Page 5 of The Holiday Games

Her brown eyes widen. “Really?”

“Really,” I assure her. “She provoked you. It doesn’t excuse punching her in the face, but…I get it.”

Meredith sniffs and nods. “Thanks. Maybe Iwilllook into anger management or something. My family always says therapy is for people who don’t have real problems, but…maybe they’re wrong. Maybe it could help.”

“It did for me,” Ainsley says, dividing her attention between Meredith and whatever she’s doing on her cell. “I had a lot of anger, too. One time I threw a bowling ball at a frat boy at a party.”

My brows lift as I take in all five-foot-one of tiny, scrawny-armed Ainsley.

Reading my expression, she adds, “Rage gives a person enhanced strength.” She glances back to Meredith with a wrinkle of her nose. “Until it starts feeding on its host and slowly devours you from the inside out.”

Meredith makes a considering sound. “It’s definitely been eating at me.”

“Therapy and positive self-talk,” Ainsley says, pausing in her phone-tapping to flash a shy smile. “It feels silly at first, but talking to yourself like you would talk to someone you love is pretty powerful.”

Meredith swipes the tears from her cheeks with a wobbly grin. “Maybe I got what I needed out of this show, after all.”

“I hope so,” I say, lifting a hand to bid her and Eric goodbye before turning back to Ainsley. “Tell me all this tapping on your cell is you contacting alternate cast members.”

“Jenna, our alternate ‘troublemaker,’ the one with the tattoos who runs the Goth Girl Inn, is on her way to the city from Poughkeepsie as we speak,” Ainsley says, easing some of the tension from my chest.

Maybe we can pull this out of the fire, after all. We’ve only been filming for three days, and that was mostly intros, cast interviews, and this first competition. Even with needing to reshoot the tearoom challenge with new cast members, it shouldn’t put us behind schedule or over budget.

“Everyone take an early lunch,” I call out to the three remaining cast members and crew. “We’ll regroup at noon with an update on where we go from here. Thank you again for yourprofessionalism. I know this day hasn’t gone the way any of us expected, but we’ll rally and come back stronger. And we’ll still have you home in time for Christmas. I promise.”

A short, but intense round of applause further lifts my spirits. I haven’t lost my team’s trust, and it’s a gorgeous winter day outside, perfect for filming the ice-skating challenge tonight.

We just need to get the new cast members here—ASAP.

“The ‘sweet’ pick is proving more of a challenge,” Ainsley adds, making my stomach sink again. “Ashley is pregnant and battling a bad case of morning sickness, Kitty took a job on Single Men Seeking Soul Mates and is in the final three, and Priscilla joined a cult.”

My brows snap together. “A cult?”

Ainsley nods, glancing back at her cell. “But she said it’s a nice cult. They only have to work four hours a day, get all the quinoa and kale they can eat, and she can leave whenever she wants to. But she doesn’t want to.” Ainsley glances back up. “Apparently, the cult members are nicer than her ex-husband and she really likes kale.”

“I feel that. Kale’s the stuff,” Trevor says on his way by, touching gentle fingers to Ainsley’s shoulder. “You okay, kid? I thought you were going to pass out there for a minute.”

Ainsley blushes and exhales a breathy laugh. “Yeah, I’m fine. Thanks. I just wasn’t expecting all that. Leo said this was going to be a nice reality show.”

Trevor shoots a knowing grin my way, his teeth bright in his golden-brown face. “Yeah, Leo’s an optimist. It’s cute. Almost like he hasn’t spent three years rolling around in the reality show mud with the rest of us.”

“I’m not cute,” I say. “I’m determined. This show is going to be different.”

“If you say so.” Trevor glances back at Ainsley. “Want me to grab you a sandwich from the deli? I’m betting this one will keep you too busy to get lunch.”

“Yes, thank you,” Ainsley says, her blush deepening. “An Italian with?—”

“Extra banana peppers and no cheese because of the lactose thing,” Trevor cuts in with a wink. “I know what you like.”

As he walks away, Ainsley sighs.

I fight a smile. I’ve given up on true love myself, but I still have hope for the younger generation. Rolling the dice on forever is something best done while you’re young and too dumb to understand the magnitude of the risk you’re taking, giving your heart away to a fallible human creature.

At twenty-seven, with her directing career off to a great start, Ainsley is in the perfect position to give love a chance.

“You should ask him out,” I murmur when Trevor’s out of earshot.

Ainsley tugs at her ponytail with a nervous giggle. “Oh no, I couldn’t. We work together!”

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