Page 70 of One to Watch

“No.” Asher laughed. “In every way. You were so quick-witted with Johnny and the other men, and kind of mean and over this whole thing in the same way I was. I found myself wanting to spend more time with you, and I was furious you didn’t seem to want that too. Do you remember the first thing you said to me?”

Bea flushed with horror at the memory of how cold she’d been to Asher on the night of the premiere, still reeling that the man before him had simply walked offstage.

“I told you to go ahead and leave.”

Asher nodded. “I told myself I’d stick around long enough to get to know you, see if there might be an attraction between us. Then, at the museum … I can’t remember the last time I felt like that. I wanted—well, I think you know what I wanted.”

“I didn’t, Asher. I thought you were repulsed by me.”

His face fell in dismay. “You can’t be serious.”

She nodded, and he took her hand.

“Bea, I am so sorry.”

“Me too,” she whispered.

He lifted her hand to his chest so she could feel his heart pounding, leaned down so his face was inches from hers.

“When I walked out of that museum,” he said softly, “I thought I was protecting my kids. They know how it feels to be abandoned, and with the way this show is set up, the odds of us actually pursuing a relationship outside of it? The idea of risking their hopes—and mine—seemed indefensible.”

Bea’s breath was shallow. “And now?”

“Now I think the only indefensible action would be to let you go.”

Then his hands were in her hair and he was kissing her, a hard, fast release and there was nothing false about it, nothing pretend and nothing safe, swirling laughter and panic and comfort and free fall and every, every second captured on the whirring cameras, their bodies warm and intertwined against the chill spring air.

It felt like terror. It felt like freedom.

It felt like the beginning.

TRANSCRIPT OF PRODUCER INTERVIEW WITH BEA’S MOTHER, SUE

Time stamp: 3:17pm

Producer: I understand you spoke with Nash and Cooper in the kitchen earlier today. What did you three chat about?

Sue: Oh, the real estate agent! And that surfer, I wish he would wash his hair. We had a lice outbreak in my class this year, and we learned how important it is to check your scalp regularly. If that Cooper doesn’t watch himself, he could be absolutely covered in lice.

Producer: That’s good advice, Sue. Is that what you talked about?

Sue: Yes, as a matter of fact! Oh, and then I asked those nice boys if they would run out and get some ice cream for the group. I thought the kids would love that. I certainly would have picked some up if I’d been allowed to cater this affair.

Producer: Sue, we’ve been all through this, the production uses outside catering for our events. We can’t have you cooking all day, we need you free to talk to us, like you’re doing now!

Sue: That’s fine, but I would have picked up some ice cream.

Producer: So you sent Nash and Cooper to the grocery store?

Sue: Heavens, no! We only buy from the nice dairy farm up the road. It’s the most marvelous place, you can see all the cows, and they make the ice cream fresh every day! I sent them there with Tim.

Producer: But Tim is here, playing capture the flag. And Nash and Cooper aren’t back.

Sue: Well, that’s ridiculous. They went together. If Tim’s back, they’re all back. Maybe you should check again.

TRANSCRIPT OF PRODUCER INTERVIEW WITH CONTESTANTS NASH AND COOPER

Time stamp: 6:41pm