Page 80 of Idle

Jesse offers a dejected, “Yeah.”

“Plus, if I’m being truthful, your chemistry didn’t crackle like Bo and Mary Ellen’s. Our viewers want to relate and engage with our show hosts, and they exuded a certain type of appeal you two didn’t.”

I snort. “They’re divorced. They hate each other.”

She shrugs. “Two sides of the same coin.”

Here I thought falling in love would’ve given us an edge in that department.Love?

Jesse extends his hand. “Thank you, Quinn, for this opportunity. I’ll never forget it.”

She shakes both of our hands, then returns to the winner’s celebration. I face my partner. “Great job.”

“Thanks. You, too.”

We stand in awkward silence.

This doesn’t have to be the end of the line for us. Just because the show didn’t pick us doesn’t mean we can’t move forward as a team. Jesse can’t give up on his carpentry dream. He’s too talented for that. Working with him made me a better designer. We can do this together. I want this.

“We can start a business together, you and me.” My palm paints a rainbow. “PJ’s Designs.” I giggle. “Wow. That sounds like we’re making sleepwear. How about JP’s on Fifth? I love the sound of that.”

His sandy brown hair shakes. “I don’t think so.”

23

Jesse

JP’s on Fifth.Is she on drugs? We just lost this competition, and she wants to open up a new business?

I shake my head. “I don’t think so.”

She tucks her hair behind her ear. “I’m sure we can come up with a different name that we’ll both like.”

Needing a breather, I say, “Excuse me. I have to use the restroom.” I leave her in the living room and walk down the hallway, into the exercise room. My father jumps all over the silence:

Don’t try something so beneath you.

You’re white collar—stay in your lane.

Plus my personal favorite,I told you business always comes before pleasure.

Truth is, I tried as hard as I could during this competition to showcase my work. Even though Paige talked me into doing the carved headboard, it was a project I was eager to take on to prove myself. Guess what? I proved I’m not worthy.

Bo enters the room. Great. “Tough break.”

Shoring up my strength, I reply, “Congrats, man. Bet you’re on top of the world.”

“Rather be on top of your partner, if you get my drift.” He glances toward the door, a disgusting gleam in his eye.

Fists form at my side. Didn’t the asshole call her frigid? The need to stick up for her fights its way out. No matter Homer’s been proven right and I’m clearly not cut out to be a carpenter, I’m not about to let him spew against Paige. She’s still accomplished in her own right and deserves to be treated with respect. “She’s an extraordinarily talented designer.”

“Bet she is more so in the bedroom.” He slants me a glance, stepping back as I advance. The cowboy continues, “Although, if I had bedded her during this competition, her ideas would’ve flowed more freely.” He throws his head back and laughs. “I mean, I’m sure you tried your best. Too bad it wasn’t good enough.”

Disgusted by his crude comments, I slap him on the back. Hard. Before another fistfight erupts, I vacate the room and bump into his partner in the living room. Shoving my angry feelings about her partner down into the pit of my stomach, I offer, “I’m happy for you.”

“Thanks!”

Mary Ellen wraps me in a hug, which she holds a couple of beats too long. The zing that rips through my body when I hold Paige doesn’t materialize. Guess this competition sunk more than my nascent carpenter career. “Congrats on getting your own television show.”

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