“Me too.” As he pats my leg, crusty mud flakes off my pants. “I’d kiss you, however you have got a little bit one thing proper right here.” He reaches as much as smear mud down my cheek.

Yelping, I jerk away as he laughs.

“Come on, you two!” Lisa yells. “Nobody desires to observe your PDA!”

Fortunately, I’m coated in mud as a result of I do know my cheeks are crimson.

Sam and I leap down from the wall, and be a part of our pals in our jog to the subsequent impediment. That is the most important group I’ve ever carried out the Mud Down with. Lisa, after all, is right here, however she introduced Brent alongside, and he appears to be having fun with himself thus far. Jackie and Hannah shocked me by wanting to return once more. Even Walt drove down from Wyoming to

take part.

The seven of us full impediment after impediment till we end the race. To my utter disbelief, Lisa really joins all the blokes as they rush by way of the electroshock wires on the finish. Hannah, Jackie, and I meet all of them on the opposite facet. I can’t wait to see the images of their faces later.

As we accumulate our latest t-shirts, I can’t assist however discover how completely different this feels. It’s the identical shirt we get yearly, the identical cloth, the identical match, and but, the feeling of getting it in my fingers is healthier than ever earlier than. I don’t know how one can describe it.

Till I take a look at Sam.

He’s the distinction. He’s the rationale this accomplishment feels a lot extra unbelievable than some other 12 months. We’ve accomplished our first Mud Down collectively as a pair. He was proper subsequent to me the entire time both cheering me on or providing to assist if I wanted it. Although, I didn’t want it a lot. He was my accomplice by way of the entire thing. He by no means tried to one-up me, didn’t sulk once I accomplished an impediment with out him. In actual fact, he high-fived me each time I did.

As a result of he’s pleased with who I’m.

As we head off to get our finisher beers, Sam leans over and provides me a peck on the cheek. “I’m going to seize our bag so we are able to take an image. Be proper again.”

I sigh contentedly as I watch him jog away.

“He’s nonetheless swoon-worthy?” Lisa whispers to me.

I nod. “Completely.”

“Effectively, like I stated, I’ve all the time preferred him.” She wraps an arm round my shoulders. “I’m pleased for you, Brynn.”

“Thanks,” I say, resting my head on her shoulder. “It’s been a loopy seven months. I imply, we went from not with the ability to stand sharing the identical area, to being in love, to residing collectively.”

“Don’t neglect working collectively, too.”

“Yeah, I nonetheless can’t imagine Professor St. James opened up one other intern spot only for him.”

We step ahead to order our beers earlier than stepping apart to attend on the remainder of our group.

“How are you aware Sam wasn’t her first choose, and the second spot wasn’t for you?” Lisa arches an eyebrow.

I give her a pointed look. “Yeah, proper.”

With amusing, Lisa cracks open beer and tilts it towards mine. “Cheers.”

“We must always await Sam.”

A sly grin spreads throughout her face. “He’s already right here,” she says, jutting her chin behind me.

Confused, I flip round to search out Sam kneeling within the filth. His adoring smile blinds me. That’s once I discover one thing small in his hand. I gasp, my hand flying to my mouth, my eyes instantly tearing up.

“Brynn,” Sam says. “You understand I like you, proper?”

I nod, unable to talk.

“And from what I’ve gathered in my very own analysis, you like me, too.”

Fun bursts from my lips, however tears accompany it. I wipe them away, smearing the mud additional throughout my face.

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