Page 67 of The Wrong Bachelor

“There you are,” Laurie said, with a smile. “I missed you.”

“I was gone for two seconds, Laurie.”

“Two seconds too long,” she replied.

I lifted my head to the sky. Kill me now. I took a deep breath before I lowered my gaze. This night could not end fast enough.

Unfortunately, the night seemed to have other ideas. The ride through the park went painfully slowly, and Laurie chatted incessantly. I couldn’t repeat one word she said because I was too busy wondering what it would have been like if Madi was on the date with me instead. I imagined she would have laughed when she saw the horse and carriage, but she’d still have been eager to make the most of it. I wished it were her seated next to me. If I had to be subjected to a horse and carriage ride, I wanted it to be with someone I liked. There was nothing I hated more than being fake, and that was exactly how I was feeling now.

I knew Angus had been hoping the date would come across as romantic, but it was nothing like that. I felt uncomfortable sitting next to Laurie and awkward so close to the camera. I especially felt sorry for Brett. If I felt awkward on the date, I could only imagine what he was feeling as our silent third wheel.

It was sweet relief when the carriage ride finally ended, but I quickly discovered the torture wasn’t over. Angus had planned a candlelit picnic dinner in the park.

Laurie squealed for the camera when she saw the spread, really warming into her role as the perfect True Love date. She grabbed my hand, pulling me over to the rug, making sure to snuggle in nice and close to me as we sat down.

I was starting to feel claustrophobic as the dinner wore on. Inch by inch, Laurie drew closer to me until she was more on me than she was on the picnic rug. She also kept on insisting on feeding me food, and I could barely stomach a bite. The whole thing made me feel sick. I had thought the True Love competition would be a little fun for a great cause, but Laurie made me wish I had never agreed to take part.

She finally let out a sigh and pulled back from me. “You’re not enjoying this, are you?” she said.

Her expression was usually so carefully crafted, displaying only the emotions she wanted to portray. But right now, her lips were downcast, and her eyes were wide and sad. She looked surprisingly vulnerable, and I suddenly realized what a complete dick I’d been acting toward her.

“I’m sorry, Laurie,” I said. “I haven’t been a very good date.”

“No,” she murmured in agreement. She looked up at me and gave a small shrug. “It’s not like I blame you. I can come on a little strong sometimes.”

“Just a little?” I asked

“Okay, maybe a lot.” She laughed softly but shook her head before she continued. “I just don’t know how to act around guys. None of them ever seem interested in getting to know me. They only want me because I’m a cheerleader, so I sometimes feel like my looks are all I have to work with, you know?”

I shook my head, not liking that she thought so little of herself. “Don’t say that. You’re not just a pretty face. You’re funny and confident. And yes, you’re a cheerleader, but cheerleading’s not easy. I’ve seen how hard you work at it.”

I found it tough to be saying these things to Laurie of all people, but I could see how much she needed the reassurance. Her eyes were beginning to light up like she was drinking my every word in and savoring it.

“You’ve got dedication and determination,” I continued, “which is a pretty fierce combination. You need to believe in yourself a little more. You’re actually pretty cool when you’re not trying so hard.”

“You really think so?” she murmured. She was staring at me with such a genuine look of hope on her face that I was taken aback. I was so used to her giving me flirtatious smiles and laughing at my jokes, even though the amusement never reached her eyes. I suddenly realized I didn’t really know the girl before me. She was different from the persona she put on at school, I just wished she believed in herself enough to be that person all the time. I hadn’t been lying before; she wasn’t half bad when she wasn’t trying so hard.

“I know so,” I said.

She smiled up at me. “Thanks, Cole,” she said. “I really needed to hear that.” She placed her arms around my shoulders and hugged me. It wasn’t the same showy embrace Laurie usually gave when she was in front of a crowd. There was a vulnerability to it that I hadn’t expected. I let out a sigh as I hugged her in return.

When she went to pull away, she kept her hands on my shoulders. She skimmed her cheek against the side of my face and, before I realized what was happening, her lips were pressed on mine. It only lasted for the briefest of seconds, and I jerked away before Laurie could deepen the kiss. She didn’t seem to notice the wild look in my eyes as she smiled up at me.

“Maybe this date isn’t so bad after all,” she said.

“Laurie, why would you…” I was about to submit to my anger and tell her off for kissing me, but I caught sight of Angus behind one of the cameras giving me two thumbs up. My heart sunk as I remembered the cameras were watching. Laurie’s kiss would be all over the screen come Sunday and everyone, including Madi, would see what just happened.

“Why would I what?” Laurie asked, tilting her head as she looked at me.

I let out a breath, knowing I couldn’t bring myself to say what I’d planned to tell her. I couldn’t humiliate her in front of the cameras, even if I was angry she’d kissed me. “I just wanted to say, thank you for putting up with me tonight.”

“It was a chore,” she said, with a grin. “But I won’t hold it against you.”

“Thanks,” I said with a chuckle.

Apparently, Angus was satisfied with the performance because after the kiss he quickly called an end to the date.

“That was brilliant,” Angus said to me, once Laurie had left and the crew was packing up. “All that stuff you were saying to Laurie is going to make the viewers melt. You’re a natural at this.”

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