Page 89 of Fan Favorite

Edie snatched up the remote and swore as it slid around the apps before finally landing on Hulu, which, of course, was its own mess trying to navigate to live TV. For a split second Edie felt vindicated for all the years she’d continued paying for live TV. See! Itwasnecessary. Finally she found E!, pressed Select, and the screen went dark—Come on!Come on!—before flickering to life, and there was Peter Kennedy, back in her living room, with Ryan Seacrest.

The first thing she thought: He was so handsome. She’d almost forgotten just how handsome he was, because Peter’s handsome was a sort of low-key, normcore handsome. Or maybe it was just that even though she hated him to death, she felt so much love just seeing his face again, hearing his voice, watching the way he held the back of his neck with one hand and cast his eyes to the ground as he listened, and then the slow smile and cute way he nodded before responding. It all filled her with such resounding emotion, she had to grope her way to the floor.

“We’re thrilled, Ryan, that you’re enjoying this season as much as we are,” Peter said, looking and sounding just like his competent, Peter-y self. “Every season we want to give America the most dramatic season ever, but this,thisis really it.”

“The internet can’t stop talking about Edie Pepper,” Seacrest said. “What is it about her that women relate to so much?”

“Well, I’d never presume to speak for the women of America.” Peter and Seacrest exchanged a chuckle. “But I couldn’t be less surprised by how our audience is responding to Edie.” Edie scooched closer to the screen. Either she was imagining things or Peter changed when he said her name. He was suddenly blinking a lot. Clenching his jaw. Like he might…cry?

“Edie’s the most extraordinary person I’ve ever met.”

“And you know JLo!” Seacrest joked.

Peter laughed. “Well, I met JLo one time,” he demurred. “Edie has everything a man could want in a partner. She’s kind, she’s smart, she’s funny, and she’s beautiful, and I’ve never met anyone more willing to love with their whole heart.” He took a breath. “The Key’s not an easy process. Lots of hearts get broken along the way. But Edie’s taught us what it means to be present and really show up for your life. And how to treat the people you love.” He paused and looked directly at the camera. “And, personally, I hope she’s in my life forever.”

Seacrest squinted. “Your life? Or Bennett’s?”

“Oh. Bennett’s.” Peter cleared his throat. “And like, all of our lives generally. America’s lives.”

“What can you tell us about the finale?” Seacrest asked. “Will Edie be back?”

“C’mon, Ryan, you know I’m not going to tell you anything about the finale. Other thanThe Keyairs Tuesdays at eight p.m. on RX.”

Peter and Ryan shook hands, and as Ryan introduced the next segment, Edie lay down on the floor and stared at the ceiling. Holy shit. Had Peter Kennedy, Hollywood hotshot and showrunner ofThe Key, just appeared on national television and declared his love for her? Or at least walked right up to the edge of it? Sure, he’d left himself some plausible deniability, but he’d literally just said to the entire world that he wanted her, Edie Pepper, in his lifeforever.Holy fucking shit.She should forgivehim. They could work it out. Why couldn’t they work it out? Because he was neurotic. Impossible. Rigid. Because he produced her, manipulated her, abandoned her. Except, didn’t he come back? Didn’t he try?

Peter wasn’t perfect. But neither was she. And maybe it took two decades of bad dates, Bennett Charles, and even the return of Brian Heart Emoji for Edie to realize that love was never going to be as pretty or simple as some movie montage. But it was sincere, complex, andhers.

And she wanted it, warts and all.

Edie sat up and turned off the TV. Someone was screaming.

Lauren!

Edie ran back to the bedroom and scooped up the iPad. Lauren was jumping around her kitchen. “Holy shit!” she squealed. “Are we going to forgive him? I mean, clearly he needs therapy, but like, I see what you mean, there’s something vulnerable and authentic at the center. I thought he was gonna cry!”

“I know!” Edie started to cry herself. “So, we think he loves me? And I should forgive him? What do I do—do I tell him I love him? Because I think I do, Lolo. Like, it’s been a mess. And it looksnothinglike I expected. But seeing him right now, it’s like my heart might explode. He’s difficult. He checks out when he’s scared. But I’ve never in my life had a man believe in me like he does. It’s like he looks at me, and he sees something special. He calms me. And maybe I open him up. And, I mean, I know he didn’t want me to get engaged to Charlie. But everything just got so out of control… Fuck, I don’t even have his phone number! And, let’s be honest, he’ssoout of my league. But I’ve never been so sure. It’s a mess, but it’s real. But I don’t even have his phone number! How is that possible? I’ve had his dick in my mouth, but I don’t have his phone number!”

“Let’s be honest, it wouldn’t be the first time.”

Edie and Lauren both doubled over, they were laughing so hard. Truly, best friends were the greatest love of all.

“Lauren! Get serious. What am I gonna do?”

“The flowers! Call the number on the flowers!”

Edie gasped.

“Lauren Marie Wasserman, are you suggesting that I go back onThe Keyand pretend I want to get engaged to Charlie Bennett, but really hunt down Peter and proclaim my love for him in my very own over-the-top romantic gesture? When just twenty minutes ago you called reality TV ‘a scourge on modern feminism’ and said that if I had any sense, I would stop watching it completely and get a better hobby, like composting or competitive Scrabble?”

“Bitch, shut up. Even I believe in true lovesometimes.”

Ten hours later, Edie Pepper was on a plane to Switzerland.

33

Edie’s back.”

Peter looked up from the press release he was writing about his permanent departure fromThe Key—a fantastic eight years, millions of viewers, honored to have been part of moments that shaped not only reality TV, but television history—to Jessa standing in the conference room door waiting for him to respond. Edie was back? Peter glanced at the clock. The mountaintop engagement was scheduled to begin in thirty-five minutes. He sat back and waited. Whatever this was, it wasn’t good.

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