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CHAPTERTWENTY-FIVE
Snow
“Today is an important day,” Ariel says as we begin another session in the study.
I nod. “The winner of the contest today gets to meet the family.”
“I’m just here for the food.” She chuckles.
“I think that’s why you took this gig.” I giggle, pressing my palms against the couch and sitting on my hands.
“Not true.” She gives me a quirky, yet motherly look, wagging her index finger in my direction. “But I love that you’re laughing again.”
“Thank you. It feels good. Though, something weird happened last night.”
“What do you mean, weird?” She cants her head to the side, a curious expression on her face.
“London went to the store for Shane. Afton, Shane, and I watched a movie—or started one. London came home, put all the groceries away, and went to sleep in his old room. Shane and Afton both went and knocked on his door, but he told them to go away. And he’s been distant this morning.”
“Maybe it’s just the stress of the show,” she offers as she gets comfortable in her chair. “He’ll come around.”
“And I thought I saw Ben,” I admit.
“What?” Her brows nearly shoot to her hairline. But then she recovers. “Really? What happened?”
“I thought I saw Ben, but Silas and Oscar went through all the trailers and didn’t find him.”
“Maybe you saw someone who looks like him,” she counters.
“Or I’m just hallucinating,” I tell her.
“I don’t think you’re hallucinating. But the guys looked out for you, anyway, right?”
She makes a good point. They did look out for me—always have.
“Yes.”
“I think if he ever tries to come here, he won’t make it past the driveway,” she points out.
“Thank you.”
“Shall we get our grub on? I’ve been smelling it since I got here. I’m hungry.”
I can’t help but snicker. “Where do you put it?”
“I work it off. Horses and cattle. Hard work.” She waves her hand around in dismissal. “That’s what these contestants have to learn.”
“I think he has some more early mornings for them and time with the chickens.” She’s right: they have to understand farm life, even though he’s not choosing any of them—at least I hope not.
“I hope chickens are involved with that.” Ariel’s eyes sparkle with amusement. She knows exactly what happens with those chickens, and it’s funny as hell if you don’t know how to handle them properly.
“Harvey was supposed to be this morning, but the two people didn’t show up and left the show.” I snort, pushing myself up from the sofa.
“Harvey needs a good run.” She chuckles, rising from her seat and heading out of the study alongside me.
“His fatness is what makes him cute,” I say as we walk through the kitchen.
“Yeah, he’s cute. I’ll give him that,” she says right as we hear someone yell “Pull.”
