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Chapter Seven
Harper
WeekTwo
Snow swirled in lazy circles outside the kitchen window as I sipped my coffee. Part of me wished I’d suffered through watching episodes of the show with Madison when she’d asked so I’d be more prepared for what was coming.
The women were eager, more restless than usual as rumors trickled through the inn about the first group date. I’d expected for it to happen quicker, but maybe they’d had to adjust the schedule for the massive amount of snow the sky had dumped on Colorado in the days since we’d started filming.
I set my coffee down and crossed to the back door, then slipped my feet into the snow boots I’d left there out of habit. It wasn’t likely anyone else knew that was the reason, but it made it easy for me to remember them when I needed them.
Silence wrapped me in a warm hug, something that only came with a good snow. The wind hardly blew, and even though the cold nipped at my uncovered skin, it felt safe. Like my world made sense for that brief moment.
“We don’t get snow like this,” Candace said, stepping onto the back porch with me. She tipped her face up and grinned.
“You get sick of it after a while.”
“I’d never get sick of this.”
“You got me. It takes a lot for me to get sick of the snow.”
“I can see why. Everything is so much more beautiful here. At home, everything is just… dead.”
I grimaced. “That would be so depressing.”
I couldn’t imagine a winter without layers of thick, fluffy snow, even when it meant shoveling out the entrance to my shop or deicing my car.
“Come in, come in!” One of the girls burst out the back door. “They’re about to announce the first group date!”
I swallowed thickly, my throat tight. Candace darted through the back door, while I followed a bit slower.
How did a group date even work?
“Morning, ladies!” Tom stood at the fireplace. The women that made it through the first elimination had piled into all available seating areas as his audience. “Today we have our first official group date. Flynn has a big desire to have a family one day, so today you’re going to go work with kids at the local ski school.”
Applause erupted with cheers interspersed throughout, and I enthusiastically joined them. It was such a pain to remember that the cameras were always around during filming hours—no conversation, no emotion, was private.
“As I’m sure you all know, it’s important to not only take part today but to steal those little moments with Flynn. Alright, go get dressed! Flynn will meet you there.”
The house thundered with the footsteps of the women racing across the hardwood floors to their different rooms, and I idly wondered if they had their own ski gear or if the show would provide them with some. I knew of at least two women in the house that spent an exorbitant amount of money on clothes to be on the show, but I’d never considered the clothes they’d need for excursions.
I’d been a last-minute addition, and I lived here. But what about everyone else? Had they gotten letters upon acceptance? An outline of what they’d need?
Annoyed that I even cared, I trudged up the stairs to the room I shared with Candace. Thank goodness for small favors in that department.
“I have no idea how to ski.”
“None?” I blinked, unprepared for that piece of information.
“I’ve never been before.” She yanked her ski pants up over her thermals, shimming her hips into the tight fabric.
“You don’t have to ski. They’ll have actual instructors. You’re probably just there to cheerlead and spot the kids.”
“Oh. How do you know that?”
“Living here.” I yanked on my own layers before pulling my hair back into two braids.
“I don’t know what to talk to Flynn about.” Candace sank onto the bed and gave me a half smile.
