Falling for You (17 page)

Cassidy coughed, clearing her throat, hoping to pull Evan’s attention from Brad and back to her. She walked to the changing area and unzipped her jumpsuit, thankful to be in her normal clothes again.

Spencer called for the women to gather together beside the wind tunnel.

“Well ladies, you did a fabulous job flying today.” Spencer clapped for the women, as if applauding their efforts. “Brad certainly has his work cut out for him this afternoon. In a little while, we’ll meet again back at the house where we’ll find out who Brad has chosen to be in the bottom three. Then it’s up to America again to decide who goes home and who stays.”

Concerned expressions crossed the faces of her fellow contestants. You didn’t need to read minds to know they were worried about who Brad would choose, but even more worried about who America would vote for after the surprise at the last elimination. If Zoe wasn’t safe here, no one was.

“Now Brad, there’s one more very important thing you should consider while you make your decision. Up until now, it’s been mostly group dates, and we know it’s been difficult to really get to know these girls. For the next challenge you’ll get to have another private romantic date with each of the remaining ladies.”

“Oh, that does make my decision harder.” Brad dramatically put his hand to his forehead like he was getting a headache thinking about having to make a choice.

“Yes it does, Brad.” Spencer laughed and slapped him on the shoulder. “If only every man suffered your difficult decisions, right?”

Spencer held a huge smile on his face for the camera until given the all-clear signal then he turned and walked away without another word to the women. Cassidy was always amazed at his ability to turn his television personality on and off like he had a hidden power switch on his back.

Chip walked forward and addressed the group. “I want to see all of you out by the pool at seven, sharp. I expect everyone will be awake and on time for this evening’s ceremony,” he added directly at Evan and Cassidy. “You’re free to head back to the house now.”

Evan switched off his camera and brought it down to his side. He rolled his shoulders back and stretched his neck. “Ready to go?” he asked.

“Yeah,” said Cassidy, following him out of the building and back toward the car.

The ride back to the house was silent. An awkward tension filled the tiny space between them. Earlier, they had to tear themselves away from each other, but now because of Brad’s kiss, it was as if Evan couldn’t get enough distance from her. Cassidy slouched in the seat. They’d had rare time alone, without any prying eyes or ears, and they hadn’t even said two words to each other, let alone talked about what happened earlier in her room.

Cassidy reach for the door handle.

“Cassidy,” Evan said quietly.

Oh good, he’s still talking to me.

“Yeah?”

“Would you mind hanging out in your room for a few minutes so I can have a break? I need to clear my head and it would be easier if I weren’t following you around. Maybe fifteen minutes?”

“Oh, okay.”

“Thanks. I appreciate it.”

Cassidy got out of the car and walked up to her room. Evan followed silently behind her. She got to her door and paused. Should she say something to him? But what? If this was about that kiss with Brad, she didn’t know what to say. It’s not like she could take it back or apologizing for something that had been out of her control.

As she turned to talk to him, the door to his room closed. Cassidy was left in the hall alone and she suddenly felt very lonely. Her chest ached. She hadn’t felt this way since Brad had left her standing alone on the sidewalk, brokenhearted. Why did everyone leave her?

• • •

“We’ll see you back here in a few days to find out who stays and who goes home.” Spencer turned from the ladies to the camera. “America, it’s up to you to decide which of these three young ladies still has a chance at becoming The One.”

Paige stood beside Spencer in the bottom three again, already looking crushed. Cassidy knew all the girls had their own reasons for being here and that everyone deserved to stay, but she couldn’t help wishing that this time it would be Holly and Lauren who went home instead of Paige.

“I’m sorry, Paige.”

“Thanks,” Paige said, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. “I hope they send me home this time and put me out of my misery. I can’t take hanging out for another week just to be in the bottom three again. I mean, it’s obvious he doesn’t like me.”

“I don’t know what he’s thinking.” Cassidy wrapped her arm around Paige. “Let’s get you a drink and we’ll drown your ‘bottom three’ sorrows until you’ve forgotten them.”

“Sounds good. Anything to dull the humiliation of being in the bottom three — again.”

Cassidy and Paige walked into the kitchen. As Paige got comfortable on the stools beside the kitchen island, Cassidy found a bottle of champagne in the fridge and a couple of glasses. She filled them and handed one to Paige.

“Champagne? Does my humiliation make you feel like celebrating?”

“Don’t be silly, Paige. We’re going to celebrate this experience and our friendship, which we wouldn’t have had without coming here and sacrificing our dignity for the betterment of American television.”

Cassidy and Paige clinked their glasses and polished off the champagne in one shot. “How ’bout another?”

“You certainly know how to put a positive spin on things.”

“I know this is hard, Paige, but coming here was about more than just meeting Brad, right? It’s about the experience, too. Just because Brad is too stupid to see what an awesome girl you are, doesn’t mean the whole thing was a waste.”

“I guess you’re right. I just really wanted to fall in love, ya know?”

“I know. But you can’t fall in love unless it’s the right guy, and maybe Brad isn’t him. I bet Mr. Right is out there now, shaking his head at the TV, wondering how Brad could be so stupid to let you go and thanking his lucky stars he’ll get a chance with you.”

“I hope you’re right,” Paige said, emptying her second glass in one last gulp of champagne. “Maybe I’ll take a refill up to my room to help me pack.”

“Who said anything about packing? You don’t know you’re going home.”

“Call it a hunch or intuition or whatever. But I feel like I’m definitely going home.” Paige sighed and put her head in her hands. “Honestly, I’m ready to go home. I don’t think my ego can stand another round in the bottom three.”

“You want help packing?”

“Sure, if you don’t have anything better to do.”

Spending quality time kissing Evan was out of the question since he was still acting pissy toward her. Hanging out with Paige sounded exactly like what she needed right now. Cassidy grabbed the bottle of champagne. “It could be a long night of packing. We might need refreshments.”

“Good thinking.” Paige grabbed it from her hand and took a drink right from the bottle before leaving the kitchen and heading up to her room.

• • •

Cassidy stumbled out of Paige’s room, slamming the door behind her. “Shhh,” she whisper-yelled at Evan. “You’re being too loud.”

Cassidy glared at Evan as she walked backward down the hall. “Did you just roll your eyes at me? You shouldn’t do that. If you’re not careful, they might get stuck that way.”

“I’ll take my chances.”

Cameraman McCutiepants is very cute tonight. He’s so yummy, I just want a little taste.

Cassidy smiled in what she hoped was a sultry way and wiggled her fingers at Evan to follow her. She leaned up against her door and fumbled with the key. “Can you help me, Evan?” She placed the key in his hand, letting her fingers linger on his.

He took the key and opened her door. “I think you might need lessons in how to open your door. It seems I help you with that key a lot.”

Cassidy locked her eyes on Evan. “You can give me lessons in whatever you want tonight.”

Evan shook his head. “I don’t think so, Cassidy. What you need right now is bed.”

“And here I thought you might want to pick up where things left off earlier.” Cassidy attempted to make sexy eyes at him, hoping to entice him into her room for some fun.

“I think you’re drunk, and you need to lower your voice before someone hears you.” Evan put his hands on her arms and guided her into the room.

Cassidy gazed up at him through heavy lashes. “No one will hear us. Everyone’s in bed.”

“You should be in bed, too.”

“Aren’t you going to help me find it?”

“You’re standing right beside it. I think you can find your own way under the sheets.”

“Why are you being so cold? You weren’t cold earlier.” Cassidy walked her fingers up Evan’s chest. “If I’m remembering correctly, you were very hot and very excited earlier. I’m ready for a little more excitement, aren’t you?”

Evan took Cassidy’s hand and gently pushed it away. “I think between myself, Brad, and a bottle of champagne, you’ve had more than enough excitement for one day.”

Cassidy slumped to the bed feeling annoyed and confused as he turned away.

“Get some sleep. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Evan walked out of her room, closing the door behind him.

What the hell’s his problem? One minute he wants me, and the next he can’t get away from me fast enough.

Cassidy climbed under the sheets, not bothering to undress. “How do I make my ceiling stop spinning?”

One stupid, unwanted kiss with Brad and Evan’s all pissy? Doesn’t he know I didn’t ask to kiss the Basset hound?

Cassidy yawned and closed her eyes. Her head spun and danced like bubbles in a glass of champagne.

Best kiss and worst kiss all in a matter of hours. Weirdest day ever.

• • •

Evan panned the camera from Cassidy to the girls still waiting to hear their fate. Now that Holly had been sent home, it was down to Paige and Lauren.

Evan pulled the camera back to focus on Cassidy. He didn’t want to watch her reaction when Brad read the last name out loud, but that’s what he was paid to do. He sucked it up and pushed his zoom in closer to Cassidy, focusing on her face and the lines of worry creasing her forehead.

“I’m sorry girls, but I have to do this,” Brad said, sounding genuinely forlorn. “I think both of you are great girls and I had no reason to put you in this position other than I simply felt like I had more chemistry with some of the other girls.”

Sliding the card out of the envelope, he paused before reading the name found inside. “The last girl going home tonight is … Paige.”

Tears spilled down Cassidy’s cheeks as she stared at Paige. Evan’s heart twisted in his chest at the sight of Cassidy crying for her friend. He would have given anything for the ability to comfort her, but he was working and no amount of wanting would make it okay for him to comfort Cassidy.

He was still upset about the kiss at the skydiving school, but her tears instantly dampened his annoyance. He may not be able to look at Brad without wanting to punch him in his Cassidy-kissing face, but he could still look at Cassidy all day, every day. And right now, all he could see was the sadness darkening her eyes.

Paige gave each girl a hug. Some whispered kind words in her ear, others could barely be bothered faking it for the cameras. When Paige got to Cassidy, the two hugged so tight, Evan thought they may suffocate each other, but the sounds of gasps and sobs let him know that they were indeed still breathing, even if it was through a veil of sadness.

“I know there’s someone else out there for you,” Cassidy whispered so quietly the mic pack almost couldn’t pick it up.

“I’ll miss you.”

“I’ll miss you, too. I’ll call you as soon as I’m out of this house.”

“I know it’s hard to see friends leave,” Spencer said as Paige walked away, “but the good news is the four of you are still here and the journey continues. For the next challenge, you need to pack a small suitcase with a few essential things.”

“I have something to say,” Lauren said from Spencer’s side.

Spencer looked shocked for a fraction of a second before regaining his calm demeanor. “Of course, Lauren. What is it?”

“I — I’m leaving tonight, too.” There was a shocked silence while her words sank in. “I know I made an agreement to stay until I was voted off, but, um, I haven’t been feeling well. I saw the medic this morning and he advised me to seek proper testing with my regular doctor. I’m so sorry but I have to go.”

Spencer put his arm across her shoulders in an unusual show of support. “I’m sorry, too. We’re all sad to see you leave. Please take care of yourself.”

As Lauren hugged each of the women goodbye, Spencer turned to face directly into the camera, addressing the viewing audience. “We’ll see you again in a few days as we find out what crazy adventure these
three
girls will go on next and who will be one step closer to becoming … The One.”

• • •

Cassidy sat on the interview sofa, her insides still turning and twisting. She knew she looked like hell, too. The makeup person had tried to make her less puffy and red, but pressed powder could do only so much.

The sooner this interview ended the sooner she could go to her room and hide for the rest of the night. It wasn’t the end of the world to say goodbye to Paige, but it certainly hadn’t been fun, either.

“Can we get started now, Evan?”

“Absolutely,” he said sitting down behind the camera. “Let’s start with the elimination this week. How do you feel about the girls chosen for the bottom three?”

“I’m really bummed. My good friend Paige was in the bottom three and America didn’t give her enough votes to stay.” Cassidy twisted a tissue in her hands, swallowing the tears threatening to fall. The last thing she wanted was to be on television with a snotty nose and mascara streaking down her face.

“She’s a really awesome girl and I think Brad is a moron for sending her home. Of course, he never was the sharpest knife in the drawer. You know, I had to change the battery in his smoke detector because he couldn’t figure out how to get the old battery out.”