I can’t breathe. Oh, my God, I can’t breathe. I’ll suffocate right here on this stupid couch, on this stupid set, in front of all these stupid, cruel bunch of heartless people. They know how I feel and they have done this deliberately to torment me.

I stare at her. Gosh, she’s beautiful. She’s everything I’m not. Heck, I’d make out with her, and I’ve never done anything like that before. I can just imagine what must be going through Trent’s head right now. What straight, sighted man wouldn’t take one look at her and fight to keep their tongue from unrolling out of their mouth like a wolf in some old cartoon?

And he’ll get a million dollars for it. That is, if I don’t complete my dare. If I do, the game will just go on in this sadistic cruel vein.

I think I’m honestly going to die. The thought of him kissing another woman, for any reason, makes my heart clench so tight, it’s like there’s somebody squeezing it. It hurts. There’s nothing stopping him, but this is all for show, just like him making out with me was for show. None of it is real. I’ve known it all along, haven’t I?

Funny, how it doesn’t even bother me that he’ll qualify for the jackpot if he does it. That’s the furthest thing from my mind, losing the money. It’s him I care more about losing right now. It’s not right. I pull myself up short. What the freaking hell is wrong with me? Mom needs me. But try as I might, I can’t help thinking about him. He’s slipping away from me. No, I never had him.

He takes a step closer to her, and she steps closer to him. The audience is waiting, as breathless as I am. He holds Amanda’s hands in his.

I grind my teeth, hard, to keep from crying out or storming over then and punching her lights out.

Then, he looks at me. He finally looks at me.

I swallow hard.

“I’m out,” he says softly.

A collective gasp fills the room. Including mine, which is probably loudest of all. He’s still looking at me and now one corner of his mouth quirks up in a little smile. It’s all yours, he’s telling me. Take it.

I don’t know if I want to laugh or cry, or smack him around for being such a dope. Why would he give up like that? Unless… No. I can’t let my imagination run away with me right now. I have to keep my head on straight.

He doesn’t offer an explanation, just sits back down with his hands folded and a satisfied grin on his face.

Amanda shrugs and sits back down in the audience.

I don’t know what to think or say. Everybody is whispering and murmuring while looking at him, then at me.

It’s all on me now.

“Trent, pal. Are you sure about this? You do understand that this eliminates you from the competition, correct?” The host glances at me before looking at Trent, who replies with a firm nod.

I can tell that this is not at all what they expected. They expected more drama for their ratings, for us to fight each other tooth and nail for the prize.

“Wow! Who would’ve expected this?” Chip exclaims, shaking his head. “You can’t make up drama like this, folks!”

Oh, go to hell, I want to say. This is not drama. Your show just fell flat on its face.

Chip turns to me. “Now, Dakota. I wish I could tell you this means you win by default, but I’m afraid it’s not that easy. You must complete your stunt, and the audience will decide when you’ve gone as far as you need to go.”

“As far as I need to go?” I ask, looking out over the rows of seats with a sinking sensation deep in my stomach.

Oh, no. Don’t tell me…

Again, he motions to the audience.

Again, someone stands and approaches the set. A tall, hunky man who looks like he belongs on a calendar or in an underwear ad. Abs I could eat breakfast off of, legs like tree trunks, arms that could squeeze a grown man to death.

I can’t believe they’re doing this to me.

“Alright, Dakota,” Chip coos. “Same rules for you and Kurt. Try not to enjoy it too much, okay?”

The audience titters at his lame joke. Someone should kick him in the balls.

I get up, and my legs are shaky. I don’t want to do this. Not in front of all of them. Not in front of Trent. I make the mistake of looking at him and he is not happy. At all. I wonder if that’s because he knows he’s lost, or because he doesn’t want me to kiss another man. One of his hands curls into a fist and he taps his thigh with it over and over again.

Kurt flicks his hair back by tossing his head.

God, I hate men who do that.

Looking up at him is enough to give me a crick in my neck. He’s so tall. This is the most awkward thing I’ve ever experienced, bar none. Even worse than getting my toe sucked on in public. Come on, Dakota. Good looking guys are usually the worst kissers, which is why Trent was such a surprise. As long as Kurt has nice breath this shouldn’t be too hard. Am I seriously going to do this? Yes, I am, because I have to win. Trent has made it easy for me.

“Don’t do it, honey!”

I whirl around with a gasp, searching the audience for the person that voice belongs to. She’s sitting up front, next to Jenny. I could die of shame and I don’t know why. And then I do. Of course, they have found her on my social media.

“Mom? What are you doing here?” My chin trembles no matter how I order myself not to cry. I go to her without thinking about it, or asking permission, and the camera crew scrambles to keep up with me.

She reaches for my hands and squeezes as hard as she can. “They picked up and brought me here. I knew you would never let me come if you knew,” she explains in a soft voice. “They wanted me here for the big finale.”

“Mom, I…”

She shakes her head. “I know why you did this, but I wish you hadn’t. Watching those clips…”

“It was all for you, though.”

“I know it was, and you’re a much braver person than I am for going through with even one of those crazy stunts. I didn’t know you had it in you.”

“I guess I had motivation. Nothing is more important than making you better, Mom,” I whisper.

“Sweetheart, you have to trust me. I’ve lived a lot longer than you and I know what the important things in life are. My life is worth nothing if you spoil yours.”

“I’m not going to spoil my life.”

“You’ve already put yourself out there for these people and their entertainment. I won’t let you make a fool of yourself for them right now.”

“It’s just a kiss, Mom.” I look to Jenny for help.

She doesn’t say a word. She only looks at me with a slightly sad expression, which is not what I need right now.

“It won’t end with a kiss,” Mom adds. “It won’t be that easy.”

“I have to do it, Mom.”

“Come on,” Mom pleads. “I saw those clips. I know who you would rather be kissing right now. That’s what this is about. They know how you feel about him and want to see if you’ll betray him for the money. Don’t let them do it to you. Stick to your guns. What’s the worst that could happen?”

“I could lose.” I choke back a sob. “I could lose you.”

“Oh, honey, you’ll never lose me.”

I can’t accept that. It’s a nice sentiment, but it’s not real life. She will die if I don’t get her treated, and I can’t let that happen. I let go of her hands with a smile, and walk back to Kurt anyway.

“Dakota,” my mom calls, but I don’t turn back to look at her.

Trent’s still waiting on the couch, still staring at Kurt with a murderous light in his eyes.

When I stand next to Kurt, he turns his attention to me. I wish I knew what Trent was thinking. I wish Trent could read my thoughts. I don’t want to do this. I want to kiss you. I love you. I want us to be together when this is over. None of this is fair. Please, know that I don’t want to do this.

Suddenly, his hand unclenches, a smile comes to his face, and he nods. “It’s okay. Do it. It doesn’t mean anything.”

He’s right. It doesn’t mean a thing. It’s all a game. So why am I crying? I can’t stop it anymore. Tears roll down my cheeks as I look up at Kurt. He looks stricken to think that a woman could be crying because she doesn’t want to kiss him. Poor guy, this is going to seriously hurt his self-image. But he doesn’t back down. I reach up slowly to touch his face. He’s just a man. Just another man.

There isn’t a sound in the studio as I stretch up on tiptoes. He leans down and we close the distance between us. I wish I could stop crying.

Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!

My eyes fly open wide as the ringing of an alarm tears through the room and the audience bursts into applause. My head moves on a swivel, all around. What happened? They are all standing up and clapping.

“We have a winner!” The host is screaming, cheering along with the rest of them. Confetti and balloons fall from the ceiling, making it hard to see.

“What? What happened?” I ask, but my voice is lost in the commotion all around me.

“The audience has picked you as the winner with their voting devices! Congratulations!” Kurt pats me on the back and moves away, clapping along with the rest of them.

Mom is out there weeping with Jenny’s arms around her.

I did it. I won. But how? I didn’t even have to kiss Kurt.

I want to go to her, but I want something else more—Trent.

He stands when I turn to him and holds his arms out to me, which I gladly run into. I press my face into his neck. “I’m sorry!”

“What are you sorry for?” he asks with a laugh, holding me tight. It’s heaven.

“I know how much you wanted to win,” I say.

“I want you more. I want your happiness more.”

I pull back and look up at him.

He’s smiling as he strokes my face with a gentle, tender hand. “That’s how it is when you love somebody, isn’t it? You want their happiness more than you want your own.”

Fresh tears fill my eyes. He understands how I feel about my mom. Then it hits me. “What? You love me?” I whisper. I’m afraid to let myself believe it.

“You are a menace on the roads, but I do love you, Dakota Manning.”

“Well, you’re an overbearing, arrogant jerk.”

His eyebrows shoot up.

“But I love you, too. I love you so, so, so much, Trent Walker.”

He lowers his mouth to meet mine and yes, this is right. This is the way it should be. His mouth closes over mine in a perfect fit, just the way our bodies fit together as we stand wrapped up in each other. Confetti floats around us and the audience screams louder than ever. It’s the ending they were waiting for, I realize in the back of my mind as Trent kisses me like it’s the only thing he wants to do for the rest of his life.

I can get behind that. Because it’s the ending—I was dreaming of.