Blind Reality (25 page)

Josh hasn’t said anything to me since the competition ended and right now he’s over there with a beer in his hand talking to Gary and Cole, avoiding Bronx. He’s shirtless and laughing. It’s a far cry from the disposition he was showing earlier. The whole freak out over the pink thing was a bit ridiculous and definitely something we’ll have to talk about later.

Rebekah sits down, but doesn’t pour herself anything to drink. Give her a week and she’ll be guzzling right off the bottle. You sort of need the liquid courage to keep up with the drama and stress of living with people you don’t truly know, not to mention the marriage part. And she’s not even looking at the guys. I mean come on, two very hot guys, one good-looking and one who is definitely working himself to make his wife happy, are standing outside shirtless. You’d have to be a saint
not
to take advantage and look at them.

“They’re all freaking shirtless,” I say, reminding the girls of the obvious. “You know, even Gary isn’t looking that bad these days.”

“He’s definitely trying,” Millie adds as she passes me the pitcher of strawberry daiquiri. I top off my glass and pass it onto Amanda.

“But look at Bronx,” Amanda sighs as Millie and I turn to look at her. “What?” she shrugs. “It’s not fair. First you with Josh and now …” Amanda glares at Rebekah who is sitting at the end of our large couch. I’m not sure if she can hear us or not, but Amanda doesn’t care either way. “Why couldn’t I get paired up with someone like that?” She points directly at Bronx.

“It all has to do with your application,” Millie tells her. I wouldn’t know since technically I didn’t apply.

“Obviously, but what’s on my application that doesn’t match up with Josh, but makes me compatible with Gary?” Amanda asks as her frustration level grows.

“I don’t know,” I say honestly. I don’t know what types of questions were asked, or how they were answered. I’m in the dark and chances are if I had answered my own, I’d likely be with Gary. If Josh and I win, I’ll have to buy my mom a new car because if it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t be here right now.

The three of us sigh when Josh and Bronx both turn and face us. Gary and Cole are in between them and it looks like Gary is hanging onto everything Bronx is saying. The guys are far enough away that we can’t hear what they’re talking about, but Josh looks pissed. His hand, the one not holding his beer, is flying animatedly through the air. There’s a lot of pointing in Bronx’s direction, coupled with head shaking.

“Excuse me?”

Our heads move together as if they’re on a rope as we all stare at Rebekah, who has moved closer to Amanda. We don’t respond, but Amanda and I both decide drinking is acceptable in this moment. The sucky thing is, Rebekah is smiling, all soft, sweet, and very innocent looking in her flower print dress with half her long brunette hair pulled up in a ponytail and matching ribbon—she doesn’t have a clue that we don’t want her here. Or maybe she does, but was told not to care. We’ve been at this game for two solid months and as much as Bronx is welcome eye candy, they’re intruders.

None of us speak, and even though the sound stage is loud and there are airplanes flying overhead, you can hear each of us breathing. Millie, Amanda, and I are just staring at her, waiting for her nose to grow and for her face to turn green. Yes, I know that’s a rude assumption, but she’s here to steal our money, and our fans. In the words of my eight-year-old cousin, ‘homey don’t play dat’.

“Are you always so perky?”

I had a feeling Amanda would be the first one to crack, and bravo to her because I’m not sure I would’ve done it. I don’t want to know Rebekah. Millie and I are friends and will keep in touch once the show is over. Amanda and I, we may meet each other for lunch if we happen to be in the same city at the same time, but it’s not as if we’d go out of our way to meet up. I can’t see myself ever seeing Rebekah outside of this house. She’s not part of the original three.

“I have a very positive outlook on life,” Rebekah says as she juts her chin out.

“Is that why you married a stranger and came onto a reality show to win money?” Amanda blurts out as I stifle a laugh. It’s not funny, it’s what we did, but I’m not sure any of us had a positive outlook on life except for Josh.

I glance quickly at him as he and Cole grill the streaks for dinner. The sun was blazing today and the night air isn’t much cooler. I wouldn’t mind a dip in the pool with Josh later, but that’s not likely going to happen if he’s angry with me. We still need to talk about the arrival of Bronx, which I have a feeling won’t go very well. My eyes travel over to Bronx, who is looking over here. Is he staring at his wife, or the three of us?

“Why are you here?” I ask, barely tearing my gaze away from Bronx, and when I do Rebekah is still smiling sweetly at us. Her hands are clasped and resting on her knee, showing off a dazzling rock. I tuck my hand under my leg and square my eyes at her, waiting for her answer.

“I’m here, just as you are, to win,” she replies as she stands, presses her dress down, and walks across the yard. Amanda begins to mimic her until she sees Rebekah talking to Gary. That alone is enough to get Amanda off her ass and over to where Gary and Rebekah are now in deep conversation.

“I’ll be back,” Millie says as she gets up and disappears into the house. I continue to suck on the straw that feeds me my delicious ice-cold cocktail while I lounge sloppily on the couch. Bronx is walking over to me and I know this isn’t going to be good.

“Hello, Joey.”

I start to sit up, and am assisted by his warm hands on my back and arm helping me into a decent position. Putting my drink on the table, I sit back and appraise him: no shirt, sun-kissed skin, and beads of sweat pebbling his chest. Everything in me is telling me to stop staring, but I can’t. Having him and Josh in the same general area with the freedom of touch, in the non-creepy way, should be a sin, a sin that I’d be willing to commit over and over again if forgiveness was easily given. To the hell with forgiveness, this house has two of the hottest up and coming actors and I want to sin. Badly.

“You’re staring like you’ve never seen me shirtless?”

“I haven’t. I mean, not really. Watching you play pick-up and having you sit next to me are two very different things. And you’ve changed … a lot.” I give him a once over before forcing myself to avert my eyes.

“Have you missed me?”

“Eh.” I shrug. I have, but haven’t. It was one semester of fabulous studying. “You’ve done well for yourself.”

“I try. Are you happy I’m here?”

I glance at Josh, who seems worried. He shouldn’t be. “Like I said earlier, it’s nice to have a friend in the house. Are you happy to be here?”

“Oh I’m very happy to be here,” he says, leaning closer to me. I can smell his cologne as it wafts over me. He smells like the sun and ocean. I’m temporarily mesmerized until he laughs and leans back.

Bronx takes my hands in his and starts to trace the lines in my palm as I fight my body’s need to shiver.

“This line here says you’ll have a long life.”

“Did you learn that from one of your movie roles?” I already know the answer, but only realize it after I’ve blurted out my stupid question. His mother is some spiritual guru and his dad is a banker. Bronx’s parents are still married, making his life vastly different from Joshua’s.

“No, my mom—”

“I know what your mom does and your father, too. We’ve spent countless nights studying, remember?”

I close my eyes and pull my hand away when I finish that sentence. I’m such an idiot and need a filter for my brain. I half expect Bronx to get up and go find Millie so he can impress her, but he doesn’t. He doesn’t even slide back to his spot, opting to stay next to me. When I open my eyes, I’m reaching for my drink, taking a long pull through the straw until the glass is just about empty. I really need a refill.

“What’s it like being married to Wilson?”

“In my mind, perfect. I’m a fangirl ya know.”

“Oh I remember when you threw a party in your dorm for some awards show.”

“Shut up, you came and loved it.”

“Yes I did,” he says as he puts his arm around me. Any other time, any other place, and I’d snuggle right into him.

“How does Wilson like you being his stalker?”

“Oh I’m not a stalker,” I say, as I shake my head. “I’m factual in knowledge.” It’s a crock of shit, but I’m not going to admit to stalking anyone. Besides, stalking would indicate that I know where he lives, and I don’t. I’ve never been to Hollywood and somehow I doubt he’s on the bus tour that takes you to all the stars’ houses. They only show you where Hugh Hefner or David Hasselhoff lives.

“Well enlighten me, Joey. What makes you a fangirl?” Bronx leans in, his cologne inviting me to nestle into the crook of his neck. I back away, not wanting to give him the wrong idea, or for me to actually lean in and a take a whiff. How embarrassing would that be? The answer is extremely, not to mention wrong on so many levels. I’m a married woman.

“What are you going to do with the money if you win?” I ask, changing the subject.

“I’m not sure. I haven’t really thought about it, but winning is pretty much guaranteed.”

“Is that so?” I look at up the sound of Josh’s voice. He’s scowling, not at me, but at Bronx. I’m surprised when Josh reaches for me before he sits down and taken back when his lips pepper kisses on my cheek and neck. He’s putting on a show and I’m not sure if I like it or not. I’m pulled into his side as his arm locks around my shoulder. I can’t move, even if I wanted to.

“Why don’t you just piss on her?” Bronx snarls in Josh’s direction.

My mouth drops open, but Josh is quick with the comeback. “You should probably worry about your wife before you worry about mine.”

Bronx scoffs, but doesn’t say anything. After a moment of awkward silence, Bronx gets up, leaving us alone. I use this time to my advantage and test Josh by letting my fingers dance over his bare chest. We really needed to win, and failed at doing so. I’m not sure I can get freaky in the room knowing the cameras are on. The shower is one thing, but the live feed scares me.

Dropping my hand I nestle into him. “Why do you think they’re here?”

Joshua sighs and relaxes into the couch. My stomach rumbles, knowing there’s food to be eaten. “Should we go eat?”

“No, I want to know what the sigh was for.”

Josh groans as he runs his hand over his face. “Bronx and I … let’s just say we don’t get along.”

“That’s been obvious since he walked in the door, but tell me why.” I don’t want to assume it’s because of Jules. The last thing I want Josh to think is that she’s all I think about when it comes to us.

“Tell me why’re so chummy with him.”

“Bronx was my study partner my first semester of college. We had classes together, so it just made sense. I had a crush, but never did anything about it because he was a friend. One day, he says he’s leaving for Hollywood and that was that. Never heard from him again.”

“And you just welcome him with open arms?”

“Sure, why not?” I shrug. “He followed a dream. No one can fault him for that. Now tell me why you don’t like him,” I ask as I thread my fingers through his hair.

“Ugh … I know I should’ve told you this the first night we talked, but Bronx is my competition and in more ways than one.”

“What does that mean?” I ask as I turn to face him. I push his hair out of his eyes and smile softly at him. “You can tell me.”

When he looks at me, his eyes are pained and confused. “You’ve read my interviews, you know about Jules, but what you don’t know is that at one time I was in love with her, then Bronx came along and she … well, she thought she wanted to love Bronx, too. Since then I’ve forged a battle with him for every part we’re both being considered for, and now I see him making moves on you.”

I shake my head. I want to tell him that my heart belongs to him, but the pain that comes with that is too much. So instead I tell him I’m sorry.

“Don’t be,” he says as he leans in to kiss me. “But please stay away from him.”

N
othing is as it seems because as I look around the room, I feel like an outsider. Cole, a man who I’d consider a friend, is buddy-buddy with Bronx and in deep conversation with him at the kitchen island. It’s probably not a bad thing to get to know your competitor, but he hasn’t come looking for me today. Neither has Gary, Amanda, or Joey, the latter of which bothers me the most.