Page 61 of PR Stunt

“They’ve got endurance,” he murmurs, voice low near my ear. “She tours nonstop, probably used to long hours on her feet. He does most of his stunts.”

“They’ll pace themselves well. Won’t burn out too fast.”

Grayson’s grip tightens just slightly. “Neither will we,” he says, his voice sure.

I meet his gaze. There’s no hesitation in his expression, no second-guessing. Just certainty. He shifts closer, lowering his voice even more. “And besides, everyone out there will be distracted by you.”

I fight back an eye roll, shaking my head and stretching out my arms as if to brush past his comment.

I smile, recovering. “So, what you’re saying is…we’ve got this?”

His lips quirk. “I’m saying they should be worried about us.”

I glance toward the sidelines and spot my team. Juno and Luca stand near the barricades, both grinning like this is the best thing they’ve seen all year. Juno throws me a double thumbs-up. I clench my jaw.

Watching me suffer through a mud race I never wanted to do in the first place?

Add them to the payback list.

A crew member steps up to mic us, clipping the tiny pack to my waistband. A sharp whistle cuts through the air, signaling the final countdown before the race begins. The host steps forward, microphone in hand, hyping up the crowd.

“Welcome to the annual Celebrity Mud Race!” he announces, his voice booming over the speakers.

“We’ve got four incredible duos competing today, all ready to prove they’ve got the stamina, strength, and strategy to make it through!” His enthusiasm is blinding, all teeth and theatrics. He reminds me of the Hunger Games host, if Caesar Flickerman traded sequins for sneakers. The camera pans to each pair as the host gives a quick introduction.

“Our first team, siblings and singing sensations, Liam and Ava!”

The brother-sister duo exchange playful shoves before grinning at the camera.

“Next, reality tv’s hot island couple, Maddox and Serena!”

The couple poses, Maddox flexing while Serena blows a kiss to the crowd.

“And country superstar Savannah and Hollywood’s favorite action star, Kole!”

Savannah tips an imaginary hat, while Kole gives a roguish wink.

Finally, the camera lands on Grayson and me.

“And last but certainly not least, America’s sweetheart, Charlie Grace, and leading man, Grayson Cole!”

I beam, lifting a hand to wave at the camera and the cheering crowd. Grayson, ever the natural showman, flashes a smile before casually slinging an arm around my waist. His thumb brushes against my bare skin. I stiffen for half a second. The smallest shiver rolls through me, entirely involuntary. If Grayson notices, he doesn’t show it.

The host grins. “Alright, teams. Remember, both partners must complete each obstacle before moving on to the next! No shortcuts!”

I barely hear him over the screaming voice in my head. What in the world have I gotten myself into? I glance at the first obstacle—calf-deep, mud that looks like it could swallow me whole—and fight the urge to shiver. This is going to be awful. No, worse than awful. I’m about to be cold, wet, and covered in dirt for the next who-knows-how-long. Fantastic.

The buzzer blares, and instantly, the teams surge forward. Grayson takes the lead, moving like he was born for this kind of chaos. I grit my teeth and push forward, mud clinging to my shoes and making each step heavier. I switch to game mode, focusing on winning. The thought of shoving Grayson’s face into the mud as we go has a certain appeal. One I’ll hold on to for motivation.

The first challenge stretches before us—a long stretch of thick, sludgy mud, with barbed wire strung low across the top. The only way through is to crawl.

I hit the ground hard, elbows sinking into the cold, sticky mess. The mud sucks at my limbs as I pull myself forward, the barbed wire inches above my back.

“Atta girl,” Grayson mutters beside me, his voice laced with dry amusement.

Determination shoves me forward, while the slick earth drags me down. Around us, teams are scrambling, some already stuck in the suctioning sludge. Liam and Ava, the sibling duo, have taken the lead, moving surprisingly fast, while Savannah and Kole are pacing themselves.

Grayson moves with ease, muscles flexing as he drags himself through the mud, keeping close. “Keep low,” he advises. “And don’t stop moving.”