He’s actually really cute when he’s asleep. He’s relaxed and his snoring is barely audible. But he’s still strong. I have tried numerous times to escape his grasp and his leg, but neither is working. Kinsey approaches me.

“Is Chase okay?”

“What are you talking about?”

“He looks…off.”

I struggle to turn around in his arms, looking up at him. He looks extremely pale and his nose twitches every once in awhile.

“Chase?”

I start shaking his, trying to wake him up.

“Chase!”

He jerks awake. I hold his face in my hands, forcing him to look at me.

“Chase, what’s wrong? You’re all pale and you’re acting strange.”

“Ineeeed…foooooo…”

Now he’s alarming me.

“What? I can’t understand you.”

His head rolls around a bit as he tries to speak.

“S…u…g…a…r.”

Chase’s sugar problem! I have no idea what to do in this kind of situation.

“What do you need me to do?”

His lips move slowly and gurgling sounds come out. I let my hand connect with his face. It works and he snaps out of his daze.

“Yogurt. Dried fruit.”

Kinsey jumps in on the conversation.

“I’ll grab yogurt from the fridge.”

She disappears for a minute and then reappears with a strawberry yogurt and a spoon. I tear the lid off of it, sticking the spoon into the mixture. Chase opens his mouth and I put the spoon into his mouth. I repeat the process over and over until it’s all gone. Chase is still pale and twitching.

“What else do I need to do?”

“Just give me a few minutes. Let’s get back to the contest.”

I shake my head, concerned for my cuddling partner.

“I’m ending the contest now. You can’t do this anymore. This is the second sugar issue that you’ve had today.”

“I was faking it the first time. I already told you that.”

I still don’t believe him and I give him the, ‘I don’t believe you’, look.

“It’s ten thousand dollars, Abby. I’m not going to let you drop out.”

I groan as he pulls me back against him.

“Stop complaining and cuddle with me until we are the last couple standing.”

I glance up at Kinsey, her expression showing amusement.

“Thanks for everything.”

“No problem and good luck.”

She walks away back to wherever she was before. Chase kisses the top of my head, resting his hand on my lower back.

“Ten thousand dollars, Abby. That kind of money can do a lot of things.”

He definitely isn’t wrong. I can get rid of some college debt with my winnings.

“Fine, but I seriously need a drink of some kind if I’m going to continue.”

“But then you’ll have to take a pee break.”

He sounds like a whiney toddler who refuses to take their nap.

“It’s either I get something to drink, since I haven’t had a drink in over ten hours, or I quit.”

Chase reaches over to the side of the couch. He pulls a water bottle out of thin air, handing it to me.

“Don’t fill your bladder too much.”

I snatch the bottle from his hand, unscrewing the cap before taking a sip. It hits the spot by moistening my desert dry mouth.

“That would benefit you in a way, wouldn’t it?”

“How?”

I put the cap back on the bottle, tossing it off of the couch. I hear it land with a thud on our pile of clothing.

“It would get me back to your place sooner, wouldn’t it?”

His reaction is instant. I think he finally understands what I’m spelling out in plain letters for him.

“Ten thousand dollars or you.”

He puts his fingers on his chin, rubbing thoughtfully.

“I’ll take you over ten thousand dollars any day.”