Page 113 of Ten Hammers

“I got an offer to be a field producer on another reality show,” she says, her voice uncharacteristically somber and quiet.

“Oh. And you’re not psyched about it? Did they give you a lowball offer?”

“Winnie, the new show is a 1 Girl, 10 Hammers spinoff.”

My knees feel weak. I clearly have heard her wrong. “No, that’s not possible. The guys turned it down and we all agreed our Winnie’s Favorite Hammer thing is a private thing–”

She’s gone silent again.

“Golds.”

“The guys turned that show down, yes. But the network wasn’t willing to drop it. They came up with another idea called ‘Who Wants to Marry A Hammer Brother?’ It’s going to feature 25 gorgeous–and you and I both know that means skinny and flawless–single women vying for the heart of, and an engagement ring from, a Hammer brother.”

“Well, they’ll turn that one down, too,” I say with a nonchalant shrug.

But part of me feels sick. After I’ve made my choice, some of them might want to do it. And I’ll have to be okay with that.

“Winnie, Season 1 is going to be Max. And Season 2 is going to be Mason. They’ve already signed on to do it. Filming starts in September.”

They’ve already signed on?

I don’t say anything. I can’t.

“Winnie, are you there?”

Yes, yes, I’m here. But I feel like the world has just fallen out from under my feet.

Apparently I was wrong when we finished in the smash room. There was something left to break.

My stupid, stupid heart.

Chapter 39

Winnie

I don’t think I even say goodbye to Goldie before ending our call. And after I do, I stay in the bathroom so long that Mason sends Lindsey to check on me.

Thankfully, I’m locked in a stall and am done throwing up by the time she comes into the bathroom.

I tell her I’m fine.

Has there ever been a bigger lie in the history of time? In the past, I probably would’ve asked her if there was a back door I could sneak out of. No, I definitely would’ve done that. But that’s not even something I consider today.

I take another five minutes to pull myself together. I realize I should be crying, but the tears haven’t started to fall yet. I should be devastated but all I feel is numb.

Dad and Gram are talking louder than ever in my head, judging how oblivious, naive, and just plain stupid I’ve been.

I splash water on my face and walk out to where Lindsey and Mason are chatting at check-in. Mason’s big-ass grin is dead on arrival when he catches a glimpse of my expression.

He leaves Lindsey and comes over to me. “Hey. You okay?”

I obviously am not. But I can merely assume the worst, or I can get answers.

I deserve answers.

“Before you two leave, don’t forget to take a selfie in front of the We Smashed It wall!” calls Lindsey, who is obviously not as fluent in the nuances of my face as Mason is.

“We’ll have to catch that next time, Linds,” he calls back. “What’s wrong? What happened?”

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