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He gripped her arms, wanting to say so much, how worry knotted inside of him for her too, how he’d do anything for her if he could.
“I’d do this for you too,” he said in her ear. He placed a kiss on her mouth before breaking for the stage’s exit.
22
Snow watched Hunter dash toward the exit with a knot in her chest. She wished she could go with him to check on Kassie, but as it was, she sent a small prayer heavenward for the little girl, for Hunter, that all would be well. The show had to go on, but she wished it didn’t need her to do that.
Hunter’s haggard expression haunted her. He loved Kassie—and with her mother gone, he was all the little girl had. If something happened to her, it would devastate him.
Before long, the crew bustled. Luis wheeled a soundless TV screen to where she stood and then took the time to position her mic.
“Hard to believe this is it, isn’t it?” he said.
“It really is. It’s been incredible.”
“Death threats and all?”
“That part hasn’t, but I’ve loved getting to know everyone.”
“We’ve loved you too,” he said. “There’s just something about you, Snow. Something that’s instantly likeable. You’re so friendly, and you’ve got this calming, innocent persona that people really like.”
“Thank you,” Snow said, touched. “You’ve been so kind and helpful.” She’d loved getting to know Hector, Luis, May, Amira, all of them. It would be truly hard to say goodbye. She wasn’t sure what she was going to do. She had to announce the winner, but how could she announce that it was Hunter now that he was gone? She wished there was some way to award the money to Clayton, Carter, or Marcos. Hunter didn’t need the prize, but the others undoubtedly did.
Luis nodded and then bustled off to speak with the man at the soundboard. Eloise stepped onto the set, wearing a pantsuit and a floral blouse. Though her clothing was put-together, her face wasn’t composed as it usually was. Snow wondered what had come of the conversation Hunter had said he would have with the producer. Had he told Eloise he and Snow had seen her at Tys’s house?
“You look exquisite,” Eloise said, wringing her hands.
“Is something wrong?” Snow asked. “Did you hear anything from Hunter?”
“Should I? Where is he, anyway? Usually, he’s flanking you like a dog.”
The question made Snow’s stomach squirm. She wished Hunter could have stayed with her, but she couldn’t have expected him to stay.
“He went to check on his daughter.” She kept checking her phone too, for updates.
Anything?she’d asked.
There was no reply.
What a terrible thing. She hoped Kassie was okay. She hoped it was just a misunderstanding and that the little girl would be with her grandparents. Maybe she’d forgotten to charge her phone. Maybe she’d felt sick and decided not to bother her dad about it and had skipped school instead.
Things would be okay, Snow told herself. She needed to be on her best game for what was coming. What would happen when she announced Hunter, and he wasn’t there? What was she going to do?
Eloise bit her bottom lip. She was acting more fidgety than usual, displaying the same uncertainty spinning inside of Snow.
“Snow, would you help me with something?” she asked.
That was abrupt. Eloise didn’t ask what was wrong with Hunter’s daughter—and that was something she would have pried about before. She must be worried about things on the set. “Sure, what’s the matter?”
“I just need you to come with me, that’s all.”
Confused but willing, Snow followed Eloise across the median and into her office. She closed the door behind them with a loud clicking noise and then turned. Smiling nervously, she ran her hands across her stomach as if to wipe away perspiration.
The last time she’d been in Eloise’s office, it’d been to discuss the threats she’d received. The fixtures were black and fuchsia, much like the rest of the studio, but a seating area was situated in the corner by a window with a rug, a shelf, and a mirror on the wall.
“What is it?” Snow asked. “You’re making me nervous,” she added with a little laugh.
Eloise waved it away. “Last episode jitters,” she said. “This is something I like to do with bachelorettes who are nervous or worried.”
