing our clue. "Make your way to the Pit Stop on Continental Avenue bridge."
PIT STOP
Along the way, eight teams were eliminated, but the first team to arrive here on this bridge will win one million dollars and The Amazing Race.
Emmett and Rose are slamming to a stop, and Tanya and Jake are tearing through the mud pit so fast they nearly flip on the turn. It takes Jake a second to recover, but everyone is entirely too close for my liking.
"Let's go!" Edward grabs my hand, and we race for our lives back to our trusty taxi driver.
Emmett and Rose are already racing toward us, and Edward yells at our driver. "Go! Go! Go!" He's overly demanding, but our guy doesn't seem to mind. He tears out of the lot, asking where to. "Continental Bridge as fast as you can go."
I'm pushed back into my seat as he presses down on the gas. "How far?"
"Minutes," the driver answers.
My stomach is knotted up so tightly that I'm unsure if it'll ever feel normal again. The anticipation and excitement are nearly overwhelming as I watch my guy keep a lookout behind us.
This entire LEG, the race has been super-efficient by sending one of our camera guys to the next location, so they don't hold us back. Alec is with us now, and James will be at the ready when we get out of the car to follow us to the finish line.
"There they are!" Edward says, turning to make sure the driver understands the urgency. "This is it. The race ends at the next stop!"
The driver, who's already going sixty-five, steps on the gas even harder, pushing the speedometer up to seventy.
"They're still gaining," Edward says to me. "It's going to be a foot race. Are you ready?"
"You bet your ass I am."
The two cabs slam to a stop just seconds apart, and I get a glimpse of another barreling our way. Edward takes my hand and tugs, pulling me from the car. Almost as soon as we're in motion, Emmett comes racing past.
"What the fuck," Edward grumbles, tugging my hand as he picks up the pace. His legs are long, and I can run but not quite that fast. "You gotta move, babe!"
I give it everything I have, and we come close to Emmett, but I don't have it in me to pass him. Edward releases my hand and races ahead, passing Emmett with a chuckle.
It becomes a two-man race, even though neither can win without their partner. I've yet to see Rose, so my guess is we still have a good shot at first. Edward and Emmett race to the mat, moving too fast to stop themselves beside Phil.
"Let's go, Tanya!" Jake is yelling from somewhere behind me.
"Oh shit." I take a deep breath and dig deep down inside.
Our eliminated teammates are up ahead, lining the bridge and cheering us on. Footsteps pound from somewhere behind me, and I have no clue who they belong to, but I can't focus on them. The only person who can help me is me.
Edward races back and falls into step beside me, and time slows. "I thought you'd left me, doctor."
"Never." He's breathless and sweaty and everything I'll ever want. "You've got this, babe."
"We've got this," I clarify, shooting him a wink.
As soon as my foot hits the map, the crowd around us erupts into cheers. Even Emmett is clapping and whooping. By the time I've slowed to a stop and turned around, Rose has already joined her guy as the second-place winners.
Edward scoops me up and kisses me like there's no one else around. I indulge for a brief moment before pulling back with a giant smile. "We did it."
"Marry me," he mouths, and it's only meant for my enjoyment. "Please."
I pull my lower lip between my teeth and nod.
Phil interrupts us then. "Come on over here, guys. Come on over."
As we walk over, I notice Jake and Tanya jogging side-by-side a few paces out, ready to take third place. Everyone cheers as they touch the mat, and I can barely make myself act like I care.
Edward just asked me to marry him.
And I said yes.
We're surrounded by twenty-three people and countless crew and cameramen, yet not a single person realizes how significant this moment truly is for us.
Sure, we won a million dollars, but it's barely a blip on the radar compared to the truth.
We won a lifetime together.
"Give it to us, Phil," Edward says, putting his arm across my shoulder and pulling me tightly into his side. "Give us the goods."
"Five continents, eight countries, more than 35,000 miles, Edward and Bella, you have won …"
"Oh my God," I murmur. "This is it."
"You have one the one million dollars and you're the official winner of The Amazing Race," Phil finishes. "Congratulations!"
Emmett barrels over and scoops me up, spinning me around and abruptly placing me back down so he can hug his new manfriend. "Congrats, guys!"
"Twenty-one days ago, you didn't even know each other," Phil says, retaking the spotlight. "And now, after twelve LEGs of the race, here you are."
"Yes, Phil," Edward says, smiling like a loon. "Here we are."
"You came on this race to meet a match, and I have to ask…" He pauses, holding back a smirk as he gets to the juicy stuff. After all, the entire premise of the pairings was based on seeking love. "You came here looking for something, so what kind of love did you find?"
"All encompassing, everlasting, move-hundreds-of-miles-away, surefire, lifetime love." Edward meets my eyes, and the emotion between us nearly takes my breath.
"What he said," I add, not sparing a glance at Phil.
Who would when smoldering green eyes are boring into yours?
"Congratulations, guys." Phil holds his hand out for a final shake. "You've proven our concept wasn't wasted."
The director calls, "Cut!"
And everyone piles in.
This truly has been a life-changing experience, but the best change is that we aren't parting ways. We arrived as two separate people, and we're leaving as one solid team.
The race has forever altered our lives.
And you'd expect winning a million dollars to do that, but when even that comes second place, that's when you know you've really won.
Okay, this ran way longer than expected when I split the last one off, but oh well. Here it is. The end of LEG 12. Will get you an Epi soon.
Okay, a few more NETFLIX recs that I like, easy watching stuff…
Schitt's Creek
Great British Baking Show
Zumbo's Just Desserts 1 & 2
Oh "Bullshit" gameshow was good too
The Circle
Selling Sunset
Glow Up
HULU…
Malcolm in the Middle
Def love Master Chef, kids and adults.
BRAVO…
1000% Top Chef, many seasons to watch.
Thank you guys for sticking with me :)
