Page 109 of Ex Marks the Spot

Another thing I didn’t notice that day is that when the Bombshells arrived, everyone pretty much ignored the Wise Asses. They keep moving from team to team to boast about their win but we’re all too busy talking to each other.

“Serves you right, assholes,” I mutter to the screen.

I hear a knock at the door and then the assistant I met earlier peeks her head in. “Ready?”

“Very.” My stomach and heart do a weird high-five thing as I button my dark gray suit coat and follow her into the hall.

“One member of each team will be in the left wing and the other in the right wing. When Paul announces you, you’ll walk to the center of the set and meet Hartley, then find a spot on the couches.”

Easy enough.

After a few short hallways, I’m behind a curtain backstage with Gianna, Kadeeja, Boyd, Bobby, Mitchell, Ji-ho, Randall, Janessa, and Marcail. We exchange hugs and handshakes before lining up in the order of elimination.

I take my place at the end of the line behind Gianna, who gives me another hug. “How’s your girl?”

“Fantastic and in a few days, she’ll be Tennessee’s newest resident.”

She opens her mouth in a silent scream and squeezes my arm.

“Pretty much my feelings too,” I laugh.

“Quiet please!” I hear from someplace on the set.

As the chatter dies down, I realize no one is behind me.

“Have you seen the Wise Asses?” I whisper to Gianna.

“No. I’m not sad about it though. They’re gonna have to keep me on the opposite side of the set from both of them.”

“Us too. Maybe they’ll reconfigure everything after this segment to bring them out.”

We hear Paul start his intro to the live portion of tonight’s show, and then the backstage curtain parts and he’s calling us up.

“My heart’s gonna beat out of my freaking chest,” I whisper.

Gianna laughs quietly and grabs ahold of my hand as we slowly move forward.

“Do I hug her or kiss her?”

“Yes.”

“You’re no help.”

“In fourth place we have Team Old Bay, Kadeeja and Haylee!”

Gianna and I inch up and I can finally,finallysee across the set. Hartley’s in a shimmery, van Gogh blue dress that stops just above her knees and she’s standing arm-in-arm with Alexis.

“She’s beautiful,” Gianna whispers.

I can only nod while I work to breathe properly.

“In third are the Bombshells, Gianna and Alexis!”

With a final squeeze, Gianna lets go of my hand and crosses the set, giving Alexis a quick hug before heading to the couch.

And then it’s just me and Hartley.

Nothing standing between us.

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