AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What does that mean?”
“I’m the one they’re going to set up.”
“But you told me you never wanted to look for love on television.”
“That’s because I don’t.”
“So why would you do that just to keep my story from airing?” Something doesn’t seem right.
“Your story is going to air, Tim. That’s not something I can keep from happening. All I’m trying to keep them from showing is the footage from last night with Eva. I’m also hoping they won’t use the audio from where you thought your sound was off.”
“How will you explain that I’m no longer on the show then?” I ask. “Won’t my abrupt departure be questioned?”
“Not if you had to leave for a medical reason. We could always say you got pneumonia and were bed-bound.”
I pace across the room again before saying, “This seems too good to be true. There has to be something you want from me.”
“There is,” she says.Let the second shoe drop.“I want to assure the producers that you and Paige will come in for a final interview to give closure to your segments.”
I think about that for a minute before saying, “I can only answer that for myself, but if I do, you have to agree you won’t sue me.”
“Of course. But you would have to sign another non-disclosure agreement stating that you won’t talk about what happened on the show that really caused you to leave.”
“I’d do that,” I tell her. “Your problem is going to be getting Paige to agree. She’s not currently taking my calls.” And while I can see why she’s mad at me, I’m hoping she’ll be willing to hear my side of things sooner or later.
“I have a plan,” Trina says evasively. “I just needed to get you on board before I move forward.”
“I’m on board,” I tell her before adding, “And Trina, thank you. I have to say that I haven’t always liked you, but right now I appreciate you trying to help us out.”
“I never wanted to be part of a seedy dating show, Tim. I believe inMidwestern Matchmakerthe way I wrote it. Finding love should be an exciting time without fabricated drama. I have to stand up for the integrity of my concept.”
“It sounds like you’ll have quite a price to pay for that,” I say, referencing the dating show they’re going to do with Trina as the star.
“I’m not looking forward to it, that’s for sure,” she says. “But it’s not always easy doing the right thing.”
I’m not sure how things are going to work out for me, but I do know one thing: if Trina can interview me and Paige at the same time, I’ll have my opportunity to tell Paige how I truly feel about her. And I won’t quit talking until she believes me.
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
PAIGE
I spent all day Sunday hiding out at Missy’s apartment, and only went home late last night to sleep. Even then, I was worried that Tim would be there. I’m currently sitting in my classroom a full hour before school starts. That’s how serious I am about avoiding him.
According to Mrs. Hale, my eighty-year-old neighbor who has nothing to do but stare out the window, a fancy sports car drove by my house twelve times between Saturday and Sunday night. Tim is the only person I know with a vehicle that could be described like that.
Chip surprises me by walking into my room. “Hey, Paige.”
“Chip. Why are you here so early?”
“I’m grading papers. You wouldn’t believe how many kids wrote ‘record label’ when I asked them what an amoeba was.” At my blank expression, he explains, “You know, because Amoebaisa record label?”
“The middle school sense of humor leaves a lot to be desired.” I screw up the courage to ask, “How did the rest of the mixer go after I left?”
Sitting down at a desk in front of me, he says, “No one could talk about anything but Eva. She stayed for the whole night chatting people up.” I appreciate his discretion at not mentioning the epic scene I created.
“Why would she stay?” I want to know.
“She probably just wanted to keep embarrassing Tim.”
