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But there was no missing the sadness in her eyes.
I gave her a hug. “I’m so sorry about your friend.”
“Me too.” She held me longer than I expected. “Now that we know she’s missing, we can find her.”
“We will.”
“But right now, we’re at a pivotal part of your episode. Don’t let this bombshell overshadow your big day. This is the part of the episode when everything comes together.” Bibi gave us this pep talk before we returned to the stage every episode, but it never hit quite like it did today. And she probably needed this little sliver of normalcy for her own sanity. “You should be proud of yourselves. Tina as a brand-new mama, for coming back to work and crushing it. And Marissa, for following your heart where you didn’t expect it to lead you and finding something better than you ever imagined.”
I took a deep breath and followed her onto the stage. My legs turned to rubber as soon as I hit the first step. That was just a thing now. My whole life had changed in the span of this episode, and I had to get used to all these new feelings.
The crowd erupted when we appeared on stage. I was sure it was mostly for Bibi and that fabulous dress.
Let yourself enjoy this, the tiny voice in my head said. It had a lot to say today.He won’t let you down.
“I’m so glad you’re all still here,” Bibi exclaimed, soaking in even more admiration from the crowd. “Our first segment didn’t exactly go as planned. You have my promise I will do what’s right by Calista. Whatever that may be. Now we move onto our main event. Last time we were on stage, Marissa chose Bjorn Bernard from three possible and very eligible shifters. We’ve gone on three dates, one juicier than the next. This episode had more than its fair share of twists and turns, but all roads led us here. To the stage. Any guesses on what will happen?
The answers came in a cacophony of chaos. I wasn’t sure everyone wanted us to be together.
“Let’s watch some of the highlights, shall we?”
There were big screens on either side of the stage, a monitor in front of me, and one in front of Bjorn, assuming he was here. In my nervousness, I couldn’t remember if she usually introduced the couples before or after the sizzle reel. She did mention Bjorn, but she didn’t give me any clue if he was actually on the other side of that stage.
Yeah, I was freaking out.
But butterflies still fluttered in my belly when the two of us appeared on the screen, climbing into that tiny helicopter. I still couldn’t believe they got me to go into that thing. Stephanie managed to capture the most gorgeous shots of the sunset, as well as a photo of Bjorn and me sharing a look that sent those muscles below the butterflies into overdrive. That image faded away and showed Bjorn and me in the kitchen of the mercantile, chopping vegetables together, and then the two of us on the dancefloor. That faded away to the night in the hot tub, with me on his lap, just about to kiss him…
The night that should have made me think this part of the show was no big deal. Instead, it made me doubt everything.
The monitor changed toThe Mating Gamelogo, jarring me back to reality. “Let’s welcome our big, handsome bear to the stage.”
I held my breath as the crowd cheered.
“Hi, Beebs.” I’d never been so relieved to hear that deep sexy voice in my life.
He was here.
“Bjorn, can you tell us what’s changed since the last time you took the stage?”
“Pretty much everything.” He chuckled. “I thought I’d be nothing more than a sad side story during my exit interview. But instead, Marissa took a chance on me.”
Bibi turned to me. “Marissa, what’s changed for you since you were last on this stage?”
“You might remember I was dead set against choosing Bjorn. I’m glad I listened to that little voice that told me to do it.”
“You should listen to that voice more often. It will never do you wrong.” He had no right making me swoon in front of a live audience.
“I agree,” Bibi said. “Bjorn, is there anything else you’d like to ask Marissa?”
“As a matter of fact, there is.” I could picture that grin on his face. The way his hair framed his face. Never perfect, always a little wild. The way those long legs parted when he sat. And I could practically hear the rumble from the other side of the stage. “Marissa, will you—”
“Wait! Stop everything,” an all too familiar voice rang out.
No. Hell no. How the hell did my mother manage to get onto the stage?
ChapterTwenty-Nine
Bjorn
