Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 95609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
“It is,” she says with a grin. “I’m telling you this place is amazing. I could spend a year renovating it and not get bored even once. Come on.”
I follow my friends, trying not to think about Ivy’s words.
Chapter Eighteen
I watch from the raised dais where I stand with my daisy as Luca stares at the final two contestants. Tiara Kate is already crying, practically begging him not to let her go. Riley clutches her hand and looks over at me, Hannah, Shelby, and Ashley F.
“Kate, we’ve had so much fun, and I’ve loved getting to know you. You’re insightful and smart.”
She’s bitchy and admitted that she was surprised at the ending of Titanic. Luca’s being generous with the praise.
“Riley, we’ve connected on such a nice level. I truly believe we’re friends and will continue to be so.”
Hannah squeezes my hand, and I realize she’s way more emotional at the prospect of Riley going home than she is of being out herself.
It’s so nice that we’ve made good friends somehow. Even among all the craziness and chaos, there’s still solidarity and friendship to be had.
“Riley, will you take this daisy and remain in the running to be my queen?” Luca asks.
Relief seems to pour through Riley, and she drops Tiara Kate’s hand in a heartbeat. She has that daisy and is stating a happy yes before rushing over to hug Hannah.
“You’re making a mistake.” Tiara Kate pulls the tiara off her head and faces the king. “Not a one of these women are right for you. You think we can’t all see who your favorite is? She’ll be a disaster.”
“Cut.” Joe steps onto the stage. “Hey, you know we don’t talk about what happens off camera, Kate.”
She shakes her head. “We all know. He tries to hide it, but he looks at her all the time. I think he’s sneaking into her room somehow because I swear I hear sex sounds coming from there. Don’t try to deny it.”
Luca’s gone still, and I swear all the blood has left my body. How could she hear us? My room is all the way down the hall from hers. And we try to be quiet. Mostly. He does this thing with his tongue that makes me forget where I am and who I am and pretty much everything but what he’s doing with his tongue.
“You’ve already picked Hannah,” Tiara Kate accuses. “That’s why you’re keeping her best friend over me. It’s not right.”
I’m sure my jaw has hit the floor, but I simply pick it up and school my expression to an appropriately dramatic what-just-happened look.
Because I’m still trying to figure out what’s going on.
“You think I’ve already selected Hannah?” Luca asks, as though weighing each word. “I can assure you I have not. Nor am I visiting her room at night.”
“I share a room with her.” Riley stands up for her best friend. “No one sneaks in. She wouldn’t do that.”
“Sure she wouldn’t.” Kate takes the tiara between her hands and cracks it in two. “You’re all fools if you think something isn’t going on. I guess I’ll see you at the reunion show. I’ll have a lot to say.”
She storms off.
“Did anyone get that?” Joe is looking around at the camera operators, who all give him a thumbs-up. “Perfect. Someone go make sure she gets into the limo all right. Keep driving her around until she gives us what we need. Let’s get the last shot so we can wrap for the day.”
I’m feeling a little numb as we all hold up our champagne glasses and toast the fact that we’ve made it through another round.
“I’m the last bitch standing,” Shelby says with a smirk as she passes the glass back to the PA. “That means I’m going straight to the final two.”
“She’s not wrong about that.” Ashley F steps out of her shoes and bends over to pick them up. “The producers will want as much tension as possible. They’ll want the viewers freaking out that he’ll make a horrible mistake.”
“Horrible is a lot,” Shelby argues and then she sighs. “Look, guys, I know I’m being over the top. It’s for show. Mostly. I mean, I actually kind of like some of you.”
I glance over to where Luca is talking to Joe, both men with their heads down as one of the producers approaches. They all look serious, like Tiara Kate…I guess she’s just Kate now since that tiara is currently being swept up by another PA…has sent them into a frenzy of conspiracy theories. Or they’re trying to figure out how much of it to use.
“Does everyone think I’m sleeping with Reg?” Hannah sounds horrified.
“Of course not,” Riley assures her.
Shelby rolls her overly mascaraed eyes. “Absolutely not. Though apparently you have a lot of nice dreams because I’ve heard some sounds, too. Look, Hannah, no one thinks you would try to cheat at this game we’re playing. You’re very trustworthy. Personally, I would bet you’re a virgin.”