Page 17 of Idle

Ilook around the bedroom that’s been assigned to the women ofNYC Views. The walls are painted a khaki color, which immediately brings Jesse’s eyes to mind. Shaking my head to rid such fanciful thoughts from my mind, I admire the design on the curtains while taking in the three bunk beds set around the room. Bunk beds? I’ve never slept in one of those, but it might be fun to be on the top.

I roll my Louis Vuitton across the room and stop in front of a bunk bed by the window. Placing my hand on the top bunk, I announce, “I’ll take this one.”

The other women nod at me while scoping out their sleeping arrangements. The sisters choose a bunk closest to the bathroom, while Nancy goes to the bottom bunk of the beds across from me. Which leaves the blonde that was chatting up Jesse in the lobby.

She’s pretty, I guess, in a plasticky sort of way. Never cared for the bottled shade she uses on her hair, but that’s her choice. Assuming she’ll take the top bunk of Nancy’s bed, I wheel one of my bags to the dresser and unzip it.

“May I take this bottom bunk?” A breathy, southern drawl seeps into my bones.

Dropping my bras back into the suitcase, I force my lips to tick upward and take my time turning toward the woman who asked me the question. I wave. “Knock yourself out.”

“Bless your heart.”

I pick up my favorite sexy black thong and mutter under my breath, “Bless this.”

My new bunkmate wheels her luggage next to mine. “Paige, right?”

“That’s me. And you’re Maryanne?”

“Mary Ellen,” she corrects me.

I snap my fingers. “Sorry. Mary. Ellen.” Guess I better play nice. We are being taped, after all. “Where are you from? I can tell it’s not from here.” I offer a slight giggle.

She replies with a giggle of her own. Although it sounds more like a whinny. “No. I’m from Dallas.”

Of course she is—she’s Bo’s partner. He is attractive in a sort of hay bale-y way. His arms sure are built, and I bet he has washboard abs to match. I wonder how these two came to be partners. Bet their brothers didn’t set them up like Theo and Xander did to me. “You’re here with Bo, correct? How did you two meet?” I pat myself on my back for asking such a delicate question.

She tosses her hair. “He’s my ex.”

Now that’s a response I didn’t expect. They’re polar opposites to each other—she seems to be a demure Southern chick while he’s more akin to a wild stallion.

I’m about to ask her another question, but Quinn appears in the doorway. “You’ll have time to finish unpacking in a little while, but I’d like to meet up with everybody in the living room to finish giving you the tour and laying out what’s expected of you over the next six weeks.” As a group, we turn toward the door, but I resolve to learn more about this odd “ex situation” soon. Quinn adds, “Please bring your cell phones.”

I pat my pocket to confirm I have my cell and stride away from my new sleeping quarters.Away from my parents.While Mary Sue—or whatever her name is—stops to get her phone, Nancy bumps my shoulder. “Can you believe we’re here? Actually getting ready for a brand new show on Renovation TV? It’s unbelievable to me! I keep asking Dan to pinch me, thinking that this can’t be real. Isn’t it so exciting?”

Seems pretty darn exciting to her. For me, it’s a respite from the hell of my house. For that reason alone, I want to stay in this competition so I don’t have to return there anytime soon. I give Nancy a brief nod. Taking my nonverbal reaction as encouragement to continue babbling, she does. Thankfully, it’s a short walk to the living room.

Quinn takes charge of the group, showing us the rest of the apartment, which includes a half bath, an exercise room, and a game room. When we return to the living room, Quinn says, “Please take a seat next to your partner, and I’ll go over the details of what to expect over the next six weeks.”

The man I’ve been avoiding all day sits next to me on the long sofa. His dark washed jeans fit him to perfection, and his long-sleeved button down—rolled up to expose defined forearms—brings out the flecks of green in his eyes.Not that I’m noticing any of that.“Hey.”

“Hi.”

His tenor rumble conveys so much in a simple two-letter word. Happiness we’re here, determination to win this competition, and a slight nervousness at what’s to come. Why does he have to be so darn cute?

Bo and my bunkmate walk over to us, and he sits so our thighs brush. His light blue ripped jeans are in stark contrast to those of my partner’s. He taps his shoulder against mine, passing me a bottle of fruit infused water. The flavor I told him in the lobby is my favorite. “Are you ready for this?”

I open the bottle and tip it to my lips. “Born ready.”

Quinn starts talking, explaining what we should expect over the next six weeks, in terms of filming, wardrobe, makeup, and assignments. She tells us nothing is scripted, and not to hold back when we’re interacting because of the cameras, as anything questionable surely will be edited out of the episode. With the ground rules set, she passes out keys.

“Now let’s go visit the apartments you’re going to be renovating as part ofNYC Views!”

Jesse and I glance at each other, and a nervous thrill races through my body. I’m sure it’s about the apartment. He leans over and whispers in my ear, “Shit just got real.”

His puff of hot breath in my ear causes my skin to tingle. I give him a tight smile, while rubbing the affected area. Yes, Jesse is hot in an objective sort of way, but that’s the extent of the boxes he checks for me. This is the third time I’m meeting the man, and he’s yet to do anything on my checklist. Yet Bo’s already given me infused water, and we only met an hour ago.

As a unit, we file out of the ViewPad, and each go to the ones indicated on our key chains. When we stand outside number 1626, I take a deep breath. Jesse inserts the key into the lock. “Ready for our castle?”

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