Page 67 of Fan Favorite

“Rolling,” the lead camera op yelled.

“Speeding,” the sound guy responded.

The ceremony began.

“When I started this journey, I’d been traveling the globe for years,” Bennett began. Edie turned to look at him standing next to that stupid pedestal of keys. “And I’d begun to think my match didn’t exist.”Surely he wouldn’t sleep with Zo, Edie thought. Not when Edie was here. Not when Bailey was here. “I said to myself, where is she? Nigeria? Tanzania? Bangkok? Amsterdam? London? Tennessee? But I’d already checked those places and didn’t find her.” Edie studied Charlie’s face—sort of generically handsome, like an idea of handsome, rather than a distinct person she knew or understood. Suddenly the pomp and circumstance, the keys, the girls, the solemn name calling, and one man anointing them one by one felt very, very wrong. “But now I think everything is exactly as it should be because she’s right here, right now, in this room tonight.” Their eyes met, and for the first time, picturing a life with Charlie seemed impossible. “What an incredible feeling.”

24

The hot topic of conversation as the cast boarded the plane to Scotland was: where in the world was Bennett Charles? Because no one had seen him at the gate. And he certainly wasn’t crammed into coach with the six remaining contestants and the production crew. And he wasn’t with Peter and Jessa in business, either—Aspen had already snuck around the curtain to check. Without their phones, social media, or even a book to distract them, the girls were obsessed.Where was Bennett?

“Maybe he’s on a different flight?” McKayla posited.

“You fucking think?” Zo huffed.

Edie, however, wasn’t thinking about Charlie at all because she’d not only scored an entire row to herself at the back of the plane, but also anUs Weeklyfrom a flight attendant.

“I don’t know how you can read that stuff,” a voice from above said once they’d reached cruising altitude. “I can’t get through the first page without my face melting off from the heat of my own superiority.”

Edie looked up and there was Peter leaning against the empty seat across the aisle.

“While I appreciate the attempt at self-awareness,” she said, “I don’t believe for a second you’re not interested in Demi Lovato’s new collab with Fabletics.”

Peter laughed. “Just don’t let the boss catch you with contraband. I heard he’s a real dick.”

“The worst,” she agreed. “But I swear to god, Peter, if you confiscate this magazine, I will pop the emergency hatch and sail off into the atmosphere.”

“Well, we can’t have that.” Peter moved out of the aisle so the flight attendant and her drink cart could get through. “You might as well tell me what it says about the show.” He plopped down in the empty seat across from Edie. The space was too small for his long legs and Edie watched as he folded, crossed, and shifted his body around, trying to make it work.

“You gonna be okay? Coach life isn’t for everyone.”

Peter settled on pressing his knees into the seatback with his spine straight and his feet flat on the floor. He clapped his palms on his thighs and looked around, nodding as he took in the glory of coach. “I think I can handle it. I’m tougher than I look, Pepper.”

“Are you, though?”

“What’s the litmus? Bennett Charles? ’Cause I have it on good authority he’s not as tough as he looks. And that authority is me.”

“Who breaks their nose at a volleyball game they’re not even playing in?”

“Edie,” Peter said seriously. “I’ve been telling Jessa that for weeks.”

They smiled at each other until the vibe shifted from an innocent pleasure at being together into an uncomfortable awareness of that pleasure. Edie looked away first, flipping themagazine to “Wyatt Cash is ‘Thrilled’ for Bennett Charles, Reveals TopKeyPicks” before handing it across the aisle.

“Spoiler alert: Bailey, Zo, and Aspen are the frontrunners for the extreme sportsman’s heart.”

“Well,” Peter said with a conspiratorial look, “US Weeklyhasn’t met you yet.” He gave the sidebar a once-over before tossing the magazine back to her. “It’s amazing what they’ll report. When I worked onSurvivor, a contestant broke his tooth in half, spit it out, kept playing, and no one would pick it up. The story, not the tooth. But if aKeygirl walks into a Starbucks, everyone goes nuts.”

“Tabloids are all about fantasy, Peter. No one wants to read about a toothless guy who hasn’t showered in a month. Not when there’s Gwyneth Paltrow’s seaweed cleanse or JLo’s strength routine or Zendaya’s Oscars outfit.”

“Don’t forget Bennett’s weightlifting manifesto,” Peter added. “I’m sure that’s a fascinating read. Lots of tips on how to boil chicken. Where to buy cargo shorts. And, oh, how to craft an entire personality around stanning Bear Grylls.”

“Tell me how you really feel.”

“He’syourboyfriend.”

Edie looked away.

Was Bennett Charles her boyfriend?

---