Page 19 of Catching Coy
She was already coming forward as soon as he started her name. She took his cheeks in her hands, pulling him down for a kiss before accepting the jacket. “Thank you,” she said, putting it on over her shimmering pink dress the way Bellamy had and walking over to sit next to Bellamy. One glance showed that Bellamy’s smile had stiffened, but she still cast it on Lucy as the woman sat down next to her.
Coy reached for another jacket. “Charlotte.”
Her mouth dropped open for a moment before she smiled and hurried forward. “Oh, thank you,” she breathed, putting her arms around his shoulders and pulling him into a quick hug. He squeezed her back before she also retreated to the bench. He noted that Bellamy’s smile had eased when she watched Charlotte. Charlotte was difficult not to like.
“Gillian.”
Her jaw relaxed when Coy said her name, making him realize how worried she had appeared as she stood there. She walked forward. “Thanks.” She took his hands in hers, and he felt compelled to reassure her that he wanted to get to know her better. He brought one hand up to his lips and kissed it. She held her jacket in her arms as she went to the bench, which Coy didn’t know what to make of.
He pulled out the last jacket, looking at the gym floor before he made his final decision. He had gone back and forth all day in deciding what to do. Just because he and Bristol had a few awkward moments didn’t mean their relationship was doomed. They’d likely get over that on a one-on-one date—he thought. Her too-intense interest in his plans after basketball made him second-guess, though. Was she here to get to know someone? To fall in love? Or had she come onTheCatchto meet someone famous? It was so hard to tell, to trust what Gunner had said and trust himself.
But Willa. Coyknewalready that a spark lit the beginnings of their time. She seemed a safer bet. So, could he trust himself with that decision?
He swallowed and looked up, his gaze bouncing between the two women, uncomfortable in holding either one’s eye too long. Bristol stood elegantly unconcerned, the one-shoulder, bright blue gown she wore draping to the floor in a perfect puddle of fabric. She had her hands clasped in front of her, but loosely, like that was the most comfortable thing to do with them, not that she was nervous about what Coy would say next.
Willa swayed slightly, a habit he’d noted early on. No doubt music always played through that girl’s head. She pinched her lips together then relaxed, taking a deep breath.
He closed his eyes, hoping he wasn’t making a mistake. He’d had so little time with these women. How could he make a decision about his future with them so soon?
“Willa.”
“Oh, oh,” she cried softly before bouncing forward. She took the jacket and threw her arms around him. “I was so worried,” she whispered. She gave him a smile as she pulled away and then hurried over to the bench, only throwing on her jacket after she’d glanced down the row. She didn’t put her arms through, letting it dangle off the back of her shoulders.
He walked the few steps to Bristol, reaching for one of her hands. She smiled tightly. “Good luck.”
“Thanks, Bristol.”
She nodded and tugged her hand from his, turning to walk out the gym doors, cameras following her graceful march out of the gym. Thethwackof her heels against the wooden floor seemed to echo so loudly in the room.
Portia returned, standing between him and the women he’d chosen. “Alright, ladies.” She grinned at all of them. “Welcome to this week’s team. Time to celebrate!”
The women gave a quiet cheer and then stood, some of them even hugging before they moved to Coy’s side while the crew set up the food behind them all. Bellamy didn’t push for his attention as they surrounded him, and he wondered how she was taking jumping into the deep end here. Although she had admitted to watching every season, he’d never asked if she’d ever signed up to be on the show.
“Bell—Bellamy.” He quickly corrected himself from using the nickname he’d made up for her.Hehad seen enough seasons to know that wouldn’t endear him to the other women to find out that they already had something like that in their relationship. “Can we chat for a second?” He reached out for her hand.
She darted a gaze at the women to either side of her before reaching and taking his hand. “Sure.”
He led her over to one of the sofas set up to make hanging out in the gym for the celebration easier and waited for her to sit before he did. “Hey.”
“Hey. Thanks for choosing me,” she teased.
“It seemed unfair to convince you to join the show and then cut you right off.” He gave a mocking shrug.
“I’ll watch my back next week then.” She smiled, but then she chewed on her lip, letting him know she did worry about the possibility, even if she was trying to joke.
“I wanted to warn you that on Sunday, I’ll be asking someone else for our one-on-one.”
“Oh,” she blinked at him, surprise registering on her expression. “Well, thank you for the warning.”
He scooted closer, taking her hand. “It’s just that I know we have something, Bells,” he said. From the corner of his eye he noted a camera moving in closer, but he tried to push the irritation away. Bellamy’s gaze drifted over his shoulder and he could guess that a second one was also filming away. His stomach clenched. So far, he hadn’t had to share any of his interactions with Bellamy. And he liked them much better that way. This had turned things awkward. He squeezed Bellamy’s hand. “I just want to make sure I give the women here a chance to know me.”
“Of course.” But the smile she gave him stiffened the way it had when Lucy had sat next to her after he made his picks. “That’s why you’re here.”
He lowered his voice even more. “I don’t want you to think that I asked you to come on here to toy with you.” He shook his head. “Forget it, I will just ask you. I already miss you.”
She leaned in closer, her expression relaxing. “No. You’re right, Coy,” she said. “We both wanted real time to get to know each other, and as unorthodox as this is, it’s what you’re here to do.”
“I’m starting to regret asking you to come on,” he teased, then leaned close enough to put his lips against her ear. “I liked having you all to myself better.”
