Where the hell did I get myself into this time?

  The trail seemed endless. Wally’s barely breaking a sweat even with Zoe riding on his back, while Sam’s dripping with enough sweat to fill a small river. Yet somehow, he looks like he’s just getting started. The bastard.

  I wipe my forehead with the back of my hand, feeling the strain in my legs. Every step is a reminder that I’m not built for this. The dense forest provides some relief from the sun, but the humidity is suffocating, clinging to my skin like a second layer.

  I’ve been through plenty of brutal training. I’m used to heat. Even so, I’m struggling to keep my breath steady.

  “Let’s… sit down for a minute. I need… to breathe.” Ella finally gasps, her legs visibly trembling as she searches for a spot to collapse. Her face is flushed deep red, hair plastered to her forehead with sweat. She looks about one steep incline away from passing out completely.

  Up ahead, Sam keeps his steady pace, too focused on the trail to hear her.

  I take a deep breath before calling out, trying to mask my exhaustion. “Sam!”

  He wipes his face with a towel. His clothes are so soaked with sweat that they’ve turned a darker shade, leaving no dry spot behind.

  The strange man glances over his shoulder before turning back to the path, his dog trotting alongside him and a cat perched on his shoulder — both leashed, but somehow still looking freer than the rest of us. He finally stops when he notices Ella sinking onto a rock at the edge of the path, helped by her husband.

  I stay where I am. No way I’m wasting precious energy walking to the rock just to come back and keep hiking.

  “Sam, do you work out a lot?” Ella asks, grabbing a water bottle.

  “Not really. I just walk with Furioso. No gym routines or anything. Though… if dance video games count as cardio, I guess I do those pretty often too.”

  “You must walk a lot with Furioso,” Ella muses, eyeing the dog, who’s busy sniffing around without even a hint of fatigue.

  “Johan said you dance well,” Wally teases, earning an eye roll from Sam.

  “I’m not afraid of embarrassing myself on the dance floor — especially in places where I’ll probably never see anyone again.”

  “I know an amazing place in Sydney we could take you,” Ella suggests, perking up.

  “Interesting. I’ll be in the city for the next three months, prepping the vehicles for the competition.”

  “And the three months before the race?”

  “I’ll be testing and studying — the terrain and my vehicle.”

  “Will I still get to see you when I’m back in school?” Zoe asks, her voice hopeful.

  “I think so. Sometimes. I might get some free time while working. After all, Johan says I’m basically retired,” Sam says, his tone growing more confident at the thought.

  “Sounds like you’ll have plenty of time,” Ella encourages with a smile.

  “But I still want to win the competition… and I need to start building the engine prototype.” He pauses, reconsidering.

  “The one they said was impossible?” Ella tilts her head, tucking the water bottle away.

  “Yeah. I know it’s hard — if it wasn’t, someone would’ve done it already. But I believe ‘impossible’ is just a matter of opinion.”

  “‘Impossible is just a matter of opinion,’” Zoe repeats, grinning. “I like that.”

  “But I’ll still have plenty of time. Do you guys know any beaches? Ones that aren’t crowded and allow pets?”

  “I know a few,” I jump into the conversation.

  “He surfs,” Ella explains on my behalf.

  “Interesting.” Sam’s tone doesn’t match his words. “But I prefer beaches without too many… people.”

  “He knows beaches like that,” Ella insists.

  “Yeah, sure,” Sam agrees with absolute monotony, clearly set on distrusting any advice I offer.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Nothing.”

  “You think… I only go to crowded beaches?”

  “With… women… and men.” He shrugs. “Doesn’t concern me.”

  “What are you implying with that?”

  “Obviously, I’d never suggest you enjoy having an audience. I’d never say that about you.”

  The bastard knows full well that sentence alone implies the opposite.

  “What’s next — you think I take my shirt off and flex like a bodybuilder putting on a show?”

  “Not exactly. More like… you enjoy an audience chanting for you to strip, like back at the gas station. Probably even more intense at the beach, since they’re already expecting it. I’d rather not be in the middle of that.”

  “It’s not like I get recognized all the time. And even when people do, they rarely approach me. But, yeah… once a few gather, they get bolder — ask for autographs, get closer, and… express themselves. Like at the gas station.”

  “Got it. Not a narcissist, noted. So… when exactly are you leaving?”

  He couldn’t be more obvious about not wanting me around.

  “Johan suggested he visit the factory, meet the other teams, and talk to the documentary producers,” Ella jumps in, trying to smooth things over before I can fire back.

  “Supreme Wheels Adaptation: Outback Way,” Sam says. “Johan still hopes he’ll say yes. He’s so optimistic he won’t even start looking for other candidates until he returns the vehicle and turns the offer down again.”

  “You’re not even considering the offer?” Ella pulls Zoe’s water bottle from Wally’s backpack.

  “I don’t see how it’d benefit my career.” I try to sound serious — and as distant as possible from the traitor who’s siding with this asshole.

  “I get all the pros Johan mentioned, and honestly, the only con is if you quit. But I know you wouldn’t do that.

  At first, it’d be tough, but you’d push through. I believe that.

  It’s a chance for you to reinvent yourself — to show a different side of you. Just like you want,” Ella says.

  She’s an even bigger traitor than I thought.

  “Yeah, he definitely wouldn’t come off as the ideal man anymore — or the dreamy, perfect bachelor people expect from his movies,” Sam throws in, his voice dripping with sarcastic amusement. He grins wickedly.

  “Though… if he survives, he wouldn’t just be rich and charming anymore. He’d be versatile too.”

  He hides his smug laugh behind the hand he pretends to wipe his sweat with.

  “He’s joking, but his words aren’t entirely wrong.” Wally adjusts Zoe on his back as she tilts her head curiously.

  “What did Sam mean?” she asks.

  “Well,” Wally explains, “if they don’t respect him as an actor, they might at least respect him as… a real person chasing his dreams. Not some unreachable ideal.”

  “What does ‘unreachable’ mean?” Zoe tilts her head.

  “It’s when something’s hard to get,” Wally says.

  “Like impossible?”

  “Sort of.”

  “But impossible is just a matter of opinion.”

  Zoe beams, hugging her dad’s head, proud of her new vocabulary.

  “If he did it, then it’s not that impossible, right? I only ever saw him on screen, but he’s… real.”

  For once, Sam’s words don’t feel like an insult. They even spark a bit of understanding — not that I’d ever admit that.

  Ella picks up the pace again, and we fall in line behind her slower rhythm.

  “Because of the roles he played,” Ella muses, “I think people put him on this ridiculously high pedestal. So high they can’t even tell the difference between him, his public image, or his characters anymore.”

  “He’s not some perfect dream guy all the time,” Wally agrees with a smirk.

  “The only thing you have in common with those roles is your face,” Sam adds, grinning. “Oh, and most of them are rich too…” He glances at Zoe, nudging her to chime in.

  “Rich, kind, funny, and handsome. Even the serious ones are nice deep down — like my real uncle is.” She says it innocently, without realizing that, as flattering as it sounds, it doesn’t exactly help my case.

  “Impossible for most women… except for beautiful leading ladies, like your girlfriend.” Sam finishes with a laugh.

  “Are you implying that dating someone else would change how people see me?” I scoff at the ridiculousness of it.

  “What? No! God, no.” Sam flails, over-the-top in his denial. “That’s… highly unlikely. Do people even care that much about who celebrities date?” He regains his composure, though I’m not buying it.

  “Social media and gossip magazines wouldn’t be thriving if they didn’t.”

  “I wouldn’t know. I ignore that stuff.” Sam shrugs. “I mean, I know you’re famous and I’ve seen your movies. I recognize the characters you’ve played, but I didn’t even know your name until Wally introduced us.”

  Ella bursts out laughing at Sam’s bluntness.

  Most people would be offended. Strangely, I’m not. This time, it’s not meant as a dig, it’s just the truth. And, to my surprise, I find myself intrigued.

  “Are you like this with all celebrities?”

  “Pretty much. In the same way I know the names of politicians. I only care about what they do. I couldn’t care less if they have a mistress or whatever else ends up in the tabloids.”

  He pauses, thinking it over.

  “Unless, y’know, it affects something important. Like when Peter III married Catherine the Great — now that mattered. She ended up ruling and changing half the world.”

  Ella holds her stomach, laughing so hard she can barely breathe.

  “So the only way a relationship scandal catches your attention is if it’s straight out of a history book?”

  Sam tilts his head, thoughtful. “I guess so,” he admits, realizing only now that it’s probably true.

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  “How oblivious can you be?” I glare at him with playful superiority.

  Well, if he can judge me, I can return the favor.

  “I think I’d pay more attention if it affected me somehow,” Sam shrugs. “At most, it might mess with my stock returns, but I don’t handle that stuff. I have someone who does, so… I don’t care about current events that feel trivial.” He taps his nose smugly like he just said something profound.

  “So, work is the only thing that interests you?” I roll my eyes.

  “No. If I didn’t think about work, I’d be unemployed — unthinkable.”

  “You’re obsessed with this ‘ultimate vehicle’ thing.”

  “I have other interests — animals, tourism, video games, movies, and shows. Like a normal person. I just don’t care about other people’s personal lives. Even the ones I know don’t interest me much.”

  “Because you shut yourself off and only think about the vehicle.”

  “The final destination is what drives you, but the journey is what’s worth it. My dad always said that, and I believe it. My goal is the ultimate vehicle, but building it is the journey worth living.”

  “What did your dad do?”

  “His main source of income was the hotel in Jehu — it belonged to his parents.”

  “Why are your answers always so… vague when they’re not a simple yes or no?”

  As soon as I finish speaking, I see Sam tense up.

  “I like being precise. A fully airtight answer would take too long,” he mutters through clenched teeth.

  “So, you don’t know any celebrity gossip then?” Ella changes the subject, once again rescuing Sam from a topic he wants to avoid.

  “Sometimes I see headlines, but I never read the full story. Or I overhear people talking — like that lawsuit about someone throwing… inappropriate parties.”

  “It was a massive scandal — so many famous people caught up in it. Really awful stuff. But aside from that, I love gossip magazines and digging into celebrities’ personal lives,” Ella grins at him, buzzing with excitement. “Even more when it’s about people I actually know.”

  “To each their own.”

  She tilts her head with a mischievous smile. “So, since you claim to have ‘normal’ interests — do you have a girlfriend or anyone you’re interested in?”

  “No.” He answers so quickly and definitively it’s like he was waiting for the question.

  Of course, he’s a hermit. Loves being isolated.

  “No one? I’ll introduce you to some friends when we’re in Sydney.”

  He grimaces like he is just a bit into a sour lemon. “No, please don’t. I’m allergic to people — especially the ones interested in relationships. They expect me to be more… social.”

  “We could find someone like you.”

  “Please, don’t find anyone or try to set me up. I hate that. I’ve been tormented enough with blind dates — even an arranged marriage. Please, spare me.”

  “Arranged marriage?” Ella leans in, intrigued.

  “Long story short — my old housekeeper thought it was her duty to find me a wife after my dad passed away.”

  “You had a housekeeper?”

  “More like a nanny.” He shrugs it off like it’s nothing. “I have no idea why she thought that was her responsibility. I hadn’t seen her in years.”

  “So you don’t do relationships? Like… ever?”

  Ella’s clearly dying of curiosity but decides not to dig into the housekeeper or his childhood — for now. She locks onto the relationship part instead.

  “Sometimes. But only casually. Eventually, they start complaining that I don’t reply to messages, want to know my schedule, my travel plans, and ask me to talk more… to ‘get to know me better.’” He rolls his eyes like it’s the most ridiculous request in the world. “Then they get mad because they don’t know if I’m alive or dead. It’s exhausting.”

  What world does this guy live in? Seriously.

  “You know, that’s not asking too much. It’s what people do.” I let him go ahead as the path narrows.

  “What about the relationships that survived years of war, months-long sea expeditions, or whatever else — without a single letter? They didn’t need constant communication.”

  “They didn’t have the option,” I point out. “If they did, you think they’d say, ‘Nah, I’d rather wait six months for a letter’?”

  “Irrelevant. Doesn’t change the fact that they lasted,” he counters. “Maybe I was born in the wrong era… though I’d probably hate the past, too. I like modern conveniences too much. So, between having those conveniences and a relationship that lasts like the old days… I’ll take the conveniences.”

  “But it’s so good to share your life with someone you love.” Ella stops ahead, looking at him with that hopeful, romantic gleam in her eyes.

  “The happiest, most rewarding parts of my relationships were when they ended.” He smiles — a genuine, peaceful smile. “The relief of finally sitting in silence in my vehicle, not owing anyone an explanation? That’s bliss.”

  “Maybe you’ve just been in bad relationships,” Ella suggests, voice softer now.

  “Or — and hear me out — you could make a tiny bit of effort to maintain a relationship in this era of technology,” I chime in, stating the obvious.

  “I don’t think the problem was either of those things.”

  He stops so abruptly that I walk right into him.

  “Ow — hey! What the hell?” I say.

  “Listen. We’re almost there.” Sam searches.

  I refocus, and in the distance, I hear it — the faint sound of running water.

  ***

  Almost there, my ass. We continue our torturous journey. My legs scream in protest with every step, but I’m too stubborn to be the first to complain.

  “I’m never trusting you again when you say it’s ‘just up ahead.’” I say, unable to keep the vindication from my voice.

  We had to walk another 7 kilometers to get here.

  Sam’s idea of a “short hike” turned out to be exactly the endurance test I’d warned everyone about. Now here we are, kilometers from anywhere, with Ella looking like she might need a helicopter evacuation.

  “Come on, didn’t we agree today was a hiking day?” Sam crouches by the river, splashing water on his face and the back of his neck.

  “I didn’t think ‘hiking day’ meant ‘spend the whole day walking.’” I decide to cool off too. “Did you lose your mind? We all still have to go back.”

  As soon as I say it, Ella drops heavily onto a rock, staring at the trail.

  “I don’t think I can make it back. Not today.”

  Of course. I knew we were screwed the moment we followed Sam.

  “Why don’t we take some time to enjoy the river? Might help us recover. Worst case, I’ll grab the gear, and we can camp nearby—I’ve got permission,” Sam offers.

  “Nearby how much? How close is ‘nearby’?” I ask.

  “Less than half the way back.”

  “I can help you get the gear,” Wally chimes in.

  “Are you sure, babe? We can wait a bit. My legs feel like jelly right now, but…”

  “It’s been a while since I pushed myself like this. It feels good. It’s good, babe.” He smiles at Ella, and her eyes soften with affection.

  “Honey, I think you’re a little crazy for liking this, but if that’s how you feel, go for it. Just… be careful with your injury.”

  “I’m being careful.”

  “JJ, can you stay with them?” Wally asks, setting his backpack down next to Zoe.

  “Don’t you need me to carry something too?”

  “I think someone with a bit of energy left should stay and watch over them.”

  “He should stay,” Sam sighs.

  I feel the urge to argue, just because of Sam’s tone — but I bite it back. Just this once.

  “I’ll stay with them.”

  Sam pulls something from the front pocket of his jumpsuit. It’s the cat, poking its head out to survey the area.

  “Here. Hold this.” Sam extends the cat’s leash toward me. “Let Felina walk a bit, or she’ll get restless tonight.”

  “You want me to babysit the crazy cat?”

  “Did you think you can’t handle it?” He barely waits for my answer before starting to pull the leash back, already turning toward Zoe — like she’s a more reliable choice than me.

  “Fine, I’ll keep an eye on her.” I grab it before he can change his mind.

  Satisfied, he turns and heads off with Wally, setting an even faster pace than before.

  ***

  “How far have we walked?” Ella asks, rubbing her legs.

  I check my watch and let out a low whistle. “22 kilometers.”

  Ella groans. “I don’t think I’ve ever walked that much in my life. And I still have to walk back?”

  Zoe, completely unfazed, perks up. “And Dad even carried me for a bit! He’s really strong, huh?”

  Ella just shakes her head. “And now they’re going to do the whole trip again — twice.” I sigh, stretching my legs out. “We’re idiots for following Sam. We should’ve known better.”

  “And they’re going to do the whole trip again — twice.” Ella shakes her head.

  “That includes climbing up and down a mountain. Sam doesn’t exactly look athletic, but I guess he’s tougher than he seems.” I plop down next to her.

  “Haven’t you seen those Kenyan marathon runners? Sam’s not even that skinny.”

  “Mom, can I go in the river?”

  “Better wait. Rest a little or play with Felina.”

  “Told you we’d regret following him,” I mutter.

  “I’m having fun,” Zoe squats down in front of Felina. “I know it’s tiring, but it’s worth it. Every time we stop, the view’s amazing. And on the trail, we see all kinds of animals.”

  “Waking up in the morning in a comfy latex bed, wrapped in silk sheets, having a perfect breakfast while enjoying the view from a mountaintop overlooking all of Victorian High… now that’s priceless,” Ella says with a smirk.

  “He’s nuts — thought the trails at Bunyip State Park were ‘easy practice’ for what came next. After that, he figured I’d magically know how to drive off-road.”

  “On Blue Rag Range Track? If he could, he’d drive all three cars himself.” Ella laughs at the memory.

  “If it was hard with these cars, imagine with the one that got us stuck,” I say.

  “We’d definitely have to get out and deflate and calibrate every single tire each time. At least these cars do it on their own with the press of a button. But does it make that much of a difference?”

  “You can feel the difference a little. But that doesn’t mean I had learned enough for him to just say, in the middle of a canyon: ‘Stop braking so much and just go with confidence.’”

  “And when he overtook that truck on that narrow, pothole-ridden stretch and said: ‘Come on, just do the same thing I did.’” Ella bursts into laughter.

  “I don’t know how Wally made it through. Even in the pickup, I wasn’t sure I would.”

  The conversation continues about Sam's peculiar habits in this journey.

  “Sam is slowly talking more, isn’t he?” Ella tilts her head, perhaps trying to distract herself from the burning in her muscles.

  “We still don’t know much about his life — at least not from him.”

  “He’s got great taste in movies and video games. He’s a mechanic and an inventor. He’s fun and likes animals. And everybody knows people who like animals are good. What more do you need to know?” Zoe says, making the cat chase the string from its own leash.

  “I don’t know, he doesn’t talk much about himself — his childhood, his father. Even his life now. All we know is that he works and travels.”

  “We do know he’s a committed bachelor.”

  “A virgin hermit.”

  “Or a one-night-only playboy. Who knows?”

  “What does that mean?” Zoe asks.

  “That he flirts a lot,” Ella explains.

  “No, he doesn’t seem like a Casanova,” I consider.

  “But he could be — playboy, good-looking, and Johan said he knows how to dance. We’ll see about that in Sydney.” Ella grins mischievously at me.

  “I think he just likes being alone. Johan keeps trying to find someone for him to share his life with, but maybe he just doesn’t want to. I don’t think it would be hard for him to find someone willing to follow him on these adventures.”

  “It’s not as bad as you thought, is it?” Ella raises an eyebrow.

  “I’m not doing the documentary. It’s already obvious he’d put me through hell and make me look like a fool.”

  “Challenges? Definitely. Looking like a fool? Probably. But in just two days, you’ve already learned a lot. He just doesn’t use a lot of words to explain the theory — he jumps straight into practice. You’re getting the hang of it and understanding way more than I am. If we started the documentary now, I’d look dumber than you.”

  “Ella, no. I’m not accepting this proposal.”

  “Is it like he said? Are you afraid of failure?” I look at her and decide to be honest.

  “Also that. How could I not be?”

  “I get it. How could you risk what you’ve already built? The higher you climb, the greater the fall.

  But have you gotten another offer? Has anyone else given you a role where you’d get the chance to reinvent yourself?”

  “Not yet.”

  “Do you remember the day you came to Wally and me, talking about the offer you got from that talent scout? And that you had agreed with your parents that you could go after that opportunity once you finished college?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Do you remember what Wally told you?”

  “‘Maybe later is already too late. Some opportunities only come once in a lifetime, and you have to grab them. College and the real estate business back home will still be there. How much longer will this opportunity stay on the table?’”

  “I don’t think this is the same thing.”

  “So be sure before you turn it down. Honestly, I’m glad you talked to Wally before rejecting that offer.

  I don’t think you’d be happy working in real estate, always wondering about the opportunity you might have missed.”

  “If he hadn’t talked to Dad, would he not be a famous actor?”

  “Your dad is amazing — he’s done way more than that,” I say.

  “Yeah, he is.” Zoe smiles proudly, her whole face lighting up.

  So tender and sweet, proud of her father.

  “Zoe, you make me want to have a daughter.”

  “Then why don’t you?” She tilts her head, genuinely confused.

  “It’s not the right time. I still need to figure out my life, get married, and then think about having a kid.”

  “It’s not hard. Marry Jess and have a baby.”

  “Great idea, Zoe. Hadn’t thought of that.”

  “Obviously,” she rolls her eyes.

  “There’s just one problem — at this point in my life, I don’t think I’d be a great parent. I’d barely see my kid. And Jess is even less present than I am. She doesn’t even like talking about kids.”

  “She doesn’t like kids. She doesn’t like me, and I don’t like her.”

  “She just doesn’t know how to interact with children.”

  “Like Sam. But I like him.”

  “Because he buys you sweets, and toys, and takes you on adventures.”

  “What more could a kid want?” Zoe asks.

  “Good question.” Ella laughs when I can’t come up with an answer. “Even I like him. Or Wally. Even you, deep down. You’d like him if he wasn’t so cold to you.”

  “Of course, Ella. I like him when he’s not deliberately ignoring me, being rude, or looking at me like he wishes I’d drop dead. Because deep down, I just love suffering and being treated like dirt.”

  “Aww, poor thing. I like you, Uncle.” Zoe stands up, holding the cat, then hugs me.

  Then the cat bites my arm.

  “Ouch! Even the cat hates me.”

  “Do you hear that?” Zoe asks, letting go of me. “An engine.”

  “That bike deserves an award,” I say, taking in the ridiculous sight. “Just like its owner — scrawny but tough. It’s tackling the worst possible terrain, loaded with Sam, a pile of gear strapped everywhere, and Wally — who looks like an elephant riding a toy bicycle.”

  Ella, beside me, is laughing so hard she can barely breathe.

  This whole scene is just like this trip — fun, chaotic, and always one step away from complete disaster.