Page 127 of Ten Hammers

“And when I say ‘the guys’ are going to be blacklisted, Winnie, I want to make it perfectly clear that I mean all of them. I can’t stress how dire this is. You could all be ruined, your reputations tarnished beyond repair.”

Fuck. Lexie is wound tight, sure, but she’s not one for hyperbole or being overdramatic. If she says it it’s true.

I run a hand through my hair, wondering what this might mean for the others’ careers. For Gunner and Diesel’s music even.

Fuck.

I think long and hard for a few minutes. I don’t want any of my boys to lose out on their dreams, on their careers, on anything that makes them happy for me.

“Do you think it would help if we offered to do another show instead? All of us?” I ask.

“I’m listening,” she says. “But it would have to be something really, really special.”

I think it will be, but I hope it’ll be enough.

After I make my pitch to Lexie, who promises she’ll call me back ASAP, I pull on my overalls and go downstairs. Part of me wants to wait until I hear back from her, but that part of me is outvoted by my heart, which loves these boys so, and my conscience, which holds me to the same standards I’m holding them to. I’m not starting out this phase of our relationship with deception.

Jack is back with the powdered sugar and all of the others have finished up the dishes I left in various states of done. We all sit down to eat and I lay out the current state of affairs, including what I proposed to Lexie.

Nobody looks happy about the situation and everyone is picking at their food.

“I’m so fucking sorry,” Max says, rubbing his hands over his face. “I wish I had something else to offer, but… yeah. That’s it.”

“What you and Mason did was really fucking unprofessional, bro,” Theo says.

“Don’t be a douchebag,” Gunnar says.

“Gun, you don’t have to defend us. I appreciate it, but it’s unnecessary. Theo’s right,” Mason says.

Theo clears his throat. “What Max and Mason did was really fucking unprofessional but… let’s make it work. Hopefully Lexie will get back to us with good news.”

Someone nudges my foot under the table and I suspect it’s Gavin, who speaks next, “Pooh Bear, you sure if she says it’s a go that you’ll be okay with it?”

What I pitched to Lexie is a 1 Girl, 10 Hammers special mini-series of three or four episodes–the fans are obviously still clamoring for more after the finale just aired–where we film the rest of the reno on Gram’s house. I explained to Lexie how deeply personal it is, and how I’m willing to talk on camera–as many confessionals as they want– about my past and what this house did to me growing up and how the renovation has healed those wounds.

“If we have to, I’m on board for offering them to resurrect 1 Girl, 10 Hammers for a couple more seasons in lieu of that. Winnie shouldn’t have to lay her soul bare on national television,” Jack says. “Period.”

“No way,” Max says. “I mean, I agree with you. She shouldn’t. But you shouldn’t have to go back to the show, either, Jack. You said you were done and we heard you. You want your privacy back, man, and you deserve that.”

“Everybody, hear me out,” Diesel says.

“No,” the rest of us say automatically, because we can all tell he’s about to say something none of us like.

“What if they go with the Who Wants To Marry A Hammer Brother thing?” he suggests.

Um, how about hell no?

“Hell no,” Mason says.

I fight a smile.

“Just listen. You can fake your way through it and break up with whoever you choose right after it’s over.”

“Because that’s fair to the women?” I ask, quirking an eyebrow at him.

“Okay, you’ve got a point,” he relents.

Gunnar bites his lip, dragging it through his teeth. “It’s not the worst idea.”

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