As Emily works her way down the line, I realize some of these guys never had a chance. There just wasn’t enough time, and they didn’t seize the small opportunity they had. Reality TV just isn’t for them. Hell, it isn’t for me either. But seeing Emily, I have to win.
Thankfully, a few of the loudmouth guys get sent off too, one of whom doesn’t take it too well. After recovering from his shock, the jackass goes straight to anger and starts loudly muttering about how the producers will hear from his agent. I wonder if they’ll edit that out or leave it for dramatic effect.
Emily seems a little confused and wary, but she continues down the row.
She matches a couple more guys, including Lee. I have to admit, that match makes me grit my teeth, but there’s nothing I can do about it. I knew the sly bastard wasn’t getting cut tonight. He’s got too much charisma and, at least in front of Emily, he’s been a perfect gentleman. I’ll just have to bide my time and expose him for the snake that he is.
And then it’s my turn.
Standing in front of me, I realize she’s shaking. God, I wish I could take her in my arms right here and now and tell her everything will be all right. But they’ve made it clear what the rules are, and that’s out of bounds.
I am allowed to touch her, though, so I reach out and take her hand, covering it with my own. “It’s okay, Emily. You can do this,” I tell her in a reassuring voice.
There’s a long pause as she stares up at me with wide, doe eyes. There’s no way she’s cutting me, but for a moment, my confidence wavers. Then, she suddenly smiles and recites her lines and we flip our cards over simultaneously.
It’s a match.
Emily
“Oh, my God,” I moan as I get ready to head down to hair and makeup. I haven’t seen McKayla and Brad since last night and I can’t believe I’m actually looking forward to their bickering. “That was one of the hardest, most awkward things I’ve ever had to do in my life!”
I’m no wallflower, but being the center of attention with all those guys felt so weird. All the grins, all the compliments, started to make me feel dizzy at one point, and I was grateful when Meredith called to cut.
I hated sending some of the men home, too. Some, I hardly even got to speak to. But I had little choice in the matter. When Meredith and Nate went through the list with me, they pressured me to keep those who were more ‘camera friendly’, so even though I wish I’d had more time to get to know four of the guys, I had to cut them. Instead, I kept the fifteen who most matched what I’m looking for, and what Meredith’s looking for.
Luckily, after all the non-match guys had been escorted off set, it was a little more celebratory. We all jumped around and cheered like we’d won the homecoming game.
Lee even picked me up, bouncing me like I’d scored the winning goal, although honestly, I think he might’ve just been feeling my ass. If he wasn’t so hot, I might have more of a problem with it, because I don’t normally move that fast. Besides, I’m hoping it was just for the cameras, so I’ll give him a pass.
We’d shot one more scene last night, where Meredith had us all gather around a big lit-up wheel and I spun it to see what our date activity would be for today. That’s how I found out our first group date is going to be bowling, and I haven’t bowled since I was a kid with gutter guards. I can’t imagine this will go well, but with the guys, I think it’ll be fun.
I let out a sigh, feeling slightly depressed as I look at myself in the mirror.
“Wonder what they’d think if they saw me now?” I whisper, running my hands through my disheveled mane that looks wild from a night of tossing and turning. Without all the hair extensions, makeup, and false eyelashes, I look nothing at all like the diva who rocked the party last night.
I do love how I look all jazzed up, but a part of me thinks that it’s a bad thing. Whomever I end up choosing is going to be so used to seeing me made up like a doll.
The thought depresses me, but I have shit to do. I push down my worries and leave the room, making my way to hair and makeup.
“Holy shit, girlfriend, what happened to you?” Brad exclaims in horror when I walk through the door. Unlike me, he and McKayla look fresh-faced, with Brad wearing neon pink pants and a white dress shirt while McKayla looks like she’s channeling Dita von Teese for a night on the town in her painted-on low-cut mermaid dress, fishnets, and sky-high platform heels. Her hair is styled like Peg Bundy and I wonder just how much product it takes to poof it up like that. As I stare at her hair, Brad questions me. “Did you sleep with all fifteen guys last night . . . all at the same time?” He actually sounds a bit hopeful that maybe I did.
I give him a glare as I make my way over to the chair, trying not to giggle. “Oh, shut up!”
McKayla laughs, her hands on her hips. “You tell ‘em, girl. Don’t listen to him. He’s just jealous, wishing he could get in that meat pile.”
Brad looks at McKayla like she’s lost her mind. “Whatever, bitch. I’ll have you know that I’ve made more than a few straight men change teams. I already know three that I’d turn gay so fast that two-dollar weave you’re wearing would fly off your head.” He does his twirl and pops his hip, his signature move it seems. “No one can resist this booty.” To reiterate the point, he gives his ass cheek a little smack.
I laugh as I climb in my chair and McKayla makes a face of disgust. “Bitch, please. I’ve seen better asses on a donkey.”
“Oh, thank you!” I sigh, wiping at my eyes. It’s only been a minute and I’m already feeling better. “I so needed that after last night. It was so stressful.”
McKayla gives me a sympathetic look as she grabs a flat iron off the vanity. “It sure looked like it, but you need to relax. You’ve got a lot more to go.”
There’s a couple of moments of silence as she gets started. “Well?” McKayla asks me as she’s messing with my hair.
“Well, what?” I ask.
“Spill it, chickadee. Who’s your favorite?” she demands. Before I can reply, she adds, “It’s Lee, isn’t it? When I saw him twirl you, girl, I about swooned myself! I love a man who can dance, and that man looks like he’s got some moves.” McKayla’s eyes are twinkling as she speaks, a look of infatuation on her face. Remembering Lee’s smoothness, I can’t blame her.
Brad doesn’t share her opinion, shaking his head almost immediately as he uses the a wet wipe to remove any residual makeup from my face and then applies a primer. “Oh, hell, no. That one is a slick willy, and I don’t mean that in the sense that he’ll ease on in. I’d watch him with sharp eyes if I were you.”
“I’m watching,” I mutter. “Trust me, I’m watching.” I pause for a moment as Brad starts applying foundation with his brush. “Is there anyone else I should watch out for?”
I watch Brad purse his lips in the mirror. “I think that Matt one is a cutie, but I don’t think it’s my ego talking when I say he might be more interested in me than you. Not sure what that means for you, Miss Em. But if you cut him, I’m making a trip over to the elimination house to see if my gaydar tingles are right . . . at least for the night.”