Page 14 of The Final Rose

“The only toe you’ll step on is mine, if you callpreposterouslylate.”

Sebastian claps his hands in an animated fashion. “Well, it’s settled then. I’ll call you next time I need to make a decision.”

I halt to a stop. A decision. Yes, the wrong decision he made of thinking about eliminating Vera of all people.

He stops with me, a crease coming between his brows as he watches me chewing on my lip. Everyone is betting on Vera. Just by the first impression the crew had of her, she’s the nicestby far. It’ll be so easy to make her the princess of this season. Beautiful, intelligent. You can’t get much better than Vera.

And the fool wants to eliminate her first.

“Why Vera?” I ask.

Sebastian shrugs. “I couldn’t remember anything remarkable about her.”

“She has a STEM job.” I hurry to say. “She cooks, she’s and…”

“Why Vera?” He turns it around on me.

“Excuse me?”

“Why are you advocating for her? And if I told you I was between Vera and Elliana?”

I bite my tongue not to scream Elliana’s name. She’s nice enough, but she’s not the horse we are all betting on.

“Listen, you said yourself, you know little about these girls.”

“And you do?” He challenges.

“I know Vera is nice. And you should wait a little. I think you’ll like her.”

He’s still not convinced. I’m not even sure he remembers who Vera is, honestly. As a collective, they’re all hot, shiny, and dressed in beautiful clothes.

But this narrative with Vera will work.

Five years ago, we would pair him with Kirsten. A kind, midwestern schoolteacher and British royalty. The unlikely pairing and all that. I still think she can be the runner-up, dividing the country a little. She has the charisma to pull it off.

But today, Vera is the image we need. She’s a woman of color working with science. She’s the role modelIneeded when I was growing up. And like Sebastian, I get the impression she’s here to find love.

“I can get you a group date, right out of the gate.” I bargain.

“A group date?”

“Four girls.”

“Three?”

Impossible.

“I’ll try. But one of them has to be Vera.” I say, lowering my voice.

Usually, I’m better than this. I’m great at nudging people in the right direction without them realizing it, but for some reason, I don’t think it will work with Sebastian.

He’s a man of direct words. Infuriating, really, but I can’t work around him. He just asks, point blank. And now? He’s asking why Vera.

“Do you really think I should give her a chance?”

I breathe out. “Yes, I do.” I’m not lying. It’s not because the writers are working on the angle, or because Anya is salivating over their pairing. I actually think Sebastian will work with someone like Vera.

“Group date,” he says again.

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