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Monica had just given her the rundown on the next few days, and Stella would have to start at six a.m. tomorrow. Her body felt heavy with exhaustion, punctuated by bags under her eyes. Even with everything in her screaming to sleep, there was a tingle of anticipation at finally beginning her big break still coursing through her veins, making sleep impossible.
The floor creaked outside her door and footsteps continued down the hall. Curious at the noise, Stella abandoned her seat and peered into the corridor, where she saw Quinn leaning around the wall, trying to glimpse the women milling about downstairs.
“Are you spying? Come on. You’ll meet them all tomorrow.” Stella walked a few steps towards the top of the stairs.
Quinn startled, precariously balancing at the top of the stairs. Lurching forward, Stella wrapped her arm around her waist to keep her from crashing down the stairs and pulled her to safety down the hall. Once Quinn was steady on her feet, she let go.
“Do you think we could chill in your room for a few? I clearly can’t be trusted with my thoughts and could use some company.” Quinn’s words were tentative, but a hint of laughter underlay them.
Stella eyed her room, wanting nothing more than to crawl under the covers. Her eyelids were heavy and felt like sandpaper every time she blinked. However, the nervous energy Quinn was putting out made her sigh while motioning with her arm to go inside.
Quinn smirked as she passed, looking around the room. “Mine’s bigger, but it doesn’t have this gorgeous piece of art. It looks like an AJ Beckett piece, don’t you think? You know my uncle had her and her family over recently. I couldn’t get enough of their kid, Parker. She’s one of those kids you wonder what they will do with their lives because you know it’ll be interesting.” Quinn picked up a penholder from Stella’s desk.
“I’m not sure who painted it. All the decorations were here when I got in.” Though intrigued about this Parker kid, Stella avoided following up and itched to return all her items that Quinn was touching. They weren’t being put back exactly right. Stella went to the window instead to keep her from saying something rude.
At this point of exhaustion, she was grumpy and afraid she was the tired equivalent of hangry. What would that be? Slumpy? For sleepy and grumpy, or perhaps greepy? Regardless, it took all her mental energy to stay natural to the talent.
The view was towards the front of the house, but she could only see the top of a lackluster fence. “Are you excited about tomorrow?” Stella asked when Quinn stopped for a breath.
Turning back to the room, she cringed at the sight. Quinn had taken up residence in her bed. Her bright red shorts scrunched up her thigh while her tank top stretched the fabric across her breasts. She had made room for Stella on the bed. Under normal circumstances, Stella would have enjoyed the sight, but she shouldn’t be ogling any of the contestants, especially the main one. Stella settled in the lounge chair near the window.
“I’m nervous and excited. It’s not unlike playing in my first professional game. Although, all I had to do then was put-up points and not puke. I don’t know how to pick the right woman. It’s thrilling that they are all here for me, each of them competing to win my heart. There is something powerful about it.” Quinn sat up, resting her hand on her head.
“What are you going to look for in the women?” Stella asked, then held up her hand. “Wait, that’s a good question to ask when we film. Hold off on answering.” She realized there was something nice about decompressing with someone she didn’t know. If she weren’t so tired, she’d try and carry the conversation better.
“What do you look for in a woman?” Quinn asked, twirling a strand of her light brown hair pulled in a ponytail. “What? It’s not like the show would ask you that, and I’m curious. We’re stuck here through this whole thing, Stella. Might as well get to know each other, don’t you think?”
The words resonated. Stella tilted her head, studying Quinn. She’d gone into the show thinking Quinn would be a spoiled and selfish celebrity, but having spent some time with her, Stella realized she would have to re-evaluate that thought.
“How do you know I look for women?” Stella countered with a teasing smile.
“It’s obvi.” Quinn provided a raised eyebrow paired with a wave in Stella’s general direction—palm out so she knew it was serious.
Her neck cracked when she looked down at her attire. Okay, maybe it was a bit cottage core since she was wearing her bedtime gear of sweats and flannel. “Maybe now, but you saw me talking with Neil the other day. That’s how I normally dress. Did you peg me as lesbian then as well?” Stella leaned on her arms, curious of her answer since it was rare for women to approach her, most assuming she was straight.
“Nope, even then, I knew. You have a vibe. For instance, there is an abundantly clear sign on your hands. I don’t know any straight woman who has two fingernails shorter than the rest. You know sapphics will check out each other’s hands. It’s a thing. Plus, I caught your eyes lingering on my chest.” Quinn highlighted the area with her hands.
Stella shrugged, refusing to give in to the blush floating up her face.
“So… What do you look for in a woman? It’s like pulling teeth, I swear.” Quinn stood from the bed with her hands on her hips.
“I’m usually not the one to delve into my own information. That’s why I chose hosting and not being a contestant, but for tonight's sake, let’s see. I tend to go for women on the more masculine side. My attraction favors the mind over the body, but if she can lift me off the ground…” Stella trailed off, a shiver running up her spine as memories of Avery rushed back. For the hundredth time, she kicked herself for not leaving her number in the note. “I’m a lot, and I need someone who can stimulate me both emotionally and physically. Someone who won’t put up with my shit. Who can throw me down in the bedroom and play a little rough, talk dirty, torment me, and then cuddle lovingly after. Like a couple of sweet but bruised little bananas.”
Quinn gulped, fanning herself. “I think I’ll steal that answer for myself.” She bit her lower lip, checking her wrist for the time. “I should probably get to bed. We have a long day tomorrow. Night, Stella.”
“Sleep well, Quinn.”
After finishing in the bathroom, Stella crawled into bed, pulling the covers near her chin. As her body finally relaxed enough to start drifting off to sleep, the assault of Quinn’s perfume clinging to her sheets made her sneeze.
The alarm went off much too soon for Stella’s liking, but the tickle of anticipation woke her faster than a cup of coffee could. She sprung out of bed and rushed through getting ready.
Since they were trying to keep the design crew to a minimum, she was required to do all the work to get camera-ready. She used the time while putting on her makeup to center herself and shake off any residual anxiety that was trying to build in her gut. When Monica knocked on her door, Stella cursed at her hands, which shook when she reached out for the handle.
“Hi, I just wanted to walk through the first part. We’ll tape a segment in the room across the hall introducing the show and Quinn. Then, in about an hour, the contestants will be gathered at the foot of the stairs where they will see Quinn for the first time.”
Stella took notes on her phone, being the only cast member allowed to carry one, and nodded along as she listened.
“After the first taping of the women meeting Quinn, we’ll send the manual film crew away and only call them in for big moments where we want to capture all their faces from different angles, but the cameras in place in the house are rolling all the time. Your room and the office down the hall are the only two places that don’t have cameras. You’ll be allowed to mingle with the contestants during certain times, but it goes without saying you can’t sleep with any of them.”
