Page 27 of Playing With My Heart Strings

He lets out a chuckle. “You’re not a very good liar, Baylor.”

Panic rises in my chest.Does he already know?

Before I can protest, he takes a step forward, closing the distance between us. As if to drive the point further, he leans in to whisper in my ear. “I think you knewexactlywhat you were doing on that axe-throwing date.”

When he backs away, I tilt my head so I’m looking him square in the face and force my shoulders back so I stand a little bit taller. “I guess I’m just good at pretending.”

“You don’t have to pretend with me.”

“You’d be surprised,” I scoff then widen my eyes. “Did I say that out loud? I just meant I’m full of surprises.”

“I don’t doubt it for a second. I’m looking forward to being surprised by you, sweetheart.” He looks me up and down then steps out of the way so I can continue walking.

I try to resist the urge to look back over my shoulder to see if he’s watching me as I leave, but my heart gets the better of me. As though he was waiting for me to turn, he’s facing me with a wide grin on his face.

I’m absolutely fucked.

the confessionals

Producer:Who do you think your biggest competition is?

Aspen:Competition? I would hardly call these other girls competition.

Producer:You’re not worried about any of the other contestants?

Aspen:No. Frankly, none of them are worth my time. And they’re going to have to do a whole lot better than winning a stupid axe-throwing contest to win over Dusty Wilder.

Producer:What’s the dynamic with the other girls been like so far?

Sage:So far, so good, I think. Besides the drama with Aspen today.

Producer:What drama?

Katherine:Baylor totally told off Aspen today. It was kind of badass.

Sage:Aspen was making snide comments the whole morning, and Baylor just snapped. I know we just met, but I didn’t know she had that in her.

Aspen:Baylor’s a [bleep].

Baylor:Aspen’s a [bleep].

11

baylor

Ruthless

The second episode airs today,which also means the first elimination happens tonight.

We don’t get to watch the episode, but earlier this morning, we were told that all the girls will wait together in a briefing room, and once it’s over, we’ll learn who is at risk of elimination. Those who are will head out to the stage, and viewers will get to vote for the girl they want to save.

I shouldn’t care or even be nervous about the elimination, considering I have immunity for this week, but I am. It was never explicitly said that my performance on the show determines my fate at my job, but it’s been implied by the looks Colette gives me every so often when no one else is paying attention. Ideally, I’ll get eliminated at week five or six and can put all of this behind me.

It’s the opposite of what most of these girls want, but it’s what’s best forme. I’m sure Colette and I have different ideas of “what’s best,” though.

“Who do you think is going to get eliminated?” Sage asks as she wrings her hands together.

Before I’m able to answer, the door swings open and a producer comes in.

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