Page 43 of How Jenna Became My Dilemma

I lift my eyes, staring blankly at Tawny. “But this isn’t true.” I frantically point at the picture. “We weren’t even doing anything. Just practicing the upcoming scene.” My gaze travels to Dallas and Quinton, finally landing on Cody. I nudge him with my knee. “Tell them we were just practicing.”

He sits up. “Yeah, it was just practice.”

“That was quite the practice,” Tawny says in a voice that’s a little too pleased if you ask me. She hands me picture after picture, all of Cody and me wrapped in each other’s arms, looking cozier than the original Snuggie blanket.

“You have to tell them.” I wave my hand at her and Dallas. “Release a statement saying that the rumors are false. We’re not secret lovers.”

“We’re not doing that,” Quinton says.

“Why?”

“Because it’s good publicity for the show. And quite frankly, you two owe me.”

“Quinton,” Cody interjects, “I told you she wouldn’t want to do it. Just let it go.”

“Do what?”

Tawny placates me with her friendliest smile. “We all think it would be in the best interest of the show and the ratings if you two pretended to be a couple.”

“No way!” I stand, pacing back and forth in the 2 x 2 area between the couch and the door. “You’re talking about a fake relationship? A showmance between Cody and me?”

“A publicity stunt,” Dallas corrects, as if his verbiage makes it all better.

“Some people in the business call it a love contract,” Tawny offers.

“I know what it is. I just—”

“She just doesn’t want to fake date me. Can you blame her?”

My gaze drifts to Cody and his low-hung head.

I sound like a brat. Like the rudest brat-jerk there ever was. He doesn’t know my reasons for being adamantly against this plan. In his eyes, I hate him, so therefore, I hate the idea of being romantically linked to him.

The truth is, I’m scared.

My heart has been broken by a long line of men just like Cody Banner. Each time, I swore to myself that the new guy was different, that he wouldn’t lead me on or leave as soon as the fun of dating a supermodel wore off. Each time, I was wrong.

I’m tired of being left behind by a man who never loved me.

I’m tired of making the same mistakes.

Albert Einstein wouldn’t want me to do this. He said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results.”

This plan is the definition of insanity.

I’ve learned the hard way. The playboy always breaks my heart. And pretending to be in love with one of them is like walking down a slippery slope. I can’t pretend with Cody Banner. I’ll lose my grip on reality and tumble down the showmance hill to the land of brokenhearted fools.

“Listen…” Quinton tries his hand at convincing me. “The first episode is getting a lot of bad reviews because of you two. The fake relationship takes the negativity away from the show and turns the buzz around to something exciting. We’re already seeing the tide turn since the story broke. The positive ratings and viewing numbers of episode one have skyrocketed since last night. The pictures of you two in Malibu are everywhere, and everyone wants more.” He looks directly at me. “Let’s give them more.”

“He’s right.” Tawny shrugs. “The celebrity gossip sites have been going nuts over you two. Your popularity and likability alone have gone through the roof overnight. Anyone who wasn’t on board with your transition from modeling into acting is now your biggest champion of the change.”

Dallas turns to Cody. “I don’t even have to tell you the benefits this connection brings for you. Jenna is America’s sweetheart, and in their minds, she has completely tamed the bad boy. It shows growth and maturity—something we haven’t been able to achieve on our own.”

Cody combs his fingers through his hair in exasperation. “Yes, but you’re all missing one major thing. Jenna doesn’t want to do it.”

“Do you want to do it?” I’m not sure I want to know the answer, but I can’t take the words back now.

“I mean…” His broad shoulders lift and fall in the cutest boyish shrug I’ve ever seen.

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