Page 42 of Most Eligible
A classic…I wonder if he hears the echo too, or if it’s only me that’s stuck in an endless loop of that night.
“Maybe.” I purse my lips. “I feel kind of bad for him though. His knee seems really painful. Is he taking anything for it?” I don’t mean to ask such a leading question, but Rhett’s eyes narrow like I’ve hit a bullseye. A familiar thrum starts in my chest, working its way out to the tips of my fingers. I’m onto something.
Rhett shrugs, glancing at me. “Viagra?”
I guess I won’t be getting a straight answer out of him. “You don’t have to be so mean about him.”
“Don’t I?” he asks lightly. “I learned a long time ago that it’s not a good idea to lie to women on reality television.”
We pull into a parking lot near Ventura Beach, and Rhett parks next to the fleet of producers’ cars. Beyond them, a small amusement park rises out of the asphalt.
Rhett hops out as Roland jogs up to us, a makeup artist trailing after him, brush held aloft.
“Georgia Peach!” Roland calls. Behind him, Addison stands sulkily with a few PAs. Roland wraps his arms around me,squashing me against his chest. He stands on tiptoe so he can talk to Rhett and survey the scene all while embracing me. I wonder what the weather’s like up there.
“Sweet ride,” Roland says, releasing me. He’s already on to the next thing, already running his finger over the sleek metal of the convertible’s hood.
“She’s all yours,” Rhett says. He turns the keys over in his hand, but his eyes lock on mine.
Roland laughs with excitement. “Seriously?”
The sound of click-clacking heels grows louder, and Lainey steps up next to the car, sunglasses obscuring half of her pinched face. “Just for B-roll.”
“Can I drive it?” Roland awaits her answer like a kindergartener asking for extra recess.
Lainey puckers her lips to the side and glances at her watch. “Fine,” she says. “But only around the parking lot, and then Rhett can head out. Georgia, come with me. We have to get some interview footage of you girls before we head into the park.”
A flutter of panic settles in my stomach at the thought of going on an amusement park ride, but that’s a problem for later. As I walk toward the crowd of PAs and Addison, I glance behind me at the two men.
Rhett tosses his keys to Roland, who catches them as neatly as a tennis ball.
“Careful with her,” Rhett says. Again, he’s talking about the car, but his eyes stray to mine. They lock in, hooking somewhere around my belly button and tugging.
“You got it, boss.” Roland grins and shoots finger guns.
Rhett doesn’t bother to hide his scowl as he steps back from the car. “Not what I meant.”
Post–Week One Interviews, Clips
“I think Roland has a great shot at love with a lot of the women. He’s building strong connections and that’s what the first few weeks are all about. [pause] Georgia and Addison… I don’t know, I think Georgia is trying to stay out of the drama, which is probably a smart move. Addison’s lethal, but I’m sure Georgia can handle herself.”
—Rhett Auburn, season 20 host ofLove Shack
Chapter Fifteen
The seaside amusement park is completely deserted. It’s vaguely postapocalyptic: dusty pastel rides, shuttered food stands, empty chip bags blowing in the breeze. The only other people in sight are producers and the bored employee manning the circle of death before us.
I wish I could jump back in Rhett’s car and whiz away. The last time I was on a Ferris wheel was with my dad in middle school, right after my parents’ divorce. We’d gone from eating cereal together every morning to visits twice a week, and it was hard to find natural conversation topics. Whenever I had something to say, it felt like he should have already known—or like by having to tell him I was only underscoring how little we really talked.
I was too worried about messing up my day with him to remind him that I was scared of heights. But having a panic attack at peak altitude and breathing into a paper bag on the way home messed up our day without me even trying.
“Ready?” Lainey gives all three of us a quick once-overand nods, her eyes snagging briefly on my chest. “Georgia”—I should’ve put on a bra—“can you at least try to look happy?”
I jerk my head up to look at Lainey, who’s staring not at my chest, but at my face. “Your expression is saying ‘I have RBF and I’m a pain in the ass.’ Itneedsto say ‘The only RBF I know is Roland’s Beautiful Face. He is my everything.’ Understood?”
I blink at her and nod, but pulling up my smile is as painful as if there were fishhooks dug into the corners of my mouth.
Roland reaches for my hand, then awkwardly pulls back, glancing at Addison. He shoves both fists into his pockets and looks curiously at me. “You okay?”
