Chapter 85: Competition Within A Competition
JULIA
What the heck was Heath doing here?
Before I could even ask him a question, Ellie had come by and given us the strings.
“Tie your legs together with these,” she said with a small smile. Then, she gave me a subtle wink, making me click my tongue.
Evan, Carson, and Heath looked at the ties in my hands before simultaneously speaking.
“I’ll stand next to Julia,” Evan said, already planting his spot to my right.
At the same time, Carson stood in front of me. “Can I stand next to you?”
“Nope, I’ll stand here,” Heath stubbornly said. “You go to the far end.”
Carson pursed his lips. “You’re taller, and you have a similar height to this guy,” he said, pointing at Evan. “It’s better if the two of you are on the sides.”
“Then, ask him,” Heath shrugged.
Evan, however, didn’t even glance at Carson. I sighed and looked around.
The other parents had already secured their ties and were ready to go, but my little group was still arguing.
“Let’s just keep this kind of position,” I muttered.
Heath and Evan couldn’t hide their happiness. Meanwhile, Carson dejectedly walked to the end. I clicked my tongue and glared at the two.
“Stop smirking before I change my mind,” I reprimanded.
Evan nodded and quickly did what I said.
Heath chuckled, but he didn’t argue.
Carson, on the other hand, looked like I’d just told him he couldn’t have dessert. But he didn’t say anything. He just stayed to the side with a sigh.
Now came the fun part. I bent down to tie our legs together but before I could even blink, Evan and Heath both reached for them.
“Let me,” Evan said at the same time Heath said, “I’ll do it?”
The two of them lifted their heads and glared at each other. I had to look up just to see their expressions. Although
I wasn’t considered short, between these guys, I was practically a foot shorter.
“I’m good at this,” Heath said. “Not having any loose ends.
“Me too,” Evan retorted..
“Are you sure?” Heath asked, tilting his head to the side. “Is that why you’re running after Julia now?”
Evan glared at Heath, who was still smirking.
I looked around and found the other families giving us curious looks.
“I’ll do it,” I said firmly, snatching the ties from their hands. I knelt down and started securing our legs together,
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Chapter 85. Competition Within Competition
making sure the knots were tight but not too tight. I even added a little bow at the end because it looked cuter that
way.
“There,” I said to the two men, who looked disappointed they didn’t get to tie our legs together.
“Go, Mommy!” Andy’s voice rang out from the sidelines, and I looked up to see him jumping up and down, little face lit up with excitement. I smiled and gave him a thumbs–up.
his
“Let’s win, alright?” I said, my competitive side flaring up. especially didn’t want to lose to Simon’s parents- who appeared very confident.
Ellie raised the whistle to her lips and blew, signaling the start of the race.
If I thought I was competitive, it appeared that these three were even more ridiculously competitive. Aside from trying to win the race, they were also trying to outpace each other. It felt like a competition within a competition.
However, the problem was I was shorter than all of them, and my strides couldn’t keep up. I stumbled, trying match their pace, but it was no use.
to
“I’ve got her,” Evan said, his arm wrapping around my waist as he lifted me off the ground. His grip was firm and familiar, and for a moment, it felt like old times.
But then Heath stepped in..
“I’ll do it,” Heath said with a small smile. “It looks like you’re tired” He reached for me, and Evan tightened his
hold.
“I’ve got her,” Evan repeated.
Heath raised an eyebrow. “Do you really have her, though?
The question wasn’t answered for a while. It seemed like Heath’s statement held another meaning.
Evan’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t respond. Instead, he adjusted his grip on me, and we started moving again. Heath stayed close, and at that moment, I felt like they weren’t talking about the race anymore.
We sprinted forward, leaving the other parents in the dust.
Simon’s parents scrambled to keep up, but they were no match for our mismatched team.
Evan’s arm around me was steady, his strength carrying me forward. Heath and Carson kept pace, their competitive energy driving us toward the finish line.
When we crossed it, I let out a laugh. We’d won. Against all odds, we’d actually won.
“Wooh!” I exclaimed. Those watching cheered with us. I saw Simon’s parents from my peripheral vision, with the wife glaring at our team. I held in the urge to stick my tongue out at her.
Andy was also rejoicing with his friends.
But then, out of nowhere, Heath hugged me.
It was quick, but it caught me completely off guard. His arms wrapped around me, pulling me close for just a second before Carson yanked him back.
Heath stumbled, and I stumbled with him, the ties around our legs pulling us off balance.
However, before I could fall with Heath, Evan pulled me back, and I was now in his arms, He caught me surely and easily, making my breath hitch.
Evan’s eyes met mine, and I saw the longing in them. I frowned and slowly stood on my own, kneeling down to get
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Chapter 85 Competition Within A Competition
rid of the ties that were messing with our balance..
Then, I stepped back. “Good job, team,” I muttered.
My voice was light, but my heart was racing
As I walked over to Andy, who was still cheering, I couldn’t help but glance back at the three men behind me.
Ellie handed them the prize–three different plushies that definitely didn’t match their aesthetic.
I couldn’t help but chuckle. However, my smile slowly dropped when the three of them started walking toward me once again.
Then, at the same time, they held out their re
