“Activities?” River asked.
“We have dinner with them tonight. I know that much. That’s all I know specifically, though. Are we required to be there for every meal tomorrow? Sunday brunch?”
“No clue,” River said.
“And are we with them the whole time? I was kind of hoping for some alone time with you. Maybe we can escape from the cameras or something. That could be fun.”
Lacey gave her a hopeful smile, and River turned to her and gave her a small smile back.
“I don’t know. You’d think there would be some kind of itinerary for the newbs like us, right? We don’t know what we’re doing here. The only time I’ve ever been on camera is when someone’s phone was aimed at me, and I guess, technically, in that third-grade play I was in where I had to play the spleen. I’m sure some parents had actual cameras out for that.”
“I’m sorry; what?” Lacey laughed.
“We were playing organs. It was terrible. I had two lines.”
“What were they?” she teased.
“I don’t remember.”
“Yes, you do.” Lacey laughed a little.
“Fine. I had to say, ‘The spleen is really two organs in one.’ And after one of the kidneys said something, I had to add, ‘It filters the blood and removes bad cells,’ because the play was ridiculous.”
Lacey laughed a little harder and said, “I bet you made a cute spleen.”
“Have you ever seen a picture of a spleen? I looked like a giant ear combined with a mushroom. My mom made my costume.”
Lacey took River’s hand in her own and moved it to her lap. This was what she’d been hoping for: getting back to how they’d been as a couple not all that long ago. They’d only been together for a year and a half, and Lacey still wasn’t sure how they’d grown so far apart in that short time. She was pretty sure they were still supposed to be in their honeymoon phase: having hot sex all around the apartment, living together, and planning their future. Talks of living together had pretty much ceased, though,and she hadn’t even bothered to bring up the rest of the stuff she wanted for herself and for them lately.
“I think we’re here,” River said and let go of her hand.
She missed it, but only for a second, before she looked out River’s window and noticed two cameras aimed at the car they were in, as well as a short woman with long brown hair pulled back in a ponytail standing behind the two guys holding those cameras. The woman had a phone in her hand, and she looked up from it as they parked on the street. Then, she smiled in their direction, but Lacey wasn’t sure whether or not it was a real smile or a forced one. The door was opened for them before Lacey could even take a centering deep breath and prepare herself, and that woman was now standing in the open doorway.
“Hello. I’m Jessie. You must be River and Lacey.”
“That’s us,” River said. “River.”
“Lacey,” Lacey added.
“Well, congratulations again on your win, and thank you so much for your generous donation,” Jessie began. “I’m the publicist for Cameron and Kennedy. They’re both inside and are excited to meet you. We’ll just get a few shots of you two getting out of the car and taking in the house before you walk in. Be yourselves, say whatever you want, and we’ll go from there. When you get inside, Cameron and Kennedy will greet you, and there are food and drinks set out for you already. Dinner will be at seven on the patio that is off the kitchen, which is on this floor. I’ll give you a full tour after your meet and greet and show you to your room for the weekend.”
“Um… Okay,” River replied and turned to Lacey, looking at her with her wide, anxious eyes.
Lacey winked at her.
“Yes, that! That’s perfect. Did we get that?” Jessie asked someone.
“I got it,” one of the guys behind a camera replied.
“Great. Are you ready? I’ll just open your door again, and we’ll go from there. We’ll add in that little wink later.”
“Oh, okay,” Lacey replied, feeling suddenly very overwhelmed.
“Here we go,” Jessie said and closed the car door right after.
“Are you sure about this?” River asked.
“Not sure we have much of a choice about it now,” she replied just as the door opened again.
