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“Terrified.” To an observer, I should be feeling pretty damn great. I had my own hair and makeup team working on me, brand new highlights framing my face, lashes, and eyebrows that a beauty influencer would die for, and a red dress that could only be described as bombshell material. And in theory, a big, strong, handsome bear was about to take me as his mate.
Tina frowned. “Because of your mom?”
“No.” I leaned forward and whispered, “Have you seen Bjorn?”
No need for the glam squad to be aware of a six-foot-six red flag. Amidst the chaos of Bibifest, there had been no sign of him backstage. There was only so long I could tell myself that he was hanging out with his family before I had to admit that he was straight-up avoiding me. His family could be here with him on what I liked to think was one of the most important days of his life, sharing this moment with him. With us.
The bear was still infuriating, even if I’d fallen head over heels in love with him. I was not prepared for the possibility of losing him. It was kinda funny, in that not-funny-at-all way, that I was so scared that he wouldn’t want me after I’d insisted I didn’t want him.
“Come to think of it, I haven’t. But there are a lot of moving parts today, and I was assigned to cover you,” Tina said. “I’m sure he’s hanging out in his trailer or maybe watching the concert. At least we get to see it on TV, but it’s not the same as experiencing it live.”
I almost told her to go watch the show. But I didn’t want to be alone right now.
“He’s here, Marissa. Even if tonight doesn’t go as planned, which it totally will, he’s not the type of guy that wouldn’t show up. He’s bear enough to tell you the truth, even if you don’t want to hear it.”
“Is he ever.” I picked up my phone for the hundredth time, swiping away notifications from my mother, who I could not even deal with right now. Knowing her, she was offering hollow apologies for that stunt she’d just pulled on Bibi, claiming that she didn’t have a choice.
She’d had plenty of choice. Then it occurred to me that this might not be her only trick planned for the day.
I hoped to find just one message from Bjorn. No such luck. Even though he’d gotten the Hudaknocker back from her, he’d still been distant.
My heart pounded. “What if he agreed to stay away from me in return for the damn Dildo of Destiny? And Mom decided the plan should be revealed on stage in front of a live audience?”
“There’s no way Bjorn would ever agree to that—”
“Look at what she just did to Bibi!” I cried. “We can’t put anything past her.”
But Bjorn was better than that. Unless our whole relationship had been a lie.
No. Impossible, a little voice in my head said.He saved your life in more ways than one.
“Let’s think positive.” Tina straightened her spine and gave me a bright smile. “After this segment, your episode is pretty much complete, except for the mating ceremony. What do you have planned for it?”
I let out a long sigh, but it didn’t make me feel any better. “I was hoping that we could take his family and all our friends up to one of those lakes in the mountains and have our ceremony there.”
Bibi and I had been in touch with an architect who was drawing up plans for cabins by one of those lakes. Nothing was set in stone yet, but I really wanted to present Bjorn and his family with a real plan for us to build a new life together as a pack.
“That would be so beautiful.”
“There hasn’t been a chance to do the makeover portion of the show since things have been a little hectic.” Understatement of the year. “Maybe the mountain village won’t be something used year-round, but I’d love a place for his pack to call home. I think we could start small, build some cute little cabins, and then we could show our progress to the rest of the pack and build as their presence in the area grows.”
“I can’t think of a better, more thoughtful gift to give a mate.” Tina was genuinely beaming at me, which was a vast improvement from the pity-filled smile she had for me just moments before. “But it sounds like you’ll have your hands full. Are you planning to return to reality TV?”
My breath caught in my throat. “Did you just find the nicest way ever to tell me I was fired?”
She laughed. “No! You’re stuck with us. It was a real question.”
She had no idea how full my heart felt when she said that. “I plan on coming back as long as I have a job. Bibi’s been talking about finding love for the unmated bears in the pack. So I might wind up with a special assignment.”
“That would be so fun.” It was much easier to hear Tina now, which could only mean one thing. It was go time. “Any final thoughts before I bring you on stage?”
“Nothing profound, but a question for you.” I swallowed hard. “When does it stop feeling like a roller coaster ride?”
“Never, if you’re lucky.” She rose from her chair. “Let’s go get you a mate.”
Tina gripped my hand as we walked to the stage, and I had never appreciated a gesture more. My world had always been full of doubt, chaos, and never knowing who I could trust. That all changed when I started working onThe Mating Game. It wasn’t the easiest transition, learning how to do things the right way, and I wasn’t always going to get it right. But the people here loved and accepted me just the way I was, and it was magical.
The last of the instruments were being cleared from the stage as we approached. Bibi met us at the bottom of the stairs. She’d completely transformed herself from the outfit she’d worn on stage just moments before. The giant pink beehive wig was gone, replaced by a sleek platinum bob. She had on the most fantastic dress I’d ever seen, and if we were even remotely close to the same height, I would beg to borrow it. It was a halter dress, all sparkles that started as a cream color and faded into turquoise. It hugged her body down to the knees and then flared out. Total mermaid vibes.
