Chapter 26
CHAPTER 26
RHETT
She won. Savannah won.
I know I should feel sad that I didn’t win, but all I feel is happy for her. I imagine that money dropping into her bank account and how safe and secure she’ll feel for the first time in her life.
I only want good things for my Sunny.
The competition ended last night, and Savannah spent the evening doing interview after interview through Zoom and on the phone. By the time she was done, we ate dinner and crashed. Our last night together wasn’t nearly as romantic as I’d hoped.
I had hoped to talk to her without cameras around, tell her how I really felt, see if she felt the same, and exchange numbers so we could keep in contact. Instead, she fell asleep with her head on my shoulder, and we woke up early this morning in the courtyard. When she realized the time, she ran upstairs to finish packing.
“All packed up?” She’s standing in the doorway of my room with her luggage in hand.
“Almost.”
“When does your flight leave?”
“Later this afternoon. Yours?”
“In a little over two hours.”
“Yikes. I guess you have to get to the airport soon then, huh?”
“Right now, actually. My driver is waiting.”
“Your driver? So fancy, Savannah Greene, winner of The Baking Games .”
She smiles. “Thank you for helping me get through this competition, Rhett. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“Sure you could have, Sunny.” I walk over and pull her into a hug, pressing my lips to the top of her head.
“I bet you’re relieved,” she says, her face pressed to my chest.
I pull back. “Why would I be relieved?”
“Because you don’t have to pretend anymore, right?”
Then it dawns on me. Pretend to be in love with her. Pretend that we’re in a relationship.
“Right. No more cameras to worry about,” I say, looking around the room. Production is packing up just like we are.
Suddenly, I freeze. To her, it was all make-believe. I can’t admit my feelings and get shut down. It would shatter my already fragile heart even more than it’s shattered right now.
“Well, I’d better get downstairs. Thank you so much for supporting me in this competition. Take care of yourself, Rhett. ”
“You too, Sunny. Enjoy all that money,” I say, forcing a smile. Why is this so awkward?
She walks down the stairs, opens the front door, and disappears.
SAVANNAH
I’m alone outside in the hot Georgia summer sun.
My car is here, but Rhett isn’t beside me. He didn’t say he cared about me. He didn’t ask me to be with him. He just agreed with me that it was nice not to have to pretend anymore.
This really was all a fantasy, and most of it was created in my own mind.
It was all for the show. He told me that, but I guess a part of me wanted to believe that he was falling in love with me.
I refocus myself and remember that I did this for Sadie and for me. Now, our lives can finally start. Sadie is probably online filling out college applications already, and the thought makes me smile.
I did it. I made it happen.
Sure, the audience probably kept me around longer because they were obsessed with Rhett and me. But most of it I did myself. After all, I didn’t agree to the fake relationship until last week. It was just the cherry on top.
“Ready?” my driver asks as he exits the dark SUV.
“Yep.”
He loads my luggage into the back before opening my door. “Your chariot awaits, ma’am.”
I climb inside and take one final look at The Baking Games house. This is the place where my life changed. Where I learned I’m worthy of being called a great pastry chef. Where I felt my heart open for the first time and where my heart was broken by the man I swore was my rival.
RHETT
I run downstairs, determined to catch Savannah before she leaves. All I see is the back of a black SUV turning at the end of the road.
I missed her. I missed my one chance.
I didn’t tell her how I felt while she was right in front of me.
What kind of an idiot am I?
Now, she’s about to be on a plane headed for home, and I’m heading to my next cruise ship. I don’t even have her phone number!
Maybe the producers will give it to me.
Maybe I will text her in a week and ask how she’s doing.
Or maybe she thinks I’m a royal jerk.
I have no idea.
SAVANNAH
I hate airports. There are way too many people everywhere, and somebody is always coughing or sneezing. I do not want to get sick. I want to go home, wait for my big check, sign my cookbook deal, talk to Keira and Keaton about their wedding in a few weeks, and see my sister.
It’s going to be a busy time. Lots to look forward to!
But I can’t stop thinking about Rhett.
His broad shoulders. Those blue eyes that look like ocean swirls. The way his cologne smells.
Ugh. Why can’t things work out like the movies?
Why didn’t he chase my car down the street? Why didn’t he profess his love to me?
I consider myself somewhat of a feminist, so I suppose I could’ve professed my love to him.
Wait. I love Rhett Jennings? Is that true? It sure feels true.
I step onto the airplane and look for my seat, ready to get home and spend a few days relaxing with Sadie.
She can quit her job and focus on school. I can go tell Big Thelma I’m done being her punching bag. That makes me smile.
I find my seat and settle in. I hope no one sits next to me. I like having space around me. Having strangers pushed up against me is not my idea of a good time.
I start allowing myself to think of names for my new bakery. Will I stay in the suburbs or open it somewhere else? Somewhere with new memories to be made?
“Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. This is your captain speaking. On behalf of the entire crew, welcome aboard Flight 1683, non-stop service to Atlanta. We are now ready to depart, and the cabin door is securely closed. Please make sure that all your carry-on items are stowed either in the overhead compartments or under the seat in front of you, and that your seat belts are fastened.
We ask that you turn off all electronic devices or switch them to airplane mode at this time. Please also ensure that your seat backs and tray tables are in their full upright and locked positions.
The weather en route looks favorable, but we may encounter some turbulence, so please keep your seat belts fastened whenever you are seated.
In just a few moments, our flight attendants will be passing through the cabin to perform a final safety check and to demonstrate the safety features of this aircraft. We appreciate your attention to this important demonstration.
We are committed to making your flight comfortable and enjoyable. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the flight.”
Time to go home.
Four weeks later
SAVANNAH
I’ve done the hard part, but my heart is still racing. Being at a celebrity wedding in New York City wasn’t on my list of things I would ever do. But here I stand next to Keira and Keaton, two of the world’s biggest celebrities, while they cut their wedding cake.
I will be in their wedding photos, and the magazine spread about their wedding. How insane is that?
Sadie waves at me from across the room. Keira and Keaton were so kind to invite her, too. They really are the nicest people.
The crowd erupts as they push pieces of cake into each other’s mouths. I slowly creep away, wanting to be out of the limelight. I had my fifteen minutes of fame, and that was quite enough for me.
“This is so amazing!” Sadie yells over music that just started blaring out of the speakers nearby.
“Can you believe we’re here? I mean us! Nobody would’ve ever predicted the Greene sisters would end up at a fancy NYC wedding with two celebrities.”
She smiles. “And all because you took a chance on yourself. I’m so proud of you, sissy!” She hugs my neck like she’s done a thousand times since I got home. I thought we’d never let go of each other at the airport that day.
“Have you gotten any responses from the colleges you applied to?”
“A couple, but let’s not talk about real life right now. Let’s immerse ourselves in this dream life while we can!” She dances away from me toward a crowd of people and waves.
“What are you doing, Sadie?” I’m genuinely confused about why she abandoned me beside the punch bowls.
“Have you seen my hippopotamus, madam?”
I would know his voice anywhere.
I slowly turn, and Rhett stands there wearing a tuxedo, generally looking like the hottest man on earth.
“Rhett? What are you doing here?”
“Um, I was invited, thank you very much. I did come in second on The Baking Games behind a seriously sexy redhead.”
I smile because I always smile around Rhett. “It’s so good to see you.” I step forward and hug him, pressing my cheek to his strong chest. Is it too much to ask to stay here forever?
He wraps his arms around me tightly. “I’ve missed you.” He says it so softly that I barely hear him.
I pull away and look up at him. “You have?”
“You haven’t missed me?”
“Of course I have! But you just said goodbye at the house like that was it. I figured I wouldn’t see you again.”
He looks truly shocked. “Why would you think that?”
“Because you were faking the relationship. Why would you need to see me after it was all over?”
He reaches out and puts his hands on my cheeks, cradling my face. “Sunny, haven’t you realized by now that none of that was fake?”
“What?”
“I wasn’t faking anything. Sure, I didn’t know how I felt when I originally asked you to pretend with me. But the moment we were chained together, I knew.”
I swallow the lump in my throat. He brushes his thumb across my cheek over and over.
“I knew, too.”
A smile spreads across his face. “So, you weren’t faking either?”
“No. Never.” My voice is shaking.
He pulls me back into him. “Thank God.”
“Wait,” I say, pulling away again. “What happens now?”
“Well, for one, we do this,” he says, pressing his lips to mine in the most passionate kiss of my life. Warm lips, frantic movements. Hands in hair. His hand on my lower back. So much is happening at once, and I’ve never wanted to crawl into another person’s skin like this.
Suddenly, someone clears their throat. We disconnect our hungry lips from each other and look sideways to see Sadie standing there, a knowing smile on her face.
“Excuse me, y’all, but did you forget this is someone else’s wedding?”
I laugh. “Rhett, meet my sister, Sadie.”
He smiles and shakes her hand, his face turning several shades of red. “Hey, Sadie. I’ve heard a lot about you.”