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Stu glances at my cards. I hold them close to my chest. I’m going rogue, and no one can stop me. “Number Three, if you could change jobs, what would you do?”
“Wherever you are, I’d be happy working there.”
The biggest “awwww” comes from the audience, or perhaps it’s from me.
“Uh,” Stu says, walking in front of me. “There seems to be—”
I push him out of the way and continue. “Bachelor Number Three—”
“Wait a second,” one of the other bachelors says. “Why aren’t you asking us any questions?”
“Maybe later. Number Three, it’s Valentine’s Day. What do you think I would prefer? Candy, flowers, or smooches?”
He chuckles, and in a husky voice, he replies, “Definitely smooches. And lots of them.”
Stu makes a motion with his hands to the director and says, “And that’s all the time we have for now. Stay tuned to see which bachelor our sweet bachelorette chooses.” The theme song starts up, and when we are off the air, Stu glares at me. “What are you doing?”
“Whatever I want. I played it cool the first time, and what did it get me? Unemployment and a broken heart.” I slap a hand over my mouth to keep from throwing any more truth bombs out there. “I’m sorry. This is too much for me.”
I turn to leave but the theme song starts up again, and Stu plants his hands on my shoulders. In a whisper, he says, “You’ve come this far. Time to seal the deal.”
Frankie nods. I blow out a breath. “Okay.” I stand next to Stu as he explains to the viewing audience that the next step is for me to pick a bachelor.
He turns to me and asks, “Which will it be? Bachelor Number One, Two, or Three?”
My mouth opens, but I can’t make words come out. Should I pick the right man for me? Or should I make him squirm?
Chapter Ten
Pryce
The other two bachelors stare at me while Kenna decides which one of us to choose for her date. “Don’t look at me. I have no idea what’s going on either.”
Liar.
“This is a setup, isn’t it?” Number Two asks, standing from his middle chair, poking me in the chest with a bony finger. “You paid us for a second chance at this game.” He turns to Number One and adds, “I knew something was up.”
“Shh,” Frankie hisses at us from off the set. All three of us snap our traps shut.
After another long, agonizing pause, Kenna says, “Well, it is a really hard decision. I loved all their answers.”
Under his breath, Number One says, “She hardly asked me anything.”
“Stow it,” I whisper.
“I think I’ll pick…”
Beads of sweat trickle down my neck, messing up the stage makeup. I can’t believe she still has to think about it after all I’ve professed.
Number Two crosses his fingers, and I roll my eyes.
“Number… Three.”
I collapse back into my seat as relief washes over me. She picked me. That has to mean she cares at least a little bit.
The audience claps while Thing One and Two are introduced to Kenna—as if they didn’t know her already. My heart races in anticipation of seeing her face. Not knowing if she feels the same as I do terrifies me. She may be playing along and then when she gets her chance, she could let me have it with a massive slap across my face.
“And now, Kenna, meet your bachelor… again.” Stu chuckles and makes the audience do the same. “He’s a native Nashvillian, loves rock climbing and vanilla ice cream. Meet Pryce Hatfield.”
