Page 32 of The Wrong Bachelor

I didn’t have a response. I couldn’t even agree. I was speechless and felt frozen to the spot. Did people really think I didn’t care about Jake? That I was fixated on Cole instead of my own boyfriend?

“Don’t listen to her,” Evan said. “She’s just saying hurtful things because she’s jealous.”

Did that make Laurie's comments any less valid though?

“Microphones, guys,” Skye said, grinning as she came over to us.

I didn’t say a word as she set mine up, and I could see my friends looking at me with concern in their eyes. I knew that Laurie was just deliberately trying to hurt me, but a part of me worried that what she was saying was true. I was more than ready for my time in the True Love competition to come to an end.

Angus clapped his hands, and everyone turned his way. “We’re going to start the selection ceremony in a few minutes, contestants. We need you to get lined up.”

Several of the film club rushed forward and started arranging us in positions they’d apparently decided on earlier. I ended up standing with Laurie, who let out a small grunt in disgust when she discovered she was next to me. Thankfully that was the only response I received, and she didn’t continue our conversation from earlier. I wasn’t sure I could have stayed beside her if she came at me again.

Once we were all in place, they brought Cole out to stand before us. He was wearing a dark navy suit that molded to his body perfectly. His hair was combed back, though I kind of missed the messy way it usually fell across his face. Several of the girls sighed as they looked at him, and I found I didn’t blame them. That guy really did make a suit look good.

His eyes skimmed across the assembled contestants, and when they met mine, he grinned. For the briefest second, his gaze lingered on my outfit, and his eyebrows lifted slightly, like he was surprised. It was only when he looked away that I let out a breath. There was something about the way he had stared at me that made my stomach twist with a strange buzzing of nerves.

Angus went to stand next to Cole. “Remember, team, this show is live. Let’s have some fun and make it a good one,” he said, addressing us all. He then nodded at the one camera that was directly facing him and Cole. Skye was standing right behind it.

“We’re going live in three, two, one,” she announced.

The light on the camera went red, and Angus began to speak.

“Good evening everyone, and welcome back to True Love for the show’s first selection ceremony. I’m your host, Angus Fable, and tonight we will watch as our bachelor selects eight contestants to continue on in his search for true love.

“The voting has now closed, so we’ll be handing over to our bachelor, Cole, for his selections. In true Lincoln High tradition, Cole will be handing out pieces of his heart to the contestants he wishes to stay. For those of you not versed in our biggest Valentine’s Day tradition, every year Lincoln High students give their chosen Valentine a half-heart cut-out. It’s to symbolize the fact that they are giving a piece of their heart to their Valentine and hope to get a piece in return. There is no better way then for Cole to let the contestants he’s chosen know they’ve got a piece of his heart.”

I smiled as Angus explained the selection process. The half-heart Valentine’s tradition was one I’d always loved. It was a silly, but fun way of giving each other sweet messages. I’d received one from Hayley this year that said, “You guac my world.” We were both obsessed with avocados, so it was a true testament of love in my books.

“I know we’ve all been dying to find out, so let’s not delay this a moment longer,” Angus turned to Cole before he continued. “The audience has voted. Cole, if you could please tell us who they have chosen to continue on this journey of true love…”

Cole cleared his throat and looked over the group standing before him. His face was a little paler than when he had first arrived and his eyes a little wider. It almost seemed like he was nervous, which was totally unlike him. “The first piece of my heart goes to…”

Angus handed him half of a paper heart and Cole looked down to check it. He immediately started to smile.

“Madi.”

The blood drained from my skin and my hands started to sweat. Cole was beaming as he looked up at me. He seemed so happy to have just called my name. It had to be an act.

I walked forward, trying to remain calm and not give away how shocked I was that the audience had actually voted for me; that I was still somehow stuck in the competition. What was I supposed to do?

“Madi, will you take a piece of my heart?” Cole asked as I came to a stop in front of him. He was still smiling at me, and it was so genuine that I found my heart beating a little faster. I was supposed to be upset, but I actually found myself matching his smile in return.

“I will.”

He grinned as he passed me my heart, and I walked over to stand in a separate area that Angus was pointing to. I felt a rush of apprehension as I walked away from him. Had I really just agreed to stay in the contest?

I knew I should have been thinking about Jake, but I couldn’t seem to get Cole’s smile out of my mind. It had been so open and sincere, and the way it lit up his eyes had made him even more handsome. I could totally see why he managed to get all the girls when he had a secret weapon like that.

Once I was standing in place, I turned to face the cameras and the rest of the participants once more. Angus was riling up the audience at home with another suspenseful speech, while the constants all stood nervously waiting for Cole’s next announcement. I glanced down at my heart and was surprised to find Cole had actually written on it.

“Madi," it read. "You donut know how much it means to me that you’re still in the competition.”

I chuckled at the pun and looked up to find Cole still watching me. He seemed happy with my reaction, but it was hard to tell as he looked away as soon as Angus called on him to announce the name of the next contestant.

“Teagan,” he called, with a soft smile.

Teagan appeared shy as she nervously closed the distance between her and Cole and looked up at him through her long lashes. Something unsaid seemed to pass between them as he handed Teagan her heart and her mouth twitched as she fought a grin when she accepted it.

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