Page 79 of Fan Favorite

“He hooked up with absolutely everyone,” a former contestant tellsUs. “It was insane. I wasn’t ready to sleep with him and, surprise, surprise, the next day I was going home.”

“I think Edie knew him better than any of us,” another contestant says. “I’m not surprised to hear she left. She knows what a liar he is.”

According to Charles, it’s not that simple. In an Instagram post this week, Charles captioned a pic of the ocean with a ray of light breaking through a cloudy sky: “Even the worst storms will pass, and the sun will shine again.” He went on to thank his fansfor their continued support, adding, “My intention, since day one, has been to find the woman I’m going to spend the rest of my life with. My heart breaks to know that people I care about have been hurt in the process. I look forward to the day I can make it right.”

For her part, Edie Pepper captured the hearts ofKeyfans immediately and quickly emerged as an icon for single women everywhere. What is it about Pepper that resonates? NotedKeypodcaster Julia Pitman says Pepper is a feminist face for a series stuck in a patriarchal past. “She’s messy, she’s imperfect, she says what she thinks, and she’s the ripe old age of thirty-five. That’s to say, she’s just like us,” Pitman says. “And when we see someone who’s not twenty-two or a size zero believing she’s worthy of finding love, well, that’s powerful television.”

So, what’s next for Edie Pepper? In addition to fan accounts on Instagram and Twitter, celebs like Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, and Amy Schumer have shown their support for Pepper by signing a petition for the Midwestern copywriter to step in as next season’s lead.

The Keyairs on RX Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET.

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Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait,” Lauren said as she sped down Lake Shore Drive. She flicked her eyes to the rearview mirror, just in case aKeyproduction van had emerged hot on their tail. “You’re telling me you went on this stupid show to fall in love with Charlie Bennett, but instead youbanged the showrunner?”

“That’s exactly what I’m telling you, Lauren.” Edie clutched the door handle. “And, worst of all, I think I might really be falling for him.”

Lauren made an appalled squawk before careening the Prius across two lanes of traffic. A horn blared. Good lord, Edie thought her escape from the hotel had been harrowing, but Lauren’s2 Fast 2 Furiousdriving was almost worse than the frantic packing, tiptoeing down eleven flights of stairs with her massive suitcase thumping down each step, and then cowering under the front desk to dial Lauren’s number on the receptionist’s iPhone.

“Seriously, Icannotwith you right now.” Lauren flung the Prius down the ramp for Irving Park and the car began speedingwest. “Who don’t you love, Edie? You love everyone. Here’s a thought: Stop loving people.”

“Lauren!” Edie exclaimed, alarmed by both the Prius’s last-second dodge around a group of commuters and the brazen assessment of her love life. “You can’t be judgy right now.We are in crisis.You can judge me all you want later, but right now, you need to be supportive.”

“Iambeing supportive. I came as soon as you called, didn’t I?Laureeeeeeeeeennnn, saaaaaaaavvvvve me,” she mimicked. “And here I am, saving you. I should be at work.”

“And I love you for it, but you don’t have to kill us in the process!” They swerved around a double-parked Amazon truck. “Seriously, Lo, slow down! They’re notliterallyafter us.” Edie looked out the back window. “At least, I don’t think they are.”

The Prius staggered to a halt and Lauren faced Edie.

“You know I love you. I support you always. You know that. But you have to admit this is crazy. Even for you.”

“Which part?”

“All. Of. It.”

Edie looked out the window and pouted. A new Pilates studio had moved in next to her favorite coffee shop. Maybe now she could finally get into a sustainable exercise routine. She could do Pilates every day before work. Bailey was always talking about how great Pilates was, even tempting Edie with claims that you spent a lot of the class lying down. Anyway, Edie could do Pilates, and then stop at the coffee shop for a chai latte because she was the new and improved Hollywood version of Edie who wouldn’t touch a white chocolate mocha with a ten-foot pole, and then hop on the train to work, where she’d attend meetings about web content for health insurance companies with an optimistic attitude and then return to her desk, happy to churn out blog posts about oral health for millennials. And she’d become more active on LinkedIn. Attendwomen’s networking events. Focus on her career until everyone could see just how successful she was and that she didn’t need a husband or children. And she’d get some cool hobbies. Maybe something hipster-y, like tinsmithing. Volunteer at a nursing home. Take up sailing and throw around words likestarboardandland, ho!and meet all sorts of cool new friends who’d celebrate her as a single woman because life at sea waits for no man.

But then thinking about overhauling her life this way felt so upsetting that the adrenaline from her bigKeyescape drained from her body. Sure, Edie could reinvent herself. Again. Except all that searching and trying and scrambling didn’t feel true anymore. It felt exhausting. And ridiculous.

“Do you really love him?” Lauren asked. “’Cause he sounds like sort of a dick.”

“He’s just from Connecticut.” Edie started to cry thinking about Peter. “But once you get to know him”—she sniffled—“he’s, like, super sensitive and funny and smart and great at sex. And it’s the worst, because maybe I love him in an actual,realway, and he left me anyway, and I’m sorry—I know I’ve made a mess of everything and you shouldn’t have to take care of me. I’m a full adult person.”

“Fuck.” Lauren exhaled, finally accepting the gravity of the situation. She steered the Prius into a Walgreens parking lot and threw it into park. “It’s gonna be okay,” she said, softer now. She wiped a tear off Edie’s cheek. “We’ve been through worse. Remember when I was dumped by Evil Janine?”

“You were so devastated you went back to eating meat just to spite her.” Edie hiccupped. “We went to Bavette’s for filets and I forgot my wallet and you had to pay, like, four hundred dollars for that meal and I don’t think I ever paid you back.” Edie cried even harder. “I’m really sorry about that. I’ll Venmo you as soon as we get home.” Edie threw her hands in the air,exasperated by the universe’s vendetta against her. “But I don’t even have myphone—”

“It’s cool—”

“That was shitty of me. I’m going to be better, Lauren, I promise. But that night, when you threw up because you hadn’t eaten meat in two years, I held your hair back. I did that.”

“Of course you did.”

Edie wiped her tears with the back of her hand. “When I realized he was gone, I thought, I should just go on the lock-in anyway, you know? Like, rub his nose in it, make him jealous, make him see how desirable I am, how much Bennett wants me. But I just couldn’t. In some weird way I understood that the only person that would hurt is me.”

“Yes, bitch!” Lauren applauded. “That’s growth! That’s maturity!”

“And maybe it would’ve hurt Charlie, too, you know?” Edie shrugged. “I mean, I’m not delusional—I don’t think ‘Bennett Charles’ has all his hopes and dreams wrapped up in me. But using him to make Peter jealous? I’m not a monster.”

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