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“Shit,” I mutter under my breath. Thing is, I want to meet her parents. I didn’t last month but each day that I get to know Joey more, the more I want to spend time with her outside this house. I still think ending the marriage is the right thing to do, but I want a chance to know her away from reality television. I want to see if we’re compatible in the real world.
Both women get up and scramble into the kitchen. I catch a glimpse of Joey’s backside as she cruises past us. A loud bang makes us jump, increasing the tension in the room. Right now I really despise the open concept of this house because there’s no privacy and at this moment I need some.
“I thought my video was embarrassing.” I tilt my head and glare at Gary.
“Huh?” I say sarcastically. “Really, Gary, your video was embarrassing?”
He shrugs and Cole mumbles something that I can’t quite catch. My head rocks back and forth, and my lips are pursed. Now I’m just pissed. Heaving myself off the couch, I stalk into the kitchen. The women fall quiet and scatter, leaving Joey and I alone. Her back faces me as she busies herself. Anger rolls off her in waves. I’ve never felt someone’s anger before, but I can feel hers. Joey leans against the stove; already the smell of something delicious wafts through the air. My fingers graze her shoulder. She flinches, trying to move away from me.
“Joey,” her name falls quietly from my lips. I don’t know if it’s desperation, or nerves. Either way, saying her name not only hurts, but also makes me long for her.
“Joey to the confession room.” Linda’s voice booms over the speakers. Joey doesn’t waste any time—she picks up a towel and dries her hands before walking out of the kitchen. Not once does she look back toward my direction.
“I’m so screwed,” I say to no one and everyone who happens to be listening. I’m in a situation that I don’t know how to fix. It’s not going to matter what I say to Joey, or how many kisses I bestow upon her, the words that Jules said tonight will always stay with her. If we were to try a relationship outside the house, Joey would always wonder. I know I would if I were in her position.
All of this just proves that I’m not worth someone like Joey Mitchell. I can’t imagine she would ever be as spiteful as Jules and do something as hurtful and embarrassing. I brought that on Joey, she didn’t ask for it.
Cole walks into the kitchen and heads straight for the refrigerator. The clank of beer bottles is the only sound in the house. He hands me one, his expression telling me that he’s sorry, even though it’s not his fault. I tip my bottle toward him as a thank you before bringing the cool glass to my lips. I start with one quick sip, but quickly tip back the bottle and let the sweet hops coat my throat.
“Sometimes you just need a beer.”
“No truer words said, especially right now.” Setting my bottle down, I lean against the counter. “I wondered how long I’d be here, building a relationship with Joey, before it all came tumbling down.”
He puts his beer down and sighs. Between him and Gary, Cole and I would be friends outside the house. Gary, I can see myself meeting him every once in a while for a beer and whatnot, but he’d be the one to brag to his friends about me. Cole, on the other hand, I want to catch a game with or have him over for a barbeque. He and I will be friends once the show is over.
“I don’t have any advice.” He shrugs. “Before I came on the show I had a hard time meeting women. It seemed that the only time I did was at a conference or when I’d be set up on a blind date. I wish I could pat you on the back and tell you what you need to do, but the truth is, I’m scared shitless. When the show is over, then what? How do I make things work with Millie?”
Running my hands through my hair, I breathe in deeply. “Hell, what do I know? I could walk out the door and ask an audience member on a date and she’d say yes. Not because I’m what she’s looking for in a guy, but because of who I am. And look at me. I came on a reality show to get married.”
“We all did,” he reminds me.
I finish off my beer and grab us two more. I’m afraid to leave the kitchen, fearful that I’ll miss Joey when she comes back. My plan is to stay here until she does and work some charm to get her to talk to me. I’m not stupid enough to think it’s going to be easy, but I’m going to try.
“I think I love your wife,” Cole says, causing me to spit my beer out all over the counter. He grabs the towel that Joey left behind, and starts wiping.
“What the hell, man?”
“I didn’t mean it how it sounded. It was the aroma from the cake. It’s going straight to my stomach, which leads to my heart. It smells really good.”
“Yeah, it does,” I agree with him, quickly. Just as the timer sounds, Joey appears. I can’t be sure, but I think she was eavesdropping. I’d be okay with it if she was, but she has to know I’d rather speak to her. Cole takes his leave when she enters, giving us a bit of privacy.
Standing out of her way, I pay attention to every move Joey makes while she moves around the kitchen freely. As soon as she has the cake pan resting on a wire rack, I reach for her hand. She tries to tug it away, but I tighten my grip, not allowing her to slip away so easily, and pull her toward our bedroom. The only thing that would make this more comical is if she’d set her feet firm to the ground so I could drag her, anything to lighten the mood around here.
Earlier this afternoon, when we were in our room, we shared a very intimate moment, which was ruined by the scum ball producers. Now I need to make up for that. Once inside the room, I shut the door and lock it. Her arms are crossed over her chest in complete defiance. She doesn’t want to be here. With each step I take toward her, she takes one back. We’re back to the first days in the house, except she was happy then and right now I’d give anything to see her smile.
I hold my hands up in front of me, calling for a truce, or mercy. Whatever she’s willing to give me.
“I’m sorry. I know those words are cheap and often misused, but you have to know that I didn’t know that was going to happen.”
“I know.”
My hands drop in relief as I move forward, only to have her move back. “What gives then?”
Joey looks down at the ground, to the walls, the ceiling, anywhere but in my direction. Her eyes look wet and the thought of her crying because of me, because of Jules, angers and tears at my heart. When I’m out of here, Jules isn’t going to like what I have to say.
“Joey?”
She shakes her head, pulling her bottom lip between her teeth. Hours ago, I would’ve used my thumb to caress her lip, but now I’m too afraid.
