Chapter 26
Chapter XXVI
Demi
“So all the guys want to do a barbecue after the softball game,” Brinley said, twirling her golden locks as if she didn’t have a care in the world as she walked out of her first round of dating interviews with Roman.
The softball game was an event planned by the show. Another “cutesy” activity they said was for bonding but was really for ratings. At this point, though, they were probably hoping for a brawl and for us all to beat each other with bats.
While Brinley was all calm, cool, and collected, I’d been pacing the floor outside the “Blueprint Room.” A better name would have been the torture chamber. Not as cheesy, and more accurate.
I was not remotely looking forward to meeting with Roman for my interview. Even though he’d been pretty much all I could think about for the last few days. Ever since I’d kissed him.
It was foolish, but I had to know if he really was my soulmate—if there was a reason the gods kept throwing us together that had nothing to do with him helping me find love.
I had confirmation now that there wasn’t more to it. Surely a kiss like that from my supposed true love should have done the trick. It had my heart on the verge of feeling something. But it never quite got there.
Granted, Cassie didn’t think that was a deal-breaker.
She said this wasn’t like a Sleeping Beauty situation where true love’s kiss would wake up my heart.
Especially after just one kiss. She thought I should keep kissing him to see what would happen.
That maybe my heart just needed to rev up after being dormant for so long.
Yeah, that was a no-go. Mainly because I wanted to. And because it was obvious that while Roman had more than liked it, he also felt extremely guilty about it. It didn’t feel right under those circumstances, even though the kiss was amazing. Besides, it would just make everything more awkward.
I still couldn’t believe I’d kissed him.
It hadn’t been on my summer bingo card. There had been squares for existential dread and poking my own eyes out, but kissing Roman Archer?
Definitely not on there. Who would have ever thought that we would stop hating each other long enough to kiss? I mean, besides my lying divine half?
I hugged Brinley, needing some comfort before I faced my supposed true love, turned not true love, turned nemesis, turned best kiss I’d ever had.
Okay, so I may have fudged the numbers a little.
But since it appeared he was not the man for me, I didn’t want him to go around thinking that he’d given me the best kiss of my life.
“That sounds fun.” I tried to sound enthusiastic. Being a cheerleader with a locked heart was exhausting.
She squeezed me back. “Apparently, Diego makes a mean brisket.”
I leaned back and smiled. “Yummy.” I feared I always sounded flat.
What scared me more was that I would sound flat—be flat—for the rest of my life if I didn’t complete this quest. But honestly, I was looking forward to the barbecue and hanging out with all the cast members.
Especially outside of our scheduled activities.
“By the way,” Brinley whispered. “Be careful in there. Roman is real testy. I don’t think they like the way this season is going.
And.” She wrinkled her nose. “He showed me clips from your initial interview with him. First, you totally looked like a super babe, as always. Anyway, he asked me what I thought of it. And if all our friendships were genuine, even with the guys.”
Indignation swelled inside me. I wanted to march into the stupid Blueprint Room and give Roman a piece of my mind.
Was he seriously trying to pit the other cast members against me and make them question my motives?
And to think I’d kissed him last night and more than liked it.
Ugh. He was dead to me. Like, I would throw him in Tartarus myself.
I bit my lip nervously. “So what did you say?”
She waved her hand in front of me, all smiles. “Please, I saw right through it. It was obvious they were trying to make you this season’s bad girl. Honestly, I thought it would be me. These shows always like to pick on the influencers.”
She shrugged.
“I told him as much. And it was plain to see in that initial interview that you’ve really been hurt in your life. It’s so sad about your mom and never getting to go to the Olympics. That’s brutal.”
She took a breath.
“And honestly, it’s no wonder they tried to make you the bad girl.
You had such a good girl image back in the day.
Weirdly, people have a fascination with the whole good-girl-gone-bad thing.
I mentioned that too. And of course I told him what we all had together is the real deal.
Besties for life,” she sang like it was our theme song.
Brinley was my new favorite person. Well, besides Cassie. She had no idea how grateful I was to her in that moment. I gave her another big hug.
“Thank you, Brinley. Thank you for trying to see past the exterior.”
“You don’t need to thank me,” she said. “Honestly, you’re amazing. I love how you’ve brought us all together. There’s just something about you. It makes me feel hopeful. Like maybe I really will find love. But if not, I’m just happy that I get to be here with all of you.”
I swallowed hard, guilt swirling in my chest. She probably would have already found love if it weren’t for me. But truth be told, I was happy I got to be here with all these women too. And even the guys. I mean, Blaine had promised to teach me how to arrange my own bouquet.
“I’m happy I got to meet all of you too.” I just hoped that when it was all said and done, I would remember them and they would remember me. And with any luck, I’d help them all find love. But first I had to face Roman. He had just re-earned the title of nemesis.
Brinley gave me one more good squeeze. “Well, good luck in there. See you soon.”
“Bye.” I waved as she turned and walked down the hall.
Seconds later, a crew member waved me into the Blueprint Room. “We’re ready for you.”
Oh, I was ready too. Ready to confront Roman. Lying sack of garbage and annoyingly phenomenal kisser that he was.
I marched in there already wearing my softball “uniform.” A curve-hugging baby blue jersey and jean shorts.
Roman looked up while I was getting mic’d.
Our eyes locked.
And just like that, I felt it. The guilt rolled off him in waves. Thick. Heavy. Mythical-grade remorse.
Yeah, buddy. I know exactly what kind of crap you just pulled in here. I was so ready to call him out on it.
He cleared his throat and pointed to the seat across from him. The same dumb blue velvet chair I’d sat in last time.
The crew all tensed up, including Jazzy in the background, as if they knew a storm was brewing.
Oh, believe me, it was. Even the part of me who’d been a card-carrying member of the Roman Archer Fan Club was riled up.
And you didn’t want to mess with her. She knew things.
Had the power to make or break your love life and spill the beans about your deepest desires. Not that I would.
But Roman needed to know who he was dealing with.
I sat down, crossed my legs, and smiled at him. Sickly sweet. The kind of smile that said, I’m about to ruin your day.
He rubbed the back of his neck. Yeah, he got the gist.
“Welcome, Demi,” he said, voice uneasy.
“Aww. Thanks for having me,” I chirped, dialing my cheerleader voice to maximum sarcasm. “I hear you were just talking about me.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a few crew members trying not to laugh. Jazzy appeared thrilled. She lived for the drama.
Good. They might want to grab some popcorn for the show I was about to put on.
“We talk about all the cast members in here.” He tried to sound casual. Deflect the accusation. Amateur hour, if you asked me.
“You wouldn’t be trying to pit us against each other, would you?” I asked, faux shocked and appalled. Honestly, it was Oscar worthy.
“No,” he spluttered.
Poor guy. He looked like he’d just been caught cheating on a pop quiz.
“Oh, good.” I put my hand over my chest, letting the silence stretch just long enough to make him sweat. “I would hate to think that anyone on Love Unscripted would do such a thing. That would just break my heart. You know, because we are all just here to find love.”
“Are you really?” he asked way too cockily.
“Your audition tape and our first interview together didn’t really suggest that.
Didn’t you say it would be hard to get to know you and that it would take a miracle for you to find love on this show?
And from the first week’s dates, it looks more like you’re trying to set everyone else up.
Almost as if you’re avoiding a relationship. Why is that?”
I wanted to shake him. He knew why it had to be this way.
Why I couldn’t and shouldn’t date any of these men.
What was he playing at here? As if in answer to my silent question, I could feel him pleading with me.
What? Did he want me to play along here?
Was he seriously using me for ratings? Oh. My. Titans.
Well, if he wanted fireworks, he was going to get some. An entire celestial display of them.
“Isn’t your job as the ‘Architect of Love’”—I used air quotes to highlight how ridiculous the name was for a grown man—“to find the right person for me? For all of us on this show? Is it my fault you didn’t choose right?”
His jaw tightened.
I leaned in, voice sweet and lethal.
“It’s not like I would lead these men on. They’re my friends. I like them. What would that say about me if I did?”
I flashed him a bright take that smile.