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Esmeralda might have been my ride or die, but right then, it felt like I didn’t know her at all.
“Stop. Breathe,” she said. I closed my eyes and did as she asked. She was like the sister I never had, and she never did anything to intentionally piss anyone off, let alone me.
“Okay. Air is in the lungs. Lay it on me.” I took a deep breath and cracked an eye open to find her smothering a laugh.
“You work too much,” she said in a rush. I went to interrupt, but she held up a hand to stop me before I could. “You do! If you’re not in the office, you’re out at meetings, or at home designing. Yes, we go out and have fun, but even then, I’ve seen you doodling designs on bar napkins. I understand you love it. Hell, I do too! But when was the last time you were in anything even remotely resembling a serious relationship? Or had sex, even? And before you say anything, sex toys do not count.”
I played along and searched my memory. A year. It had been ayearsince I’d been in a relationship that I thought had the potential to go the distance.
“Ryan, right?” she asked gently.
“Yeah,” I admitted. “Who knew he would pull the ol’ bait-and-switch as soon as the honeymoon phase was over?”
“No one. I swear, it wasn’t something you had missed being all wrapped up in puppy love. He was fun and fuckingfiiiine.” She dragged out the word. “But remember that time he guilted you about your work schedule at a dinner? In front of everyone? That’s when I knew he needed to go. And I’m glad you eventually saw it too.”
“Yeah. That’s what pushed me to finally end it.” Ryan hated my work schedule; meetings at all hours, chaotic deadlines, last-minute emergencies that came with owning a business, and the weekly outings we had with our friends. That particular chiding at dinner was not the first, and certainly not the last.
I hadn’t told Es about the comments regarding my physique, already knowing I was going to end it. I didn’t need to add fuel to the fire, and his desire for me to change my weight to suit his preferences was the glaring red flag I needed. Sure, he’d phrased it as a health thing, but it felt like an excuse. Some men wanted women bigger, and some wanted women smaller. Why didn’t any of them realize it wasn’t their call to make in the first place?
“So when I saw their video looking for sexy people, I answered it for you. What’s the worst that can happen? You take some time off on a beach with some other sexy people. What’s the best? You find someone on the show to have some hot, dirty sex with, and maybe you find someone who isn’t an asshole like Ryan. Plus, think of the awesome brand exposure.” She shrugged like it was as simple as that.
Clearly reading my response before I said it, she patted me on the shoulder. “It might just be that easy. Come on. Read it and tell me what you think.”
I’d never been able to deny her anything since the first time she stuck up for me in middle school, so I sighed and turned toward the computer.
There was an electronic NDA to sign and an invitation to fill out their questionnaire to determine if I was a good fit. The full details weren’t in the message, so I skimmed their attached summary.
Love on Display
Ten hot strangers will be sent to live on a Caribbean Island for four weeks where they will get to know one another and form connections. Episodes will air daily throughout the week, and viewers will vote on which participants have shown growth and deserve time to foster their connections privately.
Can the participants put it all out there for the audience to see? Or will they hide behind the masks they wear in the real world? With our cameras watching, we doubt it. And with a huge cash prize at the end, why would they want to?
That sounded fucking ominous.
“Sophie, you can’t rage-quit your browser!” Es cried as I jammed my fingers on the keyboard.
“Watch me!” I smashed the command and Q keys, grateful when the window disappeared.
“Well, I’m glad you took it seriously,” she deadpanned.
I blinked up at her as if she had lost her mind. Maybe she had?
“You want me to go on a show with a bunch of strangers while cameras watch us twenty-four-seven so theviewerscan determine who I spendmytime with on the island?” Disbelief colored my tone, and it surprised me she’d even suggested this.
“Yes.”
“Really? That’s your answer?”
She thought about it for a second, making a show of rubbing her chin and scrunching her brows, and then nodded. “Yes.”
I threw my hands up in exasperation. Typical Es, going all in on something even though it would be uncomfortable.
“Look, Soph. You’re great at picking out guys—Ryan aside—but you shrink your personality when things get too intense and you rarely give anyone a real shot to go the distance.”
“That’s not fair. I’ve tried, Es.” Thinking back on all the times I’d attempted a relationship and failed because of one reason or another was not a fun mental exercise. Zero stars; do not recommend.
“You have, and each time, I’ve watched you become more guarded and view your subsequent relationships with more cynicism. I get you’ve been having fun and needed time to recover, but it seems like it’s not fair to you or the guys you were seeing. At least three of them in the last six months had potential. With this, there’s no hiding.”
