Page 95 of As They Are
“Look at that hand placement,” she said. “Did you notice that?”
“No,” I hissed. “I was more focused on his other one on my face.”
She whistled.
“Can I see now?” Eric asked.
“I feel like I’m watching something private,” Cain said. “But it’s better than the first season.”
“You didn’t like the first season?” I asked. I wasn’t sure I could handle it if he didn’t, but my curiosity was piqued.
“I loved the work you did,” he said immediately. “But the romance was ... a little forced.”
“He unfortunately called the fake relationship.” Mollie rolled her eyes. “Rude.”
“It was unnecessary, that’s all. I only cared about the mansion. No offense.”
“None taken,” I replied. It was refreshing to hear someone care about the work. All I’d seen online were people freaking out over Jude and me.
But I’d started this whole thing to show my work to more people. I hated that everything was about a fake relationship and not the beautiful piece of history I was working on.
I focused back on the show. They were showing the first few days of work I’d done, though making it look like Jude and the crew did more than they had. The contractors hired were there during the day, but Jude was a true TV guy and preferred to only do work on camera.
Which meant he didn’t get much done at all.
Seeing it now made me roll my eyes. And it only got worse when they kept showing him watching me. I’d not noticed while we were filming, but there were loads of shots of him glancing over.
“Are they making it seem like he misses you?” Mollie asked.
“He doesn’t,” I said. “He was the one caught with someone else. He started this whole thing.”
But then the camera cut to another scene of Henry and me, and I wondered if what I’d seen was real. They weren’t making either of us look like the enemy, just a happy couple.
When the episode was over, I was tense. Looking at myself through a camera was far more uncomfortable than I expected.
“That was interesting,” Mollie said. “Especially now that I know the whole story.”
“It’s show business,” I muttered. “They want the good ratings.”
“Is that what you want?” she asked.
I frowned, trying to decide. I knew Mollie would want an answer eventually.
But by the time I’d come up with something, she was covering her mouth and running to the bathroom.
I blinked. I’d been the one to get the ice cream and popcorn. “Please tell me Dale doesn’t stock expired stuff,” I said.
“Oh, no. It’s fine.”
“It’s fine?”
“Mollie throws up sometimes,” Eric explained. “Any time I ask, they say they’ll tell me later.”
I frowned. “If Mollie’s sick ...”
“She’s not,” Cain said.
“Then—” I froze when I realized what was going on. Then I tore after Mollie.
