Free Love Elimination by Sarah Gates Page A

date!’ Joe yelled. But she didn’t need to ask. Clearly Luke was torturing her. Still, she did as she was told.
    ‘Why me?’ she said. ‘Why did you choose me for the single date?’
    ‘Because you’re nervous about this: the whole reality television thing. I wanted to get to know you away from the other girls.’
    ‘Why do you think I’m nervous?’
    ‘You avoided me on the first night. You could barely look me in the eye.’
    ‘And you assume that’s because I’m nervous?’ Anna teased. ‘You have a pretty big ego there.’
    She couldn’t help it. She loved his reactions. They made her laugh and smile and shrug off the anxiety in her chest. Even with the cameras there, she couldn’t help but enjoy his company; except for the pounding heartbeat and goose bumps every time he neared.
    ‘What else could it be?’
    ‘Maybe I don’t find you attractive. Maybe it’s not meant to be.’
    ‘We all know that’s not it. You want to rip my clothes off.’
    Anna laughed. ‘Oh, is that right?’
    ‘It sure is. So, let’s talk.’ He looked her directly in the eye. ‘Do you play any sports?’
    ‘Nope, I told you. We have nothing in common.’
    ‘Didn’t you play anything as a kid?’
    ‘Not really.’
    ‘Wow. So what was your thing then?’
    ‘Cooking.’
    ‘That’s all?’
    ‘Yeah.’
    ‘Poor kid.’
    ‘Well, not all of us can be world-class athletes by the time we’re sixteen.’
    ‘So you were listening. Or gossiping about me with the others.’ Luke winked. ‘Good to know.’
    ‘Did you do anything else, or was it all snowboarding?’ Anna asked, partly to make a point, and partly because she felt compelled. What kind of life would that be for a teenager, the intense pressure to succeed in such a dangerous field?
    ‘Touché. It was all training and competing.’
    ‘How old were you when you started?’
    ‘I’ve skied since I was about five and switched to snowboarding at nine.’
    ‘And when did you get serious about it?’
    ‘I was about nine and a half.’ He smiled.
    Anna nodded, trying to keep her admiration inside. His ego was big enough without her compliments.
    ‘Do you trust me?’ Luke asked.
    Anna glanced at him. ‘No.’ The answer slipped out without thinking.
    ‘That’s rough. And honest.’
    ‘Not yet,’ she amended, but Luke just chuckled.
    ‘Fine, let me rephrase. Do you want to do something exhilarating?’
    ‘Sure?’
    He released the reins of Anna’s horse and handed them to her. She took them and pulled away immediately, biting the inside of her cheek.
    ‘Ready?’ He grinned at her.
    ‘I think so,’ she said, her voice shrill.
    ‘Giddy up!’ he yelled, leaning forwards and pressing into his horse. His animal responded, kicking against the ground and speeding up to a full gallop in seconds.
    Anna’s horse charged beneath her, a second behind. Wind rushed past, grabbing and pulling at Anna’s shirt. Her legs clenched around the horse’s body and she broke out into a sweat as she tried to hold on. A panicked whimper escaped her mouth, turning into a full scream as the horse crashed into the water. She clung to the horse’s reins and tried not to throw up.
    They galloped down the beach, splashing through the shallow water. She caught up to Luke and their horses fought to win an imaginary race. Droplets spun into the air and sprayed them both. It was like an extreme version of running through sprinklers as a kid. Anna closed her eyes for a second, before realising she was more terrified without sight.
    Then her horse reared and sprinted out of the water. Blood pounded in Anna’s ears and her flight or fight instincts kicked in. She tugged at the horse’s reins, but it only sped up, charging along the sand. Forgetting her fear of hurting the animal, Anna dug her heels into its sides. It took no notice. Luke appeared in her peripheral vision then disappeared behind her. Another scream escaped Anna’s lips. The horse wasn’t stopping.
    ‘Anna!’
    She