Page 17 of (Not So) Famous in Paradise

“Worth it!” Seb calls back as Stella hops up next to him.

Amber’s got Zach’s chin gripped between her fingers, studying his face with the same intensity she studied mine but without the samehow do I fix thislook of concern. And since he can’t move, I figure it’s safe to get closer.

“I think we need pics of this, don’t you?” I call to Stella.

“On it.” She jumps down from the tailgate, her phone already in her hand, and gets close enough to film Amber at work on Zach.

“You’re both out of the family,” Zach says to Stella, loud enough for Seb to hear too.

“Worth it,” Stella answers before zooming in for a close-up.

“You’re going to pay for this…” Zach glares at me over Amber’s head.

“Worth it,” I say.

Chapter 6

Zach

Nine hours and a too-short lunch break later, the crew has barely cleared out, but Georgia and I lag behind. The day was both exhausting and exhilarating at the same time. My friend Rowdy says that about riding bucking broncs in rodeos. I never knew what he meant. Until today.

Georgia’s looking out the sliding glass back door—probably coming up with more ideas about what to do with the house. I’m across the room in the kitchen, using my foot to push down a piece of the peeling linoleum floor. Unfortunately, all the furniture has been cleared out of Granny’s house in preparation for the demo work Adam’s going to do, so there’s nowhere to sit.

“I guess I can add reality TV star to my resume now,” I say to Georgia as I hoist myself onto the kitchen counter, like I’ve done a thousand times over the years I’ve spent in this house.

“You might want to wait until the show airs, and we see if it’s actually going to make us stars.” She unzips her silver boots and slips them off. “I’m so tired, I don’t even care how dirty this carpet is, I’m standing on it.”

“It’ll be a hit. There’s no question about that.” I twist my torso while she presses her hands to her back and stretches.

“Because you’re in it for one episode?” she teases, and I stop mid-twist.

“No. Because you are,” I answer, completely serious.

She huffs a laugh, then stops when I don’t laugh with her. “You really think so?”

“Of course I do.”

Georgia goes still. “Thanks, Zach. That really means a lot to me.”

“There’s no way I would have been on camera if I thought this show wasn’t going to launch your career into outer space.” I joke with Georgia a lot, but not about this.

“Thanks for going with the flow on that.” She waves her hand in the air like it’s no big deal she’s thrown me into a TV career I never planned on or wanted. “I really do think the first episode is going to be so much better with you in it.”

“I doubt that, but when I’m volun-told to do something, I do it. But maybe give me a little more warning next time.” My phone buzzes, and I pull it from my back pocket.

“I’ve never sweated so much in my life,” I say while opening my messages. “It’s a lot of pressure to act natural when someone is telling you to do the same thing over and over until you get it ‘right.’ How does Ike know when I’m acting like myself? We just met today.”

Georgia laughs. “You did so good. It’s unbelievable how fast you memorized your lines.”

“Thanks.”

Georgia’s words barely register. I’m focused on reading a series of texts from Carly, each one more annoyed that I haven’t answered her.

I quickly voice-text an apology and explain that I had to be in the first episode ofAt Home with Georgia Rose.Somehow, saying it out loud, makes it seem even more unreal.I’m going to be on TV. That’s not something I’ve ever thought about, but now that it’s happened, I kind of wish I could be on more than one episode.

Georgia makes anewsound, and I look up to see her delicately tiptoeing across the musty brown carpet. Then she stops in the middle of the room and gags.

“I can’t do this.” She sticks out her tongue like she might really puke. “The carpet is too gross. And I definitely don’t want to walk barefoot on that thousand-year-old linoleum.”

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