The sun came up over the ocean, turning the sky the color of a bruised peach. I sat on the edge of the big hotel bed, staring at my hands.
My heart beat hard against my ribs. Today was the secret challenge. The rules said we had to tell the truth. A real truth. A secret we never told our partner.
For the whole night, I thought about it. What could I say? I kept my life locked up tight behind spreadsheets, nice clothes, and a tough face. Nobody saw the messy parts. Nobody saw the dark days when I wanted to quit.
At nine o'clock, the couples walked down to the lawn. Cameras flashed. Judges sat at a long white table with digital pads. Julian Vance and his partner went first. Vance told a boring lie about giving money to charity. Everyone clapped.
Then the host called our names.
"Dominic
