AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Well, I can’t wait to meet her.” She stifled a yawn.
“You never told me how things are there. You sound a bit sad,” Amy observed softly. It was a tone Stella rarely heard in her best friend. “This is your big break; I thought you’d still be jumping up and down.”
“It’s harder than I was expecting, and to make matters worse, I can’t tell you anything, which compounds my woes. When this is over, I’m penciling you in for a tequila date.”
“Oh, poor me. The house I must stay at for five months is filled with beautiful women,” Amy joked.
Stella couldn’t help but laugh. “It is hard. I can look, but I’m not allowed to touch.” Stella huffed, pouting at the phone even though she couldn’t see.
“To me, it sounds like there’s someone specifically who you want to touch, and it gets you flustered that you’re not allowed to.”
Holding in a groan, she wondered what clues she’d been giving off for Amy to hit the nail on the head so effectively. “Ding, ding, ding. What does Amy win tonight, Kevin?” Stella pitched her tone for an announcer on a game show. Kevin was the made-up name they always used for their inside joke. Silence greeted her on the other end. “Ames, are you okay?” she asked, wondering why her best friend was so contemplative tonight.
“Yeah, I’m great. Just dandy.”
Stella knew her well enough to know when she was getting the ‘I’m fake smiling to hide some hidden pain I don’t want to talk about’ act. She wished Amy hadn’t called. Hearing the struggle in her best friend's voice and being unable to help was putting a cherry on top of the shit sundae the day was turning out to be.
“I know you’re lying, but I’ll refrain from further comment until we can speak face to face.”
Amy exhaled, not quite a laugh, but closer. “I’ll hold you to that, Banana. We should get some sleep. It was great hearing your voice.”
“You too, Ames. Sleep well.”
Stella slid the phone back on her bedside table. Her last thought before sleep snatched her under was of Avery’s bruised face.
Chapter 9
A Call from Home
Avery let Elizabeth walk down the stairs in front of her. Reaching the bottom, she slumped against the wall in the foyer, nodding to Denver and Ocean who were laughing together near the back wall, oblivious of everyone else around. She and Elizabeth had been in the second wave of people safe and were now waiting to see who would be kicked out this week.
There had been a sense of safety this week, thinking they wouldn’t do an elimination round with Echo leaving, but no. Avery’s heart still hadn’t calmed down after the emotional elimination round.
Riley walked over. “I’m glad you’re safe for another week.”
Avery provided a weak smile. The taut muscles twinged the still-sore bruise on her cheek. They had talked a little the past few days, Avery finally letting Riley know what she’d overheard. Riley had been embarrassed and apologetic, but that hadn’t dissipated the stone that lodged in Avery’s stomach at people thinking she wasn’t good enough.
“I’m glad you are as well,” she finally replied, not realizing she hadn’t answered right away.
They looked up when the doors upstairs opened. Tanya walked down looking shaken, but the red-rimmed eyes of the woman behind her told Avery who had been eliminated. She hadn’t spent much time with this contestant, Kelsie, but her quiet, unassuming attitude would be missed.
Stepping aside for others to say goodbye, Avery couldn’t help but feel relief—another woman down to get her closer to her goal. Quinn followed the group, winking at Avery as she passed. Stella stayed in the shadows behind Quinn.
The further into the show they got, the harder things became. Not wanting to linger, Avery patted Kelsie on the shoulder on her way to her room.
Back in her room, Avery unpacked her bag before tucking it back in the closet. Everyone had to pack before the elimination in case their number was up. Her packing game had been elevated since coming on the show.
“Knock, knock.”
Feeling like a nervous kid on her first date at hearing Stella’s voice at her door, Avery’s cheeky reply died on her lips when she saw her worried face in the frame.
“Is everything okay?” Avery tentatively asked, now realizing how odd it was for Stella to be at her door.
“Your mom’s care facility called. They need to talk over a few things with you. It sounded serious enough to use the emergency number. Come on, I’ll show you where to go.” Stella turned from the room, not waiting to see if Avery was following.
Avery had to jog to keep up with Stella’s longer stride. Her anxiety was through the roof, hoping everything would be okay. Avery tried to ignore the heated stares from the other women at her back when she climbed the steps behind Stella. Would she have to go home early? She wished now she’d held off on unpacking.
Her legs shook as she reached the top of the stairs.
