Page 31 of Most Eligible
“Surely you’ve said everything you need to.” Her saccharine voice makes my blood curdle. “You’ve had so much time. Unless you’ve been doing something else? Something more important?”
Before I can respond, she sweeps away to whisper somethingto Norbert. All I can do is file forward and take my place in the wide semicircle of women.
I’m done. This has to be it. Even if Roland could forgive me for not talking to him tonight, there’s no chance Lainey will want me around if she knows where I went.
Nina catches my eye and gives me a reassuring smile. Next to me, Olie is fluffing her hair, which puffs into my face and makes me cough as Rhett comes out to greet us. We aren’t waiting long before the cameras are rolling and bright TV lights drown out the darkness.
“Ladies, it’s been quite the night,” Rhett begins. His gaze flicks to me, but I don’t look at him. I can’t look at him. I’m too busy trying to catch Roland’s eye, and when I do, he smiles. I widen my eyes, trying to let him know that tonight was a mistake, that I thought I had more time. And somehow, magically, he understands. His gray eyes turn up at the corners and he smiles. He mouths something that looks like “you and me,” but I can’t be sure. I smile back, trying to pack as much emotion as possible into my face.
Next to me, Olie is still buzzing with anticipation, and she looks at Roland, eyes shining.
“You and me, baby,” she whispers, and I frown. Now Roland is looking at her. Did I just imagine our entire silent conversation? Is he seriously talking to Olie right now?
Before I can overthink it any more, the moment has arrived. Just like he did on the first night, Roland steps forward and takes his place next to Rhett. He takes a slip of paper from his pocket and stares at it for a moment before tucking it away again.
“Before me are fifteen incredible girls,” Roland says, clasping his hands together. I stiffen at his use of the word “girls,” and I’m not alone. I see Nina barely control an eye roll and Brooklyn, sitting on Nina’s other side, frowns deeply before rearranging herface into a pleasant smile. “But I can only go into next week with ten of you.”
Rhett stands stoically beside him. His green eyes flash in the TV lights, but he doesn’t look at me. Is he about to get what he wanted? Am I about to be sent home?
“Monica,” Roland says. No surprise there. I try to look happy as she floats forward and joins him at the front of the group, planting a kiss on his cheek and making him go pink. He murmurs something to her, brushes his hand against her shoulder, and then Rhett leads her into the mansion.
Addison is next. No surprise there either, though I wish he’d shocked us all and sent her home. Olie fluffs her hair again as Roland looks at us. I can’t help straightening my back, smiling even wider, like those few millimeters could make a difference in Roland’s decisions.
Nina and Brooklyn go next, called up to the front by a smiling Roland and led inside by a silent Rhett.
“Chloe.”
Chloe lets out an audible sigh of relief and hustles forward to give Roland a quick hug. She whispers something in his ear, and he smiles, blushing slightly.
Across the semicircle, Philippa watches her go inside, chin jutted forward stoically.
“Philippa,” Roland says.
She blinks rapidly, and she jerks her head to look at him. “I—” she splutters. “Are you sure?”
A few people laugh, and Roland nods, beckoning her forward. “Yes, I’m sure. Are you?”
She walks forward and gives Roland a confident peck on the cheek, like she’s the one doing him the favor of staying into next week.
Before I know it, there are seven of us left outside, and it’slost on no one that Roland will call only two more names. One of them has to be me. But the same thought must be running through each hair-sprayed head in the garden.
My money’s on Sonya at least—and hopefully me. Both Hannah A. and Hannah L. are near tears, but I don’t think either of them stand a chance. And as much as Olie makes me laugh, she just doesn’t seem like a realistic option for Roland. Honestly, she’s too interesting for him.
“Olie,” he says. I can’t disguise the shock from my face. Occasionally, the producers keep wacky contestants around to spice things up, but something in Roland’s eyes is genuine, like he can truly see something with Olie.
She hustles forward and gives him a huge hug that melts my heart. I hope he’s not keeping her just to jerk her around. She glances back and gives me a thumbs-up as Rhett leads her away. It’s more than I deserve.
Roland pulls out his paper, but I don’t know what he expects to see there. Everybody knows he’ll call only one more name, and if he hasn’t already decided who it’s going to be, then we’re all in trouble.
“Ladies,” Rhett says, returning to Roland’s side. “There will be only one more name called tonight. The rest of you will say your goodbyes. Roland, whenever you’re ready.”
Roland looks like he might pass out. He keeps shifting his eyes between the remaining women and someone off to the side. I glance over and see Lainey shaking her head at him. He looks down at the paper, then goes to stick it in his pocket. Unnoticed by him, the paper flutters to the ground as he clears his throat. The Hannahs are vibrating with nerves. Sonya’s jaw is set, eyes trained on Roland like a hawk.
“Georgia,” Roland says resolutely.
Relief washes through me. Suddenly I’m in his arms, enveloped in a hug, and he’s whispering into my hair.
“I’m sorry you were last. I’m so sorry.”
