Page 31 of The Love Dare
“I came here because I want him to choose you,” Nina admits. Despite her best efforts, Winnie’s heart races with the reveal. She fights to keep her face unaffected, but she gets the uncanny sense Nina can see right into her soul. “Not because I think he loves you. Or you love him. Or you guys are soulmates. Nothing so lofty. I want him to pick you because it’s what’s best for the show. Tyler’s a bit stiff, a bit reserved. We both know it. The only reason he’s the leading man is because he’s got a pretty face and a bank account the size of California. Let’s face it. Men have it easy. That’s all he needs to get people to tune in. But in order to make people stay, I need a story. I need drama. And that’s where you come in. You’re the heart of the season. The hometown girl who can draw out his personality. The latecomer with an unfair advantage who the other girls will hate. I can’t afford to lose you on the first episode. So yes, I did come here to see how you were doing. But mostly, I came to make sure you don’t fuck this up for the both of us. Now, have you thought about what you’re going to say or haven’t you?”
Winnie swallows. “I have.”
“And?”
“I was planning to take a page out of your apparent playbook and be honest with him for once.”
Nina rolls her eyes. “That’s shit.”
“But you just?—”
“Honesty only works with women,” Nina interjects. “Men want lies.”
“I don’t believe that.”
“No?” Nina puts her glass down and turns fully to Winnie. “Then why are male fantasies so easy to predict? A naughty nurse? Princess Leia? The secretary? It’s because they want to be fooled.”
“So do women,” Winnie counters. “I’ve read enough romance novels to know that. Ever heard of a trope?”
“Ahh.” Nina nods. “But for women, it’s grounded in something real—the emotion. Men don’t bother with that. They want to live in the illusion.”
“Tyler’s not like that.”
“You don’t think so?” Nina arches a brow.
Winnie knows she’s being cornered, but she still shakes her head. She’s never been very good at avoiding an onslaught anyway.
“Then why the dress?” Nina asks innocently.
Winnie looks down, confused. “Your wardrobe team gave it to me?”
“You could’ve said no.” Nina shrugs. “Red’s a bit predictable, isn’t it? And why the smoky eye?”
“I thought it looked good.”
“Oh, it does.” Nina nods, then holds her arms out, palms up. “I’m just saying, if you’re so convinced Tyler isn’t like other men and wants more than a fantasy, why bother getting dressed up at all? Why not come looking exactly like yourself? I’m guessing leggings, a baggy sweatshirt, and a hasty bun are a little more your style.”
Winnie stands a bit taller and crosses her arms, not sure if she should be offended or impressed. “Maybe I’m not dressed up for him.”
“Maybe,” Nina concedes.
It gives Winnie an urge to prove herself. “Maybe I’m dressed up for the cameras and the audience and the TV. I don’t exactly want to look like a schlub for millions of people to see. Tyler knows me. I don’t need to hide anything from him.”
“Maybe not.” Nina looks directly into her eyes with an unnerving intensity. “Or maybe the fact that he knows you is precisely what you’re trying to hide. Maybe you understand that he doesn’t want you in those baggy sweats, because if he did, he’d already have you. So maybe you put on a sexy dress and a bit of red lipstick so that instead of seeing you asyou, he’d see you as someone else. A fantasy, if you will. And all I’m saying is, if that’s what you want, then being honest with him will ruin the illusion.”
The truth in Nina’s hypotheticals doesn’t land like the aforementioned bit of popcorn stuck between her teeth. It hits like a battering ram to the freaking chest.
Dammit.
Winnie swallows. Her voice is soft when she asks, “So what should I do?”
“Tease him.” Nina shrugs. “Do the last thing he would ever expect you to do. Honesty can wait until you’ve at least got a foot in the door.”
“But what?—”
Nina holds up her hand as a muffled voice comes through her headset. Winnie can’t make out what’s being said, but whatever it is, it’s claimed Nina’s full attention. The producer’s eyes glaze over as she stares at a spot somewhere over Winnie’s head. “Mm-hmm. Yeah. I’m with her now.”
Panic begins to set in.
