Page 51 of My Irresistible Enemy

“Idosay so.”

“I’ll admit, I don’t know him that well. I’d only met him a couple times before the show started. But I just got the impression…” She trailed off, then shrugged. “Well, like I said. I don’t know him that well.”

I laughed. “I don’t know him that well either, but trust me, I’m an expert in knowing when people hate me. I’ve had a lot of experience in that area.”

“Well, as long as you keep up the ruse, I’m sure you’ll be fine. Give the cameras a little more flirtation at the festival this Friday. If you really wanted to do me a favor, maybe you could even squeeze in a smooch.”

I burst out laughing. “You want me to kiss Nolan? On camera?”

“What? It’s not that crazy a thought.”

“Didn’t I just tell you that Nolan hates me? It’s hard enough just getting him to talk to me.”

“You also told me that he’s willing to do what it takes to stay on the show. Come on, it would really help me out.”

“Why? Surelyyourjob doesn’t depend on me and Nolan pretending to like each other. You work with other bakers too.”

“Oh, yeah, no.” Nora smiled. “It’s not my job you’d be helping. It’s me personally. Em and I have a bet.”

“A what?”

“I bet him that you guys were committed enough that you’d kiss on camera. He thinks Nolan’s too uptight for that.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yeah. I’ve got fifty bucks riding on this.” She frowned. “You’re not offended, are you?”

“I don’t really see how I can be, given that I told you this was all fake. But I think Em’s right. There’s no way Nolan would go that far.” I laughed. “And in the end, it is still a baking show, not a dating one. It’s not like we can make itallabout us.”

Nora grinned. “Not with that attitude, you can’t.”

* * *

By the time Friday rolled around, it was clear that Nora was right about one thing, at least. Nolan and I had made it through another week, safe. Only six contestants remained now that Cadence had gone home: Omar, Wade, Lucinda, Aisha, Nolan, and me.

I couldn’t believe we’d made it this far. I also wasn’t sure how much longer I could last. Lucinda was a grandmotherly type who’d been baking for approximately seventy years, and Aisha had a side business making custom wedding cakes. Omar had worked as a pastry chef for the past five years, and Wade was one of those dark horse amateurs who had way more experience than seemed natural.

Nolan might make it through another episode or two, but I wasn’t sure how much longer I could, no matter how the votes went.

“Holy shit,” Henry said when he called me Friday afternoon. “I just caught up on the past two weeks’ episodes. Are you and that Nolan guy really—I mean, I thought you hated him. I thoughthehatedyou. What the hell?”

“I think he still does hate me,” I said, rifling through my suitcase, looking for the largest butt plug I’d brought with me to Summersea. I had just enough time to make another video for my CamFans account before we had to head out for the festival tonight. “And I’m not exactly his biggest fan either. He’s still an asshole.”

“It didn’t look like you thought that on the last episode I watched.”

“Believe me, I do.”

I pulled off the jeans I’d been wearing and studied myself in the mirror. I had a bright pink jockstrap on. Should it come off for the video, or stay on to provide an air of mystery?

“So what happened, then?” Henry asked. “Why act like you like him, unless you’re—wait. Wait a second. You didn’t hook up with him, did you? You didn’t discover he has, like, the world’s most amazing dick and decide you didn’t care about his awful personality anymore, right?”

“Henry, I’m hurt.” I turned and looked at myself from the side. If the jock stayed on, it would direct attention to my ass. “Do you really think I’m that shallow?”

Henry snickered. “I can’t believe you have to ask me that.”

“Shut up. You’re a terrible friend.” I turned and studied myself from the other side. “And nothing happened. We just decided that if we acted like we liked each other, we’d have a better chance of staying on the show. I’m helping him be more likeable, he’s helping me be more bakeable.”

“Bakeable?”

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