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“I don’t have any problem with Cami helping a friend,” he says. “Also, I shouldn’t publicly start dating anyone until my divorce is finalized.” He shares, “Even though Maggie cheated on me, I’m the one with the money, so she’s trying to make claims that I was unfaithful first.” His gaze focuses on Cami. “Which I was not. I take wedding vows very seriously.”
It’s official. This is the worst date I’ve ever been on. While I wasn’t one hundred percent committed to dating Cami—because my mind was on Paige (who appears to be smitten with Fielden)—I truly thought something could develop between us. Now I find out neither Cami nor Paige is interested in dating me, and I’m stuck on this stupid show for another three weeks.
With all the chips stacked against me, I might as well at least get something out of it and prove to Eva that I’m over her. Of course, the only way that’s going to work is if no one suspects Cami and I are just pretending. “You can’t tell anyone on the show you aren’t into me,” I tell her.
“I wouldn’t.”
“Not even Paige or Brittany.”
She nods her head slower, indicating that she probably wanted to tell them. “I understand. Our pact will be between the two of us alone.”
Walker feels the need to add, “Between the three of us, really.”
“Okay,” I finally agree. “I’ll accept your offer of help.” As an afterthought, I add, “Thank you.”
Cami performs a shimmy of excitement. “This is going to be fun.”
Fun is not what I would call it, but then again, I don’t appear to be getting much of a say here. Forces bigger than me have taken over, and I’m just a passenger on this crazy ride. It’s like getting on a roller coaster and not finding out it goes upside down until you are, in fact, upside down.
Cami and I say goodbye to Walker and then turn our mics on before walking back into the conference room. She grabs my hand and pulls me toward our table. “Hey, you two, we’re back.” She sounds so natural and normal, you’d think she just popped out into the hall for an acting lesson.
Paige looks up and smiles. “I didn’t even know you’d left until a few seconds ago.”
“You must be having a great time,” Cami replies. After we sit down, she runs her hand up my arm and flirtatiously purrs, “We’re having a good time, too, aren’t we, Tim?”
“Yes … sure … loads of fun.”
Paige does not look very pleased to hear this, which makes me mad. Does she think she’s the only one allowed to find love? I scoot my chair closer to my date and ask, “Why don’t we split a couple of things for supper?”
“Eating off of each other’s plates is so romantic.” Cami’s weird stammer is clearly a thing of the past. She lowers her gaze and then looks up at me in such a way that if I didn’t know she was acting, I’d really think she had a thing for me.
“Why don’t we share, too?” Paige asks Fielden a bit aggressively.
“I want the steak,” he tells her.
“I’ll have the sea bass.”
“I don’t like fish.”
Paige’s jaw clenches to the point that it appears locked. “You can decide on both entrees, then. I’ll be happy with anything.”
If I thought this date was bad before—and I did—it’s now positively excruciating. Not only do I know with certainty there’s no hope for Cami and me, I also know there’s no hope with Paige either. Everything I say or do seems to make her mad. It’s getting so bad, I’m not sure we’re even friends anymore.
What in the world is going on?
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
PAIGE
I’ve been on some bad dates in my life, but this one really takes the cake. Instead of trying to get to know me better—which is how the evening started—Fielden totally closed down. Not only does he start giving me one-word answers to my questions, but after our food arrives, he eats with the concentration of a Buddhist monk at prayer time. It’s like the whole world outside his head has ceased to exist.
Once our dinner dishes are cleared, Tim asks, “Who’s up for dessert?”
“Yum!” Cami says enthusiastically.
There is no way I’m going to sit here for another half hour, even if it means being rewarded with sugary treats. “I’m tired,” I announce. “I think I’m going to call it an early night.”
Fielden clearly doesn’t want dessert either, as he stands up abruptly. I barely have time to say goodnight to our tablemates before he pulls me away. Once we’re in the lobby, he declares, “That was painful.”
