Page 106 of One to Watch

Bea stood in her artfully draped Maria Cornejo gown, which she’d selected as a nod to Keria’s creation from the day before, wearing this week’s shade of lipstick (Ain’t Life Peachy?), looking from Luc to Wyatt, Wyatt to Luc.

She had no fucking idea what to do.

This was the first kiss-off ceremony she’d gone into without a clear plan, which Lauren hadn’t liked at all.

“Bea, I need to know where to point the cameras before you make your decision,” Lauren explained for what felt like the billionth time.

“I don’t know what to say.” Bea threw up her hands in frustration. “You’re telling me we’re an hour behind schedule, and I’m telling you I don’t know yet.”

Lauren pinched the bridge of her nose between her fingers and closed her eyes.

“Keeping Wyatt is the smart play,” she said. “You’ve said it from night one, and your conversation in Oklahoma confirmed it. He’s the one you can be sure will stand by your side at the end. No fuss, no drama.”

“And you don’t think it would be the same old problem?” Bea pressed. “People disbelieving our relationship, saying I look miserable?”

“Bea, when you’re with Wyatt, you don’t look miserable. You look totally at ease, like you’ve finally found a man who lets you be yourself. Trust me, with the big swelling music and the gorgeous light at sunset, you two are the picture of fairy-tale romance—exactly the kind of couple I’ve been selling to the public for years.”

“I guess that’s the whole point of fairy tales.” Bea’s tone was sour. “They aren’t real.”

Lauren approached Bea and put a hand on her arm, eyes full of concern. “I know that you’ve come to believe you can find love on this show, and I hope it works out for you, I really do. But you and I are the only two people who know just how fragile these relationships are, and if they fall apart in the next two weeks? I don’t want to film a season finale where you end up alone. I don’t want that for the show, and I don’t want it for you.”

Bea nodded—she knew that Lauren was right, that it would be insane to cast aside her picture-perfect safety net. But she couldn’t say goodbye to Sam, not after he’d told her he loved her, and ending things with Asher was a complete non-starter. Which meant she had to choose between Luc and Wyatt—both of whom were staring at her now with apprehension, and she was still no closer to making her choice than she’d been with Lauren half an hour before.

“Bea?” Johnny urged. “Bea, we’re going to need a decision.”

Looking at Luc, his anxiety plainly evident on a face that was usually so self-assured, Bea honestly couldn’t tell whether he was nervous about leaving the show or losing her—and since the two outcomes were hopelessly intertwined, there was no easy way to parse them.

Wyatt, by comparison, looked calm and steady, same as always. Usually, just looking at him helped Bea feel more calm too—but not tonight. Tonight, her insides roiled, and absolutely nothing could make them stop.

“Bea?” Johnny tried again.

Everyone was looking at her—the crew was getting restless. She just had to choose. Lauren raised her eyebrows expectantly: You know what to do.

She did. She knew the right thing to do. The only thing left was to do it.

“Wyatt,” Bea said out loud, then closed her eyes. She couldn’t look at Wyatt coming toward her. Couldn’t possibly look past him to find out how badly she’d hurt Luc.

“Hey.” Wyatt was there, taking her hand, smiling down at her in his warm, reassuring way.

“Wyatt.” Bea’s voice sounded hollow. “Will you stay another week?”

“Of course.” He beamed, leaning down so she could kiss his cheek. That was it, decision made. All that remained was to say goodbye to Luc.

Luc.

She looked past Wyatt’s shoulder, and there he was. He looked shocked. He looked wrecked.

Wyatt took her hand and squeezed it, gave her a jolt of encouragement.

“It’s okay, Bea,” he said, his voice low. “We’ll keep each other safe.”

Was this safe? Was safety sending away a man for whom she had real feelings, choosing a façade instead? Was standing next to Wyatt and pretending to love him the safe choice, or was she just proving Jefferson right—selling a lie, telling every person who admired her that she still, after all of this, didn’t actually believe that she was capable of finding real love?

She looked over at Luc again—she had to. She had to walk him out to say goodbye.

“My Bea.” He looked devastated. “I do not know what to say.”

“Luc, I …” Bea shook her head; she felt numb. Wyatt had taken his place with Sam and Asher. No. This was wrong.