Page 24 of Sensuous

A big grin spreads across his face. “I can still live my life like I want, man. Being with Hailey doesn’t mean I never hang out.”

“She’s busy tonight, isn’t she?”

A sheepish look comes over his face. “She and Meadow are getting together to make plans for the wedding. She’s the maid of honor, so that’s her job, I guess.”

Meadow getting married. Back when Cade began seeing Hailey, I thought Meadow and I would be a couple. We tried, but we were always too busy. Well, I was always too busy. When we broke it off, I always assumed we’d get back together at some point.

No chance of that now. Yet another example of how I failed at something.

“I guess you’re free to babysit your sad best friend then?”

“You won’t be sad if I have anything to say about it. We’ll go out, hit some places to see what the action is, and before you know it, all this reality show bullshit will be forgotten. And don’t worry about your father. Like everyone else in our family, he thinks you walk on water. You just got a little splashed up on you today. That’s all. He’ll be back to thinking you’re the best thing since sliced white bread in no time.”

His description of me makes me laugh. “Jealous much?”

“Of the golden boy? Damn straight. Always have been. I’d hate you if you weren’t my best friend.”

I raise my bottle again at that cheery thought. “Nice to know.”

My phone rings, breaking into the start of our good time, and I look down at my cell’s screen to see it’s Maria. Holding it up for Cade to see, I say, “It’s the female producer. I think I’ll just let it go to voicemail.”

“No way! Answer it. I bet they’re going to try to lure you back to the show, and I want to know what they offer. Ask for more money.”

“Dude, there was no money, unless I won the prize at the end. Then I’d get a million bucks,” I explain.

“No money? Maybe you should let it go to voicemail. Then again, I want to know what they have to say.”

Curious too what Maria could want to tell me, I answer it and brace for more nonsense as I put the call on speaker. “Hey, Maria. What’s up?”

“Hi Alex. Shane and I are here, and we’ve been talking. We understand you’re unhappy with some things about the show, and we’re willing to change things if you’ll come back.”

“I don’t know. It seems like this project isn’t about anything I really feel strongly about. I agreed to come on because you said it was a cooking show. It turns out cooking has very little to do with it.”

“We get what you’re saying, and we think we can work more of what you want into the show. Also, if you really don’t want to be involved with a romantic storyline with Kat, we can toss that out too. We’d really like you to come back. You weren’t just eye candy. I swear, Alex.”

I cringe when she says that, and then I see the amused expression on Cade’s face. Fucking great. I’m never going to live this down. He’s going to throw it in my face forever, just like a best friend should. I’d do the same to him.

Still, I’m not sure I want to be involved in any more of their reality show nonsense. “I have to think about it, Maria.”

“Okay, that’s good. Thinking about it is better than no, so that’s good. Think about it tonight and let us know tomorrow.”

“Fine. I’ll call you tomorrow. Thanks.”

I barely end the call before Cade starts busting my balls about the eye candy comment. “So she wanted you on the show because you’re eye candy? Oh, yeah. That’s perfect! Wait until Cash and Liam hear this. They’re going to love it!”

So much for salvaging some good out of this day.

“Go ahead. Get it out of your system before we head out. I don’t need to hear that all fucking night.”

Cade stands up from the chair and laughs. “Out of my system? Dude, you’re officially eye candy for the rest of your life. I might actually never call you Alex again from this day. You’re Eye Candy March. Or maybe I’ll come up with something else. Give me some time. I’ll work on it.”

Fucking fabulous.

“Well, we might as well go out now. I’m going to need something stronger than beer to think about going back to that damn show.”

Cade’s eyes open wide in surprise. “You’re actually thinking about going back? I thought you said it was bullshit.”

“It is, but I hated seeing my father looking so disappointed in me when he found out I bailed on it. If they include some actual cooking and don’t force me to pretend that I like that Kat chick, I might go back.”

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