Page 70 of The Wrong Bachelor

“I know,” I agreed. “But Laurie’s my problem. Will you let me deal with her?”

Hayley let out a sigh and nodded, but she grumbled the rest of the way to the car. It was only once we were driving home that she started speaking to me again.

“So, are you going to tell me your plan for dealing with Laurie, or do I have to beg?” Hayley asked.

I had hoped she’d drop it, but apparently not.

“You don’t have to beg,” I replied. “I just plan to keep my distance until this whole competition is over. I’m sure that once Laurie's got Cole all to herself she’ll be as right as rain.”

“Well that’s the stupidest suggestion ever,” Hayley said. “You can’t let her win.”

“I’m not,” I replied.

“Sounds like you are to me.”

I frowned at her. Sometimes it was really hard having a best friend who always told you exactly what they thought. I kind of wished, just for once, that she would lie to me and say my plan sounded great and it would all work out in the end.

“I’m not,” I repeated.

Hayley suddenly jerked the car to a stop in the middle of the street and someone laid on their horn behind us.

“Hayley!” I hated when she did this, but it wasn’t the first time, and I knew she’d only start driving again once she’d said her piece.

“Look,” Hayley said, turning to face me. “If keeping your distance from Cole is what you really want, then go for it. But if there is even the smallest chance you like him, then it’s not fair to either of you if you hold back because you’re scared of pissing Laurie off. We both know she’s only ever after whichever jock is the most popular at the time. As soon as this competition is over, Laurie will drop Cole like a hotcake.”

“Okay, okay, I hear you,” I said, glancing at the car behind us as it honked again. “If I say I’ll think about what you’ve said, will you start driving again?”

Hayley watched me closely. She must have believed I’d taken her advice on board because she nodded and started driving again like nothing had happened.

I let out a breath as the car took off. I swear, one of these days the person in the car behind her was going to get out and come after her with a baseball bat. She really needed to stop doing that.

* * *

The group datethat night was minigolf; a sport I was usually not bad at when I was focused. I couldn’t seem to get the ball to go where I wanted it tonight though—that’s if I hit the ball at all. Whenever I lined myself up for a shot, everything felt wrong. And I swear that each time I went to hit the ball, Laurie’s annoying laugh would ring out and throw me off my game.

At least I wasn’t the only one who struggled. Willow was also taking her time getting around the course. The winner of our little tournament would be going for ice cream with Cole at the end, but I was pretty sure it wouldn’t be either of us.

Teagan was surprisingly good at the game and was quick to pull ahead of everyone, much to Laurie’s disgust. When it was clear that Laurie wouldn’t be winning any alone time with our bachelor, she started focusing less on the game and more on flirting with Cole.

She appeared to be having a great night, which only seemed to get better as a group of kids I didn’t recognize walked up to her and Cole and asked if they could take a selfie with them.

“Of course we can,” Laurie gushed. “Come on, Cole.”

“Sure, no problem,” he agreed.

I watched on as the group arranged themselves. It was moments like this when I realized just how big our little competition had become. It wasn’t just our school involved now. Thousands of people were watching. Even the barista at my local coffee shop had told me he was cheering for me. I wasn’t a fan of the attention, but Laurie certainly loved it.

Cole and Laurie were in the center of the group, all cozied up to one another. They smiled warmly for the camera, looking every bit the perfect couple. I tried not to be jealous, I really did. But I could feel the green monster swirling inside of me, and I had to turn away. I focused instead on the golf ball I was somehow meant to hit into a small hole at the base of a windmill.

“Is it just me, or is it super uncomfortable watching Laurie throw herself at Cole?” Willow asked me.

Hearing Willow be so opinionated made me utter a muffled laugh.

“It’s not just you; it’s weird,” I replied. The two of us had been playing our own game at the back of the group. Every time I looked at Cole my stomach dipped, and I still wasn’t sure what to do about it. I still liked him, but I was upset after finding out about his kiss with Laurie. I knew it was all part of the competition, but I didn’t know how to make my feelings understand that. It felt far safer to keep my distance.

“I really don’t like her,” Willow added. “I hope Cole doesn’t end up with her.”

She sounded completely sincere. “Do you…” I frowned as I tried to gather my thoughts. “Do you like Cole?”

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