Page 23 of Idle

When Marion takes a breath, Peyton jumps in. “My sister and I were only one year apart in school. One day, at lunch, we were sitting together when Janice came up to our table and made a rude comment about my outfit.” Peyton gestures toward her body. “Anyway, my big sister here wasn’t having any of that. She said—”

“‘You and your mouth are not welcome here. No one wants to hear your whiny voice.’”

“She did have a whiny voice.”

“Totally,” Marion replies. “Anyway, Janice went away after that. Quieter than a church mouse.”

My eyebrows pull together. She had to have omitted something. “There’s more to this story.” I focus on the ringleader. “What did you say to her, Marion?”

A devious smile extends across Marion’s face. “I told her if she didn’t mind her own business, I would expose the lie she told to reel in her boyfriend. You see, I knew she had claimed to be pregnant, which made him her lapdog. Worked for about six months until she failed to show, and he dumped her sorry ass.”

I process her story. “So you think that’s how Nancy got Dan? Faked being pregnant?”

Peyton purses her lips. “We’re not sure, but why else would a good-looking guy like that, with obvious skills, willingly be with her? She. Never. Shuts. Up.”

Shifting my weight to my left foot, I rock my right ankle. “You may have a point about Dan. I’ve already been cornered into one too many conversations with Nancy. How about we all make a pact? If we see any of us talking with her, we agree to extricate them.”

“By any means necessary,” Marion amends.

Peyton thrusts her hand forward. “I’m in.” Marion and I place our hands on top of hers to seal the deal.

Yawning, Peyton says, “Okay, I’m beat. Thanks for throwing this great party, Jesse. We’ll see you at the ViewPad later.” The siblings toss their cups into a trash bag and depart.

While I was talking, Paige and Bo reentered the public area of the apartment and are now talking with the ladies of the hour, her cousins. Gabrielle told me she plans on making it in the music industry as a songwriter. Chloe is more traditionally inclined, with a degree in human resources and is looking for a job. I hope they both find their successes, but nothing’s going to happen here. Especially at this hour. I hope my partner is telling them it’s time to leave.

Frank and Robbie and Dan and Nancy approach me. Great. Why did the sisters have to leave before we were able to put the pact into effect? Forcing a neutral expression, I greet my fellow cast members. “Heading out?”

“Yeah. We want to get some sleep to be ready for Monday’s show,” Frank answers for the group.

I yawn. “I’ll see you back there soon.”

For once, Nancy leaves without running her mouth. Must be the hour. I walk about the kitchen into what’s supposed to be the laundry room. Quite a large space. Hmmm. I get lost in my thoughts about possibly relocating the washer and dryer to a different area of the apartment, only brought out of my head when the front door closes. Shaking my head to clear it, I confirm most of the remaining guests have left. I give the twins another round of congratulatory hugs, ignoring their blatant interest in me. They’re way too young. Besides, essentially being Xander’s and Theo’s cousins, I’m sure their hands-off warning extends to them as well.

Shortly, only Paige, Bo, and I remain. He’s begun to help her collect empty cups and bottles, and they exchange soft laughter and stupid smiles.

Time for me to go. Lifting my chin to the pair, I say, “I’m going back to the ViewPad. Make sure everything’s cleaned up by tomorrow afternoon. We don’t want to earn demerits before the show begins.”

Not waiting for a response, I walk out the door and pull it shut.Give me strength.

8

Jesse

The next morning, I shove the blankets down my naked torso and stare at the back of the bunk above me. Where Bo sleeps. He came in around four in the morning and woke all of us up—me, in particular, since we’re sharing connected beds. After he climbed up the ladder, he fell asleep in short order, as verified by his loud snores. Which continue.

Used to my privacy since I was fourteen, sharing a room with four other dudes is a distinctive challenge. However, considering a show on Renovation TV is the prize, it’s a minor inconvenience with which I’m willing to deal.

Sliding my legs free, I roll off the bed and land with a light thump on the floor six inches below me. Bunk beds were not designed for grown adults.

After brushing my teeth, I throw on my workout shorts and go to the exercise room. Skill is important for the show, obviously, but so is being camera-ready. I’m not about to leave anything to chance.

Even though I’m the first one in the gym, I’m soon joined by Mary Ellen, who’s wearing a skintight pair of shorts and matching sports bra with blue flowers. Damn. She’s smoking hot.

“Hi, Jesse,” she says while setting up the elliptical in front of me. “Thought I’d be the only one of us in here this morning. How was the party last night?”

“It was fun, although it ran long.” I remember Paige and Mary Ellen’s ex-husband in the bedroom and turn up the incline on the treadmill.

Mary Ellen’s long arms move in time with her feet in a graceful manner. I increase the speed on my machine.

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