Chapter 17 – Pookie #3
Gunnar's eyes dart back and forth. "I was outed against my will by the person I thought was my best friend in high school. Your secret is safe with me, but I think you're both delusional if you think it's going to stay secret for long."
Braxton frowns. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, look at you." Gunnar grins and opens the door. "You two are so in love with each other that it makes me fucking sick."
"Oh no," Braxton shakes his head. "I'm not in love with him."
I'm not sure Gunnar heard what Braxton said as he slammed the door behind him, but I definitely heard what he just said.
I glare at Braxton, unsure if I'm hurt or confused. It's been a long day—and it's only been a few hours—and I'm tired and exhausted. Facing my past in such a head-on way has taken a lot out of me, so I don't have the energy to pry feelings from my favorite 'straight' boy.
"What?" Braxton scoffs, blissfully unaware of the inward battle he's sparked. "Love is a big ass word."
For the last filmed event of the first season of the show, the entire cast gathers on the beach for a picnic.
Grievances are aired. Friendships are mended.
And everyone leaves off on a positive note.
Production was not pleased that Cameron decided to quit the show, choosing to fly home instead of attending the finale.
I played the part I was hired to play and confronted Gunnar, putting on a show about how we will never be friends. He did his part in return but took it a little too easy on me. I'm not sure it'll come across as believable to the audience.
After the dinner, we all moved to the hotel pool where production is hosting a wrap party.
Maverick and Avalon have a twink cornered in the pool, where Avalon watches her boyfriend lose his tongue somewhere down the twink's throat.
Dixon and Mike are off to the side, arguing about something, but they're too far away to make out what they're fighting about.
Boone sits at the bar, taking shots with Jules.
The funniest thing happened as soon as cameras turned off for the season.
It's like a switch was flipped, and Jules became a different person—lighter, funnier, and an absolute joy to be around.
The weight of our bad behavior is no longer a stressor for her...
at least until the reunion a little bit further down the road.
Braxton and I sit on the ledge of the pool, kicking our feet in the water that's painted a neon pink from the hotel's lighting.
Braxton looks fucking unreal in his yellow Speedo, and it takes every bit of self-control I have not to grab him by the waist and kiss him the way I want to kiss him.
To kiss him until he loves me and doesn't have a problem saying so.
But I can't.
"How long are we sticking around?" I whisper to Braxton and slyly pet him on the shoulder. "That's code for me being horny."
"You're going to be waiting a while," he teases with a cocky grin. "We're going out to the club right after."
I peek over my shoulder at the poolhouse bathroom and think of how hot it'd be to have him fuck me right there.
Sure, we could go up to the hotel room and have a quickie, but that's not as fun.
Before I can relay this naughty suggestion to Braxton, I spot Gunnar swimming up to meet us at the edge of the pool.
He slicks his hair back as he wades in the water. "I don't want either of you getting the wrong idea," he begins. "I still don't like either of you. But we're a family, and family watches out for each other." He clears his throat before continuing, "And I'm sorry for bringing him around."
Apology accepted, but there's one piece of this puzzle that's confusing me. "I don't want to go backward with you, but can I just ask why you disliked me so much you would bring Cameron onto the show?"
"Since we're done filming, and considering the hell I put you through, I think I owe you the truth.
" He lifts himself from the pool, chlorinated water pouring like a waterfall from his scantily clad body.
He adjusts his camo Speedo before taking a seat beside me.
"Talon suggested a feud and connected me to Cameron. "
I think my eyes fly out of my skull. "How the fuck did Talon know about Cameron and me?"
"Producers are like investigators," Gunnar shrugs. "They're experts at digging up dirt from our pasts. Roger didn't show up to that party randomly; he showed up because Cameron wouldn't. Talon had to personally convince Cameron to show up."
"Wow," is all I can bring myself to say.
I always knew production—especially Jules and Talon—could be sketchy, but I truly wasn't prepared for just how low they could go. It makes sense, though. This is a business to them.
"That doesn't surprise me," Braxton says, pointing to me. "Talon made me befriend you."
"What?"
"Yeah, he offered me an extra ten grand to be your friend," he chuckles, but quickly corrects himself. The expression on his face shifts to something more serious—flat lips and a clenched jaw. "I'll share half with you."