Page 14 of How Jenna Became My Dilemma

“Have you seen the reviews yet?” Tawny walks past me and heads for my living room like she owns the place.

“No. You told me not to Google anything without you present.” I quickly shut the door and run after her, trying to glean something from her facial expression.

“I didn’t think you’d actually listen to me.”

I’m a rule follower to a fault. Of course, I obeyed.

She drops onto my pristine white couch, reaching into her Chanel bag for a stack of papers. The roots of her brown hair show silver as if she hasn’t had time to get into the salon for a touch-up. One leg crosses over the other. Then her brown eyes look at me. “You should sit for this.”

That feels ominous.

I sink down across from her, swallowing back the anxiety rising.

“Let’s start with the positive. Everyone agrees you looked exquisite in the show. Your face was made for the big screen.”

My shoulders slowly deflate like an air mattress that’s been pricked with a pin. “That’s not a positive. I always get complimented on my looks. I want to know what they thought about my acting. Did they like me? Think I have talent?”

I’m not sure why it means so much to me to have someone think I’m talented for more than just looking good or walking on a runway in a nice dress, but it does mean a lot.

Impatience stretches across the lines of Tawny’s crow’s feet. “I’m getting to if they liked you.”

“Right, sorry.”

“They thought you embodied Renna perfectly. And there were even a few glowing reviews about your comedic delivery with the banter and how outstanding that was.”

“That’s great.” Relief seeps out with my words.

“Yes, all good things.”

“And what did they think of the show? I mean, I know it was only episode one, but did they like the storyline? Feel like it followed the book as much as they wanted it to?”

“Yes, the book fans loved the film adaptation so far. The setting, the costumes, the cinematography were all very well received.”

A bright smile covers my entire face. I don’t know what I was so worried about.

“So it’s going to be a hit?”

“Not exactly.” Tawny’s lips pucker. “I haven’t told you the negative yet.” Her dramatic silence accentuates each pounding beat in my chest. “Critics hated you and Cody. Said you had zero chemistry. One even said he’d rather watch paint dry than watch the two of you together.”

My back falls against the couch as if the weight of my plummeting heart forcefully pushed me there. “But the first episode was the meet-cute. We did all the flirty banter and even kissed.”

“The kiss was average at most. I know it was only a peck, but it wasn’t good. Bless Quinton and the producer’s hearts. They did the best they could with what you gave them to work with, but it wasn’t enough.”

“This is only episode one. The chemistry builds throughout the series,” I defend. “What do these people expect?”

“They expected explosive chemistry from the get-go, just like in the book. Cody is a Hollywood heartthrob known for his charm with the ladies, and you’re, well…”—she waves her hand in front of me—“you’re you in all your supermodel glory. I think people wanted the chemistry to match the sexiness you both exude. To be so hot that the screen would catch on fire.”

My lips hover in a frown. “That’s not even possible.”

“It doesn’t matter if it’s possible. That’s what they want.”

“You both delivered the lines, and the acting was fine, but everyone agrees that something was missing. The it factor between you two. The chemistry.”

“Well, these are just early reviews. I’m sure things will get better, especially if people like the story and the acting. We can change the tide with the chemistry. We haven’t even filmed the last three episodes yet.”

“Honey, I’ve seen you and Cody together. How are you going to magically turn on chemistry when you two hate each other?”

“By acting?”

---