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Her gut turned at pushing Avery to get into Quinn’s orbit, but she also didn’t want Avery to leave. Maybe it was selfish to come talk, but she hated seeing Avery apart from everyone.
“Are you giving pep talks to all the contestants?” Avery smirked, settling back on the couch.
“Just ones who are looking for a fraidy hole to hide in.” Stella’s wink brought the joke home. They shared a laugh, which broke the tense mood. “I’d better go get ready. There are a few interviews I need to do today, including yours.”
“Can’t wait,” Avery said, a smile hidden behind the cup she had just drank from. “And thanks,” she mumbled as an afterthought.
“What are hosts for?” Stella enunciated, not willing to say one-night stand like she wanted.
Working her way back to the house, Stella was struck by how much Avery had opened up. Their night had been pleasant but superficial, and hearing more about what she was dealing with only increased a need to know more about her story.
Chapter 6
Date Night
Avery’s chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath. Even with shaving cream dripping down her arms, she couldn’t wipe the smile from her face. She’d finally won an event and the honor of going on a date with Quinn. Riley stood to the side, jumping up and down in solidarity, unable to participate since she’d been the victor previously.
Another two weeks had passed, and this time, Avery had been spared the intense emotions of being in the bottom two during the elimination. She’d taken Stella’s advice to heart and started opening up—not so much about her life, but letting loose some of her personality. She wasn’t sure why she’d had such a tight leash on showing emotion, but that was something she’d probably have to discuss with her therapist at some point—once she found a therapist, that is.
Stella stood to the side, ready to grab her for some thoughts on the gameplay. Their eye contact lingered until Denver swung an arm around Avery’s shoulders, pulling and pushing her away like a rag doll.
“I totally had a hold of the last puzzle piece, damn you.” Denver playfully shoved her again, but it had more heat than Avery anticipated, bringing her to her knees. “Oh shit. Sorry.” Denver scrambled to help her up.
“Are you okay?” Riley jogged up, slapping Denver on the arm.
“Yeah, no harm done. I’m still high from my win, so I’ll let it slide,” she joked, happy that her wrist had healed.
“I wanted this one. Good play, Avery.” Ocean approached the group with her hand held up for a high-five.
The slap echoed around them, spraying everyone with splatters of gunk, making them laugh as various levels of congratulations continued.
“I’m going to have a word with Stella,” Tanya mumbled as she walked by them.
“Just ignore her. I was joking when I said I had it. My hands slipped from that damn shaving cream they made us use.” Denver rolled her eyes, nudging her arm. “You got a good one this week.”
Avery swallowed. She hadn’t even thought about the event Stella had described at the beginning of the game, but now it came roaring back with a whoosh to her head. Horseback riding through a vineyard, then wine tasting, followed by dinner provided by the winery. It wasn’t that Avery wasn’t excited about getting to know Quinn better; it was the horseback riding that brought a damp layer to her palms. She’d never been riding, preferring not to be high off the ground on the back of a giant. How could she sufficiently look competent while squealing down the vineyard?
“I’m going to get cleaned up,” Avery said, her legs shaking. She had a day to get herself under control, and she’d need every minute of that preparation.
“Avery, wait a moment, I need to interview you,” Stella called from over the heads of the crowd.
Backtracking with a smile, she stood to the side, glad to have a reason to stand near Stella, but torn now that she had to think of her date with Quinn. The deeper into the show they got, Avery thought, the harder this would become.
“Where did you grow up?” Quinn asked as they made their way through the rows of plants.
Their horses knew the path, and luckily it was wide enough for them to ride side by side. Avery had to remind herself to loosen her grip on the reins, or she’d cramp up. Horse riding wasn’t so bad, once she’d settled in the saddle. The views were magical, the horse was tame, and the company was surprising. The outing had become pleasant once she shook off the cameras that followed them along with Stella’s gaze, who was with Monica in a golf cart behind them.
“I grew up in Minnesota. The place was great, and the people were fantastic, but I was tired of being buried in snow for five months. My mom was moving to Cali, and my dad had just remarried. I had the option to live with my dad or go with my mom, but nothing was keeping me in Minnesota—the glamour of Southern California was too much to pass up. I did get to spend some summers in Minnesota, but this place has really taken root.” Avery held out her sleeveless arms. “I stuffed all my winter gear in a box and haven’t had to dig through it in years.” Her body swayed with the horse’s gait. “Do you miss playing basketball? Must have been hard to have your career end in an injury, huh?” Avery cringed, wishing she hadn’t brought up a painful memory. “I mean, what was it like playing professional basketball?”
“I had a lot of natural talent, but I only started because I had a huge crush on my college coach. I didn’t apply myself as I should have, and many of my teammates didn’t like that. It might sound odd, but I’m glad things happened the way they did. I was able to move onto the next part of my life. Focus on commercials and working on my brand. Once I couldn’t hide behind basketball anymore, I was able to figure out myself better.” Quinn smiled.
Avery laughed, not expecting that answer. “How about you? Did you grow up here?” she asked, pulling up on the reins to slow the horse down. Pride filled her lungs at conquering her fear of the large animal. She pushed up a branch in the way, ensuring Quinn cleared the area before letting it go.
“Yes, born and raised right here in California.” Quinn seemed bored with the question.
Wanting to stand out a little, Avery thought of another tactic. “What’s your favorite piece of furniture?”
Quinn’s startled gaze fell on her before her face transformed from a smile to a laugh. “Nobody in my lifetime has thought to ask that question, and strangely enough, I know the answer.” Quinn sat up straighter, patting her horse, Nugget, before saying, “There is this cedar chest that has gone everywhere with me. I think my dad built and carved it when my mom was pregnant, but he didn’t really know what he was doing, so it’s crooked but has a lot of personality in a wonky way. I think it just adds character. Plus, it’s cedar, so it smells good and protects my blankets from mites or whatever destroys fabric.” Quinn’s smile still played on her lips. “What about you?”
