Page 77 of Idle

“Agreed. Blues and cream are a classic combination. In fact, this whole room is an ode to the Golden Age of Hollywood, with the dramatic window coverings and divan plus the screen in the corner.”

Now’s the time to move onto the harder assessment. “I think their side tables are unusual, but don’t exactly go with the theme of the Golden Age, do you think?”

“I see what you mean,” my partner agrees. Twisting his mouth, he adds, “At least the closet, which is as large as ours, has been tweaked with that vintage feel.”

Because the upholstered headboard is such a focal point of the room, I run my fingers over it. “They went with a headboard along the lines of what we were discussing before you took on the carving project. It fits with their theme and is executed well.”

Next to me, Jesse swallows. “It is.” He walks to the other side of the headboard and examines it from a variety of angles. “This is well done, I have to hand it to them. The tufts are spaced evenly apart, and the nail heads accent it perfectly.” His right foot rocks.

I want to comfort him. I want to put my arms around him, but the cameras are rolling, so I don’t. Our damn headboard was a bone of contention this whole week—Bo and Mary Ellen sidestepped a more challenging choice, in my opinion. Trying to maintain a unified front, I word my question with care. “I wonder how ours would’ve turned out if we had upholstered it?”

His cheek indents. “We’ll never know.”

This truth ends our assessment of their bedroom. We turn toward the attached bathroom, which they expanded to include double doors. Eschewing the rule to say something positive first, I allow my initial thought to pop out. “Kind of pretentious, don’t you think?”

Possibly still raw over my headboard comment, he shrugs. “Goes with their theme.”

He has a point. I slam my lips shut and enter the radiant-heated marble master bathroom, complete with a two-person, double headed shower and a graceful soaking tub. The toilet has been tucked into its own water closet—where our laundry room now sits. A large double vanity graces the wall. Looking at the ceiling, a chandelier hangs above the tub, giving off a distinct Hollywood vibe. I revert to the compliment-first requirement. “Mary Ellen did a fantastic job of carrying their theme throughout this space.”

“She sure did. Did you see the niches in the shower?”

He points to a long, rectangular niche accessorized with shampoos, conditioners, razors, and liquid soap. It’s the size of the one I wanted in our bathroom, but the framing prevented it. I step up to the oversized sheets of marble they used around the tub and shower and examine the niche. With the back tiled in the same blue glass tiles as on the shower floor, it looks fantastic. Still, ours keeps with the theme of the entire apartment, while their entire primary suite took off on a different direction.

I tap the marble. “This is nice. For me, though, it loses a coherence from the public spaces to here.”

His face turns toward mine. “I understand what you’re saying. It’s as if they made a change for this part of the apartment. Maybe that was their goal.”

Perhaps Quinn tipped Bo off as to what the judges were looking for.I keep this thought to myself. Not going to say something dumb on national television. When we’re alone tonight, though, I’ll bring it up with Jesse. In a noncommittal tone, I reply, “I suppose.”

Finished with our inspection, the cameras’ green lights shut off. All the air inside my body wooshes out. We’ll soon find out which one of us will get their own show on Renovation TV.Please let it be us.

Jesse needs this in his life.

I need him.

Wecan’tlose.

Quinn finds us inside the luxurious spa-like bath. “Bo and Mary Ellen did an incredible job with their space.”

Unwilling to address her, given my current thought regarding the change of direction they took here, I allow Jesse to respond. “I liked this Hollywood Glamor theme they chose to take. So different from the rest of the apartment.”

He can say that again.

“I liked how you did your primary suite as well. Good job.” Quinn consults her clipboard. “We have to get out of here so our judges can tour both apartments and choose a winner. Go on back to the ViewPad, get changed for the finale, and we’ll be up when a decision has been made.” She claps. “Good luck.”

As we leave Bo and Mary Ellen’s apartment, I stick my nose into the kitchen one final time. The laundry room’s location makes it much less open than ours. Has to count for something.

Back in the ViewPad, Jesse hooks his thumb toward his bedroom. “Gonna grab a shower and get ready to hear the judge’s decision.”

I wiggle my eyebrows. We still haven’t tried shower sex. “Want any company?”

“Better go it alone. You never know who might walk in at any moment.”

His reference to Bo makes my shoulders sag. After today, though, he won’t be an issue. We’ll win this competition and start our new lives. Together. “Damn. I’m sorry I won’t be able to wash your back.”

He leaves me and I enter my bedroom. I did it! I made it through the entire competition. Father and Mum have to give me props for doing this. It’s been wonderful not hearing them fight all the time or having to duck flying vases.

From my suitcase, I pick out the designer dress I had selected if we made the final show and take a quick shower. Next time, Jesse’s going to give me another orgasm in one of these. When I walk into the bunk area, Mary Ellen breezes into the room.

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