AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I can think of only one thing to say.
“You’ll have my resignation by the end of the week.”
Mr. Heckman splutters and I end the call. There’s nothing he can say to change my mind, and anyway, it’s almost time for me to report downstairs.
I’m going to finish filming this cooking competition. I’m going to lose—no illusions there. But then in a couple of days I’m going to go home and start my own goddamn life. No more waiting for permission. No more waiting for somebody else to recognize me for it.
It’s my turn.
23
Drew
Bailey didn’t win.
I’m surprised and pretty disappointed. I really thought she had a shot—hell, it’s why I encouraged her to sign up in the first place. She’s a kickass cook and a grade-A human being. I saw some of the early footage, and though I know it’s still going through a heavy editing process, Bailey looks amazing on camera.
Of course she does. Bailey’s never looked anything other than amazing to me, even all those years we stayed in our clearly-marked friend zone corners.
She takes the news better than I do. After the on-camera announcement, she congratulates the winner with way more warmth than I could have managed in her shoes. A couple of the other contestants don’t even try to act gracious, including Tracy Elffers, who doesn’t bother to conceal her shock and disgust.
The contestants will go through one last round of exit interviews this week, and there’s already a tentative reunion date scheduled, depending on how the ratings turn out when this thing airs, but otherwise, we’re done. It’s finally over.
I take a deep breath, searching the crowd for Cooper. Bailey will be tied up for another hour yet, but maybe he and I can get out of here.
Something’s happened to me this week. I can’t explain it, but sometime between falling onto that couch with Bailey and Cooper and today something’s different.
I’m stunned to realize it’s hope.
Despite the threat still hanging somewhere over my head, despite my family’s expectations, despite the insane unlikelihood of our situation… Cooper and Bailey have given me hope. No matter what else happens after this, I think we’ve got a shot, a real honest-to-God shot at making this thing between us work.
Sure, it’s complicated, but what isn’t?
“You might want to dial it back a little,” says Kenna, appearing next to me with no warning. “Smiling like that after your girl just lost might maybe send the wrong kind of message.”
I tone it down to a grin. “What can I say? It’s been a good week.”
“Yeah?” Kenna looks up from her phone and narrows her eyes, studying me. “Not what I’d expect from somebody under investigation for corporate sabotage.”
“Oh, please,” I say. “You know that’s bullshit as much as I do.”
Kenna nods, going back to her phone, tapping away.
“I know,” she says. “It makes me wonder, though.”
“What?”
“Just what it is that makes you smile like that anyway,” she says. I get the impression she’s doing her best to keep a lid on it, but she’s curious as hell.
“Hey,” I say, bumping her with my elbow to get her to look at me. “We’ve been working together for a long time. I think of you as a friend.”
She smiles. “Same goes, Drew. You know that.”
“So ask me sometime,” I say. Kenna cocks her head in question. “I can’t talk about it right now. Maybe not even anytime soon. But we’re friends. I trust you. So ask me sometime, and I’ll tell you why I’m smiling.”
Kenna looks at me for a long moment. There’s never been even a hint of attraction between us, despite how lovely she is, or I’d never have said anything so unprofessional. But she stuck up for me after Greeley’s nasty accusation, and if there’s anybody at work I can count on to back me up, she’s the one who’d do it. Ty too, probably, but since he’s my boss, I don’t plan to go outing my suddenly-atypical love life to him if I don’t have to.
Kenna finally nods again, accepting my words after thinking about it, then neatly changing the subject.
