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“Steak.”
Both Brittany and I easily accept her one-word answer. We all have our meat crutch—except for Jake, apparently.
“Would you ever try it again?” I ask, wondering if Jake might be the right guy for Cami. Being that Tim’s not looking for love, I’m afraid she’s going to have to cast a broader net. And while earlier in the day I viewed Cami as competition for Jake’s attention, I no longer think I’m willing to give up my omnivore status for a man.
“I didn’t mind being vegan,” Cami answers. “And I’ve heard they’ve come up with delicious meat substitutes. Why do you ask?”
“Jake wants the woman he winds up with to give his lifestyle a try. For a year.” I add the last bit like I’m pronouncing a death sentence.
“And you’re not interested in him?” She sounds surprised.
“I like meat too much.”
Cami cocks her head to the side as though considering the possibility of a life with a vegan pho chef. She finally decides, “I’ll talk to him tonight and see if there are any sparks.” After a beat, she adds, “I like Tim, but if he’s truly not looking then I don’t want to pin my hopes on him.”
“It’s good to have options,” I tell her. While I hope Tim takes my advice and gives love another shot, in my heart of hearts I don’t think he will.
“I don’t need options,” Brittany interjects with a dreamy expression on her face.
“You like Chip that much, huh?” I can’t see it for the life of me, but there’s no accounting for taste.
“I really do. He’s smart, funny, and super cute.” She looks off into the distance like she’s envisioning a beautiful future together. She either met an alternate-universe Chip, or love reallyisblind.
Bringing the subject back to me, I ask, “So you both say yes to the Pooh?”
They nod their heads in agreement as I take a seat by the woman who did my makeup yesterday. She smiles at me in the mirror. “If I had to guess, I’d say you’re going to be this season’s favorite.”
I don’t bother questioning such a bold statement. Instead, I relish the thought that I’m no longer a contender for villain. “That would be nice,” I tell her.
Trina comes into hair and makeup a short time later. “Brittany, Cami, we need you in the ballroom.”
I stand up to join them, but she waves me back down. “We’re going to mic you in here, and then give you a grand entrance. We want to get everyone’s reaction on film.”
Thirty minutes ago, I probably would have preferred to go to the mixer in my underwear. But now that I’ve been freshly bolstered by my new friends, I’m ready to make a splash.
Trina keeps me in the hair and makeup room for another twenty minutes. When we finally leave, she says, “I’ll go in first. Once I’m inside, count to sixty before you make your grand entrance.”
I start to question what I’m doing while whispering under my breath, “One-Mississippi, two-Mississippi …”
By the time I hit fifty-nine-Mississippi, I’m ready to get it over with. I hear Trina loudly ask, “Where’s Paige?” which is my cue to open the doors. Throwing my hands up into the air, I glide in on fleece feet.
“Hello!” Hamming it up for my audience, I tell them, “You guys clearly didn’t get the memo we were supposed to dress comfortably tonight.” The laughter that fills the room instantly puts me at ease.
I watch as cameras move toward me when a woman I have yet to meet approaches. She’s very tall and she looks down at me with a glare. “What do you think you’re up to?” She sounds mad.
“I … um … that is to say, I picked up the wrong thing on my bed before coming in tonight.”
“Liar,” she hisses.What’s going on here?
“Excuse me? Why would I lie about that?”
“Because you’re trying to hog all the men’s attention for yourself.”
“By wearing my pajamas?” If I were going to do that, I would have chosen something a whole lot sexier and more feminine than a chubby bear with a honey addiction.
I know the camera is catching all of this, so to diffuse the tension, I tell her, “I’m Paige. What’s your name?”
“Isla,” she spits.
