Chapter Twenty-One #2
“Only the final six eliminated contestants will serve on the Final Council,” Vivian said, gesturing toward the raised benches.
“In just a few moments, you’ll each make your case to the Final Council,” Vivian said, interrupting her thoughts.
“These six women know exactly how hard this game is, because they lived it with you. They will decide who is most deserving of the title of Ultimate Outlast Her.”
She turned to Barra first.
“Barra, you walked into this season with a win already behind you. You knew what this game demanded, and from day one, there was a target on your back.” Vivian tilted her head slightly. “And yet, here you are again, facing the Final Council.”
Barra gave the smallest nod. Her hands were now in her lap and clasped so tightly that her knuckles shone pale in the light.
And her heart was beating so fast in her chest she wouldn’t be surprised if it burst through her ribs.
Was it because in a moment she’d have to convince six women to vote for her?
Or because Allie would get on a plane back to LAX and Barra would head to JFK?
Everything would change once the votes were cast. Because Barra had stupidly decided not to discuss their future last night, and she was now stuck in a place of not knowing what would happen with them. Ugh!
Vivian turned to Allie. “You came here as a newbie. No title. No résumé. Just the dream of winning the title of Ultimate Outlast Her.”
Allie smiled nervously.
Then Vivian gestured toward Barra. “You’re up.”
This was it. The moment it all came down to, and apparently, doing it the second time around was not easier.
In fact, it was quite possibly harder. Barra felt the pressure on her shoulders like a kettlebell.
But also because the pressure involved bigger things.
More important things. Allie-related things and seriously, did Outlast Her even matter at all?
The only thing Barra wanted to do right now was tell Allie how much she cared about her, how much she loved her, and that she didn’t want to say goodbye.
That she’d be willing to leave her life in New York if it meant they could be together.
She pushed herself off the stump and walked to the spot where she would stand in perfect view of the Final Council. Her stomach was churning. Her fingers tingled.
“Hi, everyone,” she said, her voice almost cracking. “I know I’m supposed to be up here convincing you why I deserve to win, but...” She let out a sigh so heavy it could’ve lifted the leaves littering the ground. “I don’t want to do that.”
Every member of the Final Council frowned, and Barra didn’t blame them. This was a little out of character, even for her.
“I came into this game thinking I knew what it meant to win since I’d already done it once.
I thought that was what I was here for again.
But I was wrong.” Barra looked back over her shoulder at Allie.
“So many months ago, at that wedding in Big Sur, I ran away without thinking twice about it. At the time, you were a pleasant distraction.” She remembered the way Allie had spun her on the dance floor, laughed into her shoulder, kept her thirst quenched with all those margaritas until somehow Dominique had become background noise.
“And honestly, when I saw you again at the airport, I thought, oh fuck me.”
Allie laughed. Some of the Final Council did too.
“But you surprised me, Allie,” Barra went on. “Because of you, the challenges felt a little easier, and the rice tasted a little better. Because of you, I started feeling like myself again.”
Allie’s eyes were shiny with tears.
“Because of you, I got to the end of this game.” Then she turned back to the Final Council again.
“Allie deserves to win,” she said. “She came in as an underdog, someone none of you wanted to pair with, someone you all underestimated. But she’s proven to be stronger than we ever gave her credit for.
And anyone who would let Elodie pee on her leg for the sake of the game deserves to win. ”
Barra didn’t wait for the customary questions to begin.
She turned around and walked straight back to Allie, only stopping when there was half a foot between them.
“You asked me last night if I’ll miss sleeping next to you,” Barra said, her voice soft.
“But the answer is no... because I don’t think I’m ever sleeping without you by my side again. ”
Then she did something that shocked even herself. She went down on one knee.
“I know this is insane,” she said, her breath catching as she laughed at herself.
“And I know the sensible thing would be to go back to real life and figure this out slowly, like normal people. But what’s life if it isn’t a little crazy?
” She reached for both of Allie’s hands.
Barra’s were shaking like leaves. “I know I’m supposed to pull out a Tiffany box. ”
“Stop talking and kiss me,” Allie muttered, grinning so wide her cheeks had to be aching.
“So that’s a yes?” Barra managed. “You’ll marry me?”
“It’s a hell yes!”