Chapter Thirty
When we get back from the hot-air balloon ride, Blue is waiting for us in the field with a golf cart. Andrew and I try our best to act natural while also stealing glances at each other like teenagers afraid of getting caught by their parents.
We hop in the back of the cart and Blue looks at us suspiciously before he turns to me. “Well, you certainly seem happier than when you were threatening to kill me.”
I shrug and say, “It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.”
I can tell Andrew is trying not to smile. Unfortunately, Blue clocks this too, facing him. “You’re awfully calm for a guy who just got fired. I tried talking Kristina down, but she wasn’t having it. She’s pissed.”
That brings me back to reality. It was easy enough to forget when we were in our own little world with champagne and vegan cheese and other . . . distractions, but shit, Andrew lost his job today.
Andrew sobers up a little at Blue’s words. “Thanks for trying, Blue, but it’s okay.”
Blue starts driving as I turn to Andrew with concern. But he immediately squeezes my hand and whispers, “I don’t regret it.”
I squeeze his hand back and smile at him, wondering what this means for us. Because for the first time in my life, I can see a future with a guy.
“Why are you two smiling like that?” Blue asks, looking in the rearview mirror of the golf cart.
I cover my mouth and will my face not to turn red. “We’re not. I’m just happy to be alive and not splattered on a mountain somewhere.”
Blue looks back and forth, still trying to figure us out as he pulls up to the employee lot where Andrew has parked.
“Well, I better go,” Andrew says. “I’d rather not get into it with Kristina today. She can officially fire me tomorrow.” And then, right in front of Blue, he leans over and gives me a sweet kiss goodbye. “See you soon?” he whispers.
I nod and whisper back, “Thanks for coming with me.”
Then we regretfully pull apart. “Bye, Blue. See you around, Grace.” Andrew gives me one last meaningful smile before he turns and walks away.
Once he’s out of earshot, Blue spins to me. “What the hell was that?”
“I don’t know what you’re referring to,” I try to say casually but end up sounding like I have a posh British accent.
“Oh my God, I knew it. I called it the first day you were fighting. I bet Madison and Ciara that it was sexual tension and you guys just needed to screw it out of your systems.”
I shush him, even though no one is around. “We didn’t screw.”
Blue waits for me to elaborate, but I don’t.
I don’t know what the implications would be for me and my standing on the show if anyone found out what happened off camera.
But mostly, I’m still worried about getting Andrew in trouble.
Even if he’s no longer an employee, I’m sure Kristina could find a way to fuck him over.
I pretend to zip my mouth shut and Blue rolls his eyes. “Whatever, I’ll get it out of you eventually.” Then he turns the golf cart key and snaps back into work mode. “You’re the first one back. The rest of the contestants are still on their dates, so you have some free time.”
“Cool. Maybe I’ll put on my bathing suit and hang by the pool,” I say. I have no intention of sunbathing, but I need an excuse to go back to the shack and get my contraband phone so I can call Cassie.
A few minutes later, Blue pulls up next to the shack. “Anything you want to tell me before I go?” he asks.
“You’re great at driving a golf cart?” I say, pretending I don’t know what he’s getting at.
He shakes his head at me. “Fine. Be like that. I’ll catch you later, sketchball,” he says affectionately and drives off toward the mansion.
The second I enter the shack, I dive into my suitcase and pull out my phone, rapidly dialing Cassie. She answers on the second ring. “Hey, Grace, how’s it—”
“I kissed Andrew. A few times. And . . . other things.”
“—going? Okay, I guess it’s going well, then. Wait, which one is Andrew again?”
“Old Man Benson,” I say without hiding my excitement. “And I can’t tell anyone on the show, so I had to tell you.”
“Ohmigosh, I knew you liked the lawyer! You’ve never hated someone so much while also waxing poetic about their facial hair before.”
“I do. I actually like him.”
“And you’re admitting it!” she gasps. “I’m so happy for you! Wow, this is really turning out to be a great day. The donations are pouring in, which means we might not lose our jobs, and you finally figured out you like the lawyer—”
“Wait, what was that about our jobs?”
“Forget I said that! I wasn’t supposed to say anything.”
“No way. You better say something!”
Cassie exhales loudly. “Well . . . we weren’t going to tell you because we didn’t want you to worry or put even more pressure on you than we already are.
But the board said if we don’t raise the money, it’s not just the vaccine program that’s in danger.
They’ll have to let go of at least one of us. Maybe two.”
“No!” I practically shout. “They can’t let anyone go! I handpicked this team. I’ll figure out a way to pay everyone’s salaries. I’ll sell my condo. And my car. And my bike. I’ll walk to work.”
“I know you would, honey. That’s why we didn’t tell you. But it’s okay, we’ll be fine because our plan is working! You just have to stay on the show a little longer so we can keep raising money.”
“I’ll try,” I vow. “Hopefully, Kristina’s sad sack storyline will help.”
“You’re America’s Favorite!” Cassie adds. “That’s got to mean something, right?”
“I’ll be fine,” I promise her. Because now that I know my friends’ jobs are on the line, I’ll have to be.
“Matt is doing a big cross-platform push this week, whatever that means. And I’ve told everyone I know to vote for you. Even my weird Aunt Linda.”
“The one who collects spoons? You hate talking to her!”
“I know! But you can’t be the only one making sacrifices.” I laugh and then Cassie says, “Oh shoot. I’m sorry, I have to run. I forgot I have to test some salamanders for parasites.”
“Ugh, you get to have all the fun while I’m stuck by the pool,” I groan, dead serious.
“There will be plenty of parasites for you when you get back,” she says.
“There better be,” I whine.
“Love you! Bye!” and with that Cassie hangs up.
Not knowing what to do with myself while I wait for everyone else to get back, and still buzzing from my incredible date with Andrew, I decide I might as well head to the pool.
I don’t bother changing into a bathing suit, but just plop down on a lounge chair in my sundress.
Before I even have the chance to risk sun damage, Kristina finds me.
My heart drops as she sits down on the chaise next to mine and levels me with her gaze. “I know you were the one who made the labor complaint. You’ve consistently broken your contract, and now my lawyer quit because of you.”
“You fired him.”
“Semantics. Point is, the protocol is to kick you off the show.”
I stop breathing. This is what I was afraid of.
I mentally kick myself for getting so caught up in lusting over Andrew and standing up to Kristina’s injustices that I lost sight of the prize.
And then I get mad. “You can’t do that! I’ve done everything you wanted.
I wore a cut-up bathing suit and played Suck and Blow and did body shots and went on a hot-air balloon ride for you—”
Kristina holds up her hand to stop me. “Luckily for you, you and Javier are tracking really high.”
“Wait, what? You’re not kicking me off the show?”
“Unfortunately not. You’re too good for our ratings.”
“What does this have to do with Javier?”
She looks deeply aggravated that she has to explain this to me but quickly rattles off, “You and Javi got the most votes for America’s Favorite Contestant, and there’s an algorithm that helps us track what people are saying about the show in comments on the website, social media, reality TV blogs, et cetera.
And it turns out that you’re the favorite couple on the show. ”
“But we’re not a couple.”
“Well, after he kissed you in Suck and Blow, America thinks you are. You even have a celebrity couple name. #Gracier is trending. Next episode we’ll show him doing the body shot off you, but we also need to reestablish your connection to take advantage of the momentum.”
“We’re just friends,” I protest.
“Eh, that’s nothing tequila and a sexy one-on-one date can’t fix.”
“I can’t do that to Ciara! She really likes him.”
“You’re not here to make friends, Grace,” Kristina admonishes me.
“Yeah, I didn’t think so either . . . but what if I am?”
Kristina rolls her eyes. “Then I guess you have to decide what’s more important—making it to the end and winning the show and the $250,000 or being pen pals with a tattoo artist from Vegas.”
Offended on Ciara’s behalf by the way she says it, I’m about to tell her what I really think of her when my phone call with Cassie flashes through my mind.
If I don’t stay on the show, one of my closest friends could lose their job.
As much as I like Ciara and Madison, I can’t put people I’ve known for a week ahead of the people I’ve worked in the trenches with for the past three years.
Cassie, Eliza, and Alec are all amazing at their jobs and have worked so tirelessly for my vision that I know I’ll do whatever I have to in order to protect them.
But I still feel shitty when I steady my breathing and say, “What do I have to do?”
“Glad you came to your senses. Just pick Javier for your one-on-one date tonight and get him to like you again. A kiss would really sell it,” Kristina says callously, as she stands.
My stomach churns like I’m going to be sick.
It’s one thing for Javi and me to pretend we like each other, but I can’t, in good conscience, kiss him.
Not mere hours after sharing several life-altering kisses with Andrew.
For the first time ever, I have real feelings for a guy.
That means something to me. I don’t want to cheapen it by fake-kissing someone else.
Besides, what would Andrew think if he sees me locking lips with another guy right after we had an amazing day together?
Before I can protest, Kristina calls over her shoulder, “Oh, and don’t tell anyone about this conversation.
We need everyone’s authentic reactions. It makes for better drama.
If I find out you’ve warned anyone, even anyone on the production or legal side, you’ll be off the show immediately.
Great chat.” And with that, she leaves me shell-shocked by the pool.