Grant made a face. “Worse than being covered in snakes?”
“They’ll probably make us talk about our feelings, or some shit.”
“Don’t be dramatic,” Eli said dismissively.
“With a history like yours, I would have thought that would be your worst fear too,” Grant said, chuckling at his own joke.
Eli scowled at Grant. “You don’t know everything about me.”
“Morning.” Trace’s bubbly voice carried through the room.
“Hey,” I greeted her as she took the seat across from me.
“How are you feeling today?” she asked as the guys continued to make guesses about the first competition.
“I’m hanging in there,” I said. “You?”
“I’m pretty excited. I could hardly sleep, thinking about everything that’s going to be happening today.”
I poured myself some coffee from a carafe in the center of the table. “I got no sleep either, but for entirely different reasons,” I said.
As we continued to chat, Rachel and Sofia made their entrances and sat next to their respective partners. Sofia rested a hand on Eli’s shoulder before leaning in to whisper something in his ear. When she pulled back, giggling, I couldn’t help but feel a hint of annoyance.
Someone from the catering staff came in and wordlessly sat down plates of food in front of us.
“So,” Grant said, still chewing the enormous bite of eggs he’d just taken. “We should get to know each other.”
Rachel and Danny both groaned.
“I’m good,” Danny said.
“No, come on,” Trace insisted. “Let’s do an icebreaker.”
Eli nodded. “I’m in.”
Trace held up a finger. “Okay, first question. We’ll start easy. Who signed you up?”
“My mother,” Rachel grumbled.
Everyone went around the table answering the question before it got to me.
“My sister,” I said. There. That wasn’t so bad. I could be open and get to know these people.
“Okay, next question,” Grant continued. “Why did they do it?”
My face froze while he rambled on about being a misunderstood playboy.
Crap, what should I say?
Sofia started talking about having her heart broken by some married European millionaire, while I wracked my brain trying to think of a way to phrase this without going into detail.
“My mother is constantly after me to settle down,” said Danny. “She says she’s sick of me taking too many risks. She wants grandchildren.” He saidgrandchildrenas if it were a dirty word.
“My mom is the same way,” Rachel said in agreement. “Says I’m too focused on dancing and my career. According to her, I’m going to wake up one day miserable and alone. I’m only thirty!”
“My mother doesn’t think I could land a man to save my life,” Trace joked, her tone not quite masking the sting I’m sure she felt.
“Um, my last relationship didn’t end on great terms,” Arnie said, with a gulp. “My sister just wants to help.”
