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I viewed this as a necessary evil.
“You have Stuart, remember?” I reminded Jillian of her current boyfriend.
Her face took on the same disappointed look it always did whenever I brought him up. I loved my BFF, but she was a bit of a mystery to me sometimes. As long as I’d live, I would never understand why she was dating that man when she’d had her damn pick.
“I know. I’m involved, I’m not dead, G,” she said, poking me in the side with her finger. All I did was roll my eyes at her.
“Here are our stars, Lola Lopez and Marco Stryker!” A loud voice sounded from the speaker beside the stage. We began clapping as the two celebrities trekked through the iron gate and up to the awaiting stage.
Marco—a dark-haired hottie from a much beloved teen drama that had been popular a decade ago—spoke first. “Good evening, from the City that Never Sleeps!” he said, pumping his arm before he clapped a few times. “I’m Marco Stryker and this beauty beside me is none other than thee Lola Lopez,” he said, clapping again as he stepped aside to let Lola take front stage.
“Hello, everyone, I’m so stoked to be here with you all tonight as you begin your new journeys with these brand-spankin’ new teams!” she shouted and then jumped up and down. Her large, somewhat enhanced, chest bounced with her.
Marco’s hand slid around her waist and she stepped closer to him. These two were always in the gossip rags for being linked romantically. Although nothing was ever confirmed, their fans more than assumed they were a couple.
Lola had also been on a TV show, years ago. Her show had been more of the Friday night, family comedy type. Her career never really took off after that. She’d had a few chances at shows that had ultimately been canceled, and one really horrible horror flick.
“We’re here tonight to welcome you to your new home and to the new TV show you’ll all be in,” Lola said to us.
Marco cut in, “A few housekeeping things to go over first. I’m sure everyone knows the rules but let’s mention them again just in case.”
“The outside cameras and inside cameras will be recording from the hours of seven in the morning through nine o’clock in the evening. You are not allowed to remove or cover the cameras in any way, shape, or form. There are no cameras in the bedrooms or in the bathrooms. Obviously,” Marco said, waggling his eyebrows up and down for effect and we all laughed.
“Speaking of bedrooms—” Lola said in an exaggeratingly seductive tone, complete with an eye wink. “No hanky panky allowed between players. The men will have this side of the complex,” she said, her arm waving out to the side. “And the women have the other. Never the twain shall meet.” Lola’s finger shook at us randomly.
There it was.
I’d wondered if they’d announce something like this. Having two teams so close together could carry the distinct possibility of—things happening. A sense of relief flowed through my body now that any kind of relationship was taken off the board.
“The gym and common areas are open now. The cameras will be turned on tomorrow morning at seven! Enjoy your evening, folks!” Marco said, pumping his arm up and down then clapping as he and Lola stepped down the few stairs.
“Let go of me, you ass,” Lola said somewhat under her breath as they passed by us. She shook his hand off her arm.
“Oh, please forgive me for trying to help you, Queen Lola. Next time I’ll just let you fall,” Marco snapped back at her. They continued to smile and wave at everyone as they hurried out of the courtyard, obviously not in the mood to stick around and chat.
Jillian gave me a puzzled look. “Did I just hear that?”
“I think so. Guess the rumors about them hooking up are wrong,” I said, my eyebrows raised.
“Unless it was a hookup gone wrong?” Jillian said back to me and I shrugged. Whatever it was, the season just got a whole lot more interesting.
