Page 71 of Fan Favorite

Zo smirked. “It’s true.”

But before Edie could process this revelation against her own sexual knowledge of Charlie Bennett, Aspen and Max scuttled around the lighting equipment and joined them.

“You guys,” Aspen whispered, “check this out!” Max pulled a bottle of Scotch from behind her back. “I got that hot camera guy, Derek, to buy it for us!”

The production rules were clear: no day drinking. But from the moment they’d landed in Scotland, Peter had been MIA, and now what they’d all suspected had been confirmed: Bennett Charles was getting frisky with contestants. While this information wasn’t exactly shocking, it definitely exacerbated all the uncomfortable feelings Edie had been trying her hardest to keep at bay. She’d come toThe Keyto fall in love and get engaged. But as the days went on, picturing herself on that mountaintop was becoming more and more difficult. It was uncomfortable to admit, but Edie wanted to be engaged to Bennett the most when Charlie was still alive and well in her imagination. Not charging around a historic city with his ass out.

Edie grabbed the bottle of Scotch. Sometimes shit was just so complex, there was no other choice but to drink.

By the time the girls arrived at their final shooting location, a twilight cruise down the River Forth, they were lit. Especially Edie, who’d drank enough Scotch to kill a small child. Still, she valiantly clutched the gangplank and struggled toward the boat in her cocktail attire, only catching her heel in the metal ramp and nearly pitching into the icy water one time.

“Let’s keep it together, Peps,” Jessa said, dragging Edie onto the deck.

“I love you, Jessa.” Edie took Jessa’s face in her hands and peppered her cheek with kisses. “You’re like a real friend, you know? But where’s Peter? Why isn’t he here? I miss him. He’s never around, and that’s stupid.” Edie noticed the lipstick smeared on Jessa’s cheek and rubbed it with her thumb before noticing the stars and the moonlit water. “Look at this!” She swept her arms at the vista and twirled. “I’m the king of the world!”

Jessa grabbed Edie by the arm before she twirled right off the boat.

“Water. You need water.”

For most of the cocktail party, Edie was relegated to the back of the cabin, being forced to hydrate by a rotating cast of PA babysitters. She was feeling very philosophical by the time Jessa’s number two, Dan, came to visit.

“Whatislove?” Edie asked him. She had her high heel hanging off one toe. She swung it in arcs through the air until it fell off. “Baby, don’t hurt me.” She fell against Dan, laughing uncontrollably. “No more.”

“BigNight at the Roxburyfan?” Dan asked, propping her back up.

“Is that where that’s from?” she asked, amazed. “That shit is fuckingprofound.” She got serious and pulled Dan by his shirt so they could speak with their faces inches apart. “But, seriously, Dan. Whatislove? Do you think Bennett Charleslovesme?” She let go of Dan and jabbed her straw into the side of her mouth to gulp some water. “’Cause I think he loves Bailey.”

“How does that make you feel?” Dan asked, smoothing his shirt.

Edie narrowed her eyes. “Don’t psychologize me, Dan. What are you, twenty-five? You haven’t even seen what the world has in store for you. The hellscape.” Something occurredto her. “Aw, Dan, the hellscape of human experience. You know who said that to me once? Peter. He’s funny, right?”

But before Dan could answer, Jessa arrived to take Edie for her one-on-one time with Bennett. Jessa brushed the hair off her face, wiped the mascara from under her eyes, and hoisted Edie from the couch. Hand in hand, Jessa led Edie to the deck, and there was Bennett, magnificent in his red plaid kilt, dark suit jacket and tie, bare legs, and shoes with no socks. All at once Edie knew this was the moment to attempt the patentedKeymove she’d seen the other girls execute flawlessly. She ran at him full speed and jumped into his arms, almost knocking both of them overboard.

“Are you having fun in Scotland?” he asked once they were settled on a bench at the edge of the boat. He rested his handsome face on his knuckles and fixed her with a loving gaze.

“Where’d you get this chin?” she asked him, sticking her pointer finger against the cleft in his jaw. “Was it always there? I don’t remember this chin.”

He chuckled awkwardly and removed her hand. “What was your favorite part of the day?”

“Right now, obviously,” she drawled. “Being withyouuuuu.”

So what if he’d ejaculated on Zo? They could still make this work. Suddenly, this was the most hilarious thing Edie had ever thoughtever, and she laughed and laughed until she couldn’t breathe. After way too long, her laughter dissipated and she leaned back against the leather bench, content. But then she noticed Bennett looking at her like she was crazy and suddenly realized she was very, very drunk. Edie straightened up and wiped her eyes, knit her brow, and pressed her lips together in a serious way. She was a serious person discussing her serious future.

“How are you feeling about going back to Chicago for the lock-in?” Bennett started again. But now Edie was craning her neck around Ted and his camera, trying to get a look at theproduction people gathered under a small awning. Peter? No Peter. Peter? No Peter. “Edie?”

“Hmm?” Edie turned back to him. “Chicago.” She nodded. “Home. E.T. phone home.”

“Edie,” he hissed under his breath. “What the fuck.” He smiled at the cameras. And then scratched at his neck until red slashes appeared.

What were they talking about? Edie dug what was left of her nails into her palm and brought herself back to the moment. Oh, shit, the lock-in. Theovernight date. Whatever contestants survived this week’s key ceremony would leave Scotland and eventually meet up in their hometowns to reunite with their families and spend a whole night off camera. Locked in. No keys. Edie tried to picture being in her apartment with Bennett Charles, and it seemed totally bizarre. Somehow the spaces between their childhood and now, theirKeyprom and now, kept shifting and widening until everything felt unreal. How many possible ways their lives could’ve played out. She could’ve never come here at all, just watchedThe Keyon her couch like a normal person. Or what if they’d never broken up? Instead, they could’ve been married with two adorable kids they took to soccer practice in a minivan. Or what if Edie was by herself again? Would that really be the worst thing? Being here—she didn’t always feel connected to Charlie, but she was starting to feel connected to this version of herself that was confident, fun, and a good friend. Maybe that was enough?

“How areyoufeeling about the lock-in?” she finally managed.

Bennett gazed into the sky. “For us, it’s a lot more than just a trip to meet the parents, huh?” he said, launching into one of his speeches. “But I think everything that has kept me from home, those worries, those pressures—it’s all disappeared now that you’re here. I don’t feel afraid anymore, which is wild.A guy like me who takes on crazy experiences every single day shouldn’t be scared to go home. But I think for years I thought I could only be one thing. Strong or weak. But you—you help me be my whole self. You always have.” He stared into her eyes. “And, you know, I really love that about you.”

Before Edie could wonder whereI really love that about youfell on theKeystages of love, he was kissing her, pressing his mouth against hers with a fervor that made her heart race. He pulled her onto his lap, and her dress hiked up her thighs. From some faraway place, Edie observed that she was just a body reacting to his kiss, to his strong hands pressing against her back. Or maybe she was just a boat, floating, no captain, no oar, just going wherever the current led.

When they pulled apart, they smiled at each other goofily, like they’d done something special. She pulled back to look at him.

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