Page 18 of You're The One
The only time it feels remotely true is when I exhaust myself.
Keep moving.
Keep busy.
Always planning the next “thing.” That’s when the buzzing quiets just enough, and I can almost believe I’m okay. I can almost trick myself into thinking fine isn’t a lie at all.
Which was exactly what this was supposed to be. Is that even possible anymore? Maybe I’m better off cutting my losses.
“Can I interrupt?” a girl whose name I can’t recall asks.
“Give us—” Dominic starts at the same time I say, “Sure.”
Before I fully rise, she is already sliding into my place. It reminds me of those sushi restaurants where a conveyor belt offers never-ending options and the diner takes anything that tickles their fancy. In this case, it’s women being offered up for the taking.
Dominic leans back to let me pass. “We’re not done.”
Oh yeah, we are.
SEVEN
A woman adjusts,leaning further into my space. Where Mia made damn sure no part of us touched when we sat side by side, this woman—shit, what’s her name?—acts like she’s trying to win an award for most points of contact. She eases back so that my arm, still slung over the couch, wraps around her by default. Her crossed legs brush against mine, her foot dragging slowly up and down my calf.
Every woman I’ve met tonight gets bolder. I’ve rotated through numerous “intimate” setups around the mansion, Bodhi directing me to new locations, each one has a new woman waiting. But I’ve ended up where I started—where the one conversation I needed more from got cut short.
I’m hoping the woman sitting next to me now is close to the end of the list of people to meet. I thought I’d feel more energized than I do. Instead, I’m counting down the minutes until I can head to my villa and crash.
“How’s your night going?” she asks.
“I can’t complain…”But I want to.
Not only about my exhaustion, but about the fact Mia and I hadn’t finished talking. I’m reminded of it now that I’m sitting in the same place.
With her, I’m lucky to get a sliver of her attention, and I’m sure our bickering burned tonight’s allocation. I still don’t know if she evenwantsto be here, and before the night is over, I have to send six women home.
But that’s a problem for later. I have a beautiful woman in front of me, and I’m going to try to give her my full attention.
“I’m sorry. I don’t think I caught your name…” I prompt, flashing the smile Mia once called “too wide.”Who even says that?
She knew I was the bachelor. Still, she came. Why?
I force the thoughts down.
Focus.
“… it must be hard to keep track of everyone. This whole thing is a bit overwhelming.”
I only catch the end of what the woman next to me is saying, completely missing her name.
“Yeah, it’s a lot,” I agree, hoping I can figure it out later. “What do you do?” I let my finger trace from her shoulder to her bicep and back.
She giggles. “I’m an actress.”
Huh. All right. I remind myself not to jump to conclusions. This is all new. My shot. Just because she’s the Hollywood type doesn’t mean she’s here for the wrong reasons. And hey, maybe she can give me some acting tips.I might need them.
“Oh, nice, so I’m guessing you live here? In California?” I ask.
“Yep. Hollywood is my home base when I’m not filming.”
