Page 14 of Ever's Last
I nod at Carlton and move toward the gear that has been set out for this adventure. I take a pole, checking the reel and line before grabbing a tub of worms, opening it to look for the biggest crawler. I pull one out, show it to the girls, and then tear it in half, threading it onto the hook. Stepping up to the waterline, I turn to the side, cast the pole back, finger on the reel, and let the line go as I fling my pole forward. Some of the girls go green at the sight of it. One even throws up in a bucket. That makes me smile a little. I hope they find fishing as relaxing as I do or at least find appreciation in catching their food.
The crew and Memphis clap and I curtsy since this is all for TV. The girls look petrified, except Skye. I know she’s fished before, on this lake in fact. She hated it back then as well, but at least she knows how because I took the time to show her. This gives her an advantage, one I don’t want her to have.
This is going to be chaos. I love it.
“Thank you, Ever. Ladies take your poles, your competition starts now,” Carlton calls out. I feel eyes on me and I know Memphis is watching me, but I pay him no attention.
At first, the girls just stand there, but one by one they take a pole and a cup of worms. Then they find places around the lake, cameras following. Good thing for editing since some are cursing up a storm. I don’t miss the glare from Skye as she walks to a point by the pier, right in front of Memphis.
“I wonder who will win,” Linc ponders as we sit on the pier, eyeing Skye as she casts her pole. We dip our feet in the lake as we watch to see how the others are doing. We don’t have any problem coming out here to fish or swim. I don’t think these girls would even stick a finger in this water.
“I don’t know. I hope Skye goes first.” I do. Ihateher. Seeing her stirs up a lot of angsty feelings for me. My whole life she talked down to me. The night of my accident had been the worst. If it wasn’t for the doctors, I don’t know where I would be. She has never apologized, not that I would care. And after what she did to Memphis, I think he wants her to go as well, not that I care what he wants either. But I can only imagine what he went through. Their divorce was front-page news, not only in our small town but all over the world. I know it had to hurt finding her with two of his friends. It hurt when I told him I loved him and he just stood by while his girlfriend beat me up. I wish he would have stopped it, or shown he cared in some way. I doubt he ever did. Damn, why I still have feelings for him blows my mind. He didn’t even try to stop Skye. It’s like he just froze over.
“Me too. I heard that today is a double date. The winner and loser get a date and he chooses who he wants to keep,” Ivy states while watching Skye from the pier.
That’s kind of a twist. You could win and still go home. Bummer.
Several hours later, the cursing has lessened and a few girls have managed to catch a couple fish.
It’s close to lunchtime so Carlton calls it a day. I know I’m tired of watching and the crew looks hungry and bored.
Rachel, the redhead from last night, wins and Diana, a brunette, loses.
We take the fish to clean them, waiting until the girls are out of sight. They might throw up if they watch us pull the guts out of the fish. We take them up to the house where Austin has the fryer going and Dad is setting out vegetables and sides.
“Memphis, Rachel is the winner. Natalie came in second and Diana came in last. Who do you want to take with you and Rachel on this date?” I thought it was the winner and loser, but I guess Uncle Sal has other plans.
“Rachel and Natalie.” Bye-bye, Natalie.
Diana looks relieved. She’s the oldest of the girls and the nicest. I’m not trying to be judgmental, but from the looks of the girls that have a past with Memphis, and I mean a sexual one, she isn’t his type.
She has short brown hair and she’s a little thicker. We struck up a conversation last night. She only agreed to do the show because she needs the money to start her business. She’s an event planner, like my dad. I told her she and my dad should talk about going into business together since she’s local to Atlanta.
Ivy goes to help my dad with the platters as Austin fries the fish and Linc plates them. My dad smiles as Ivy comments on something. I like it when my dad smiles. He could have his pick of the litter, and he chose Anne for whatever reason. I’ll never understand what he saw in her. And I’m not blind to see something going on between him and Ivy. They catch each other’s eyes or link fingers when they think no one is looking. Honestly, it’s cute, but that’s for another day. Right now, I want to see Memphis squirm. Bring on the date.
Austin puts three plates together and Ivy and I take those to the table set up for the date. The girls are smiling at Memphis, but he’s not smiling back. He looks as if he wants the day to be over with, like he’s bored.
He sure didn’t look bored last night. He looked like he was in a blissful state of happiness on his way to a mind-blowing trip down ecstasy lane. I wonder what it would be like if I were the one to bring him to rapture. I blush, setting the plate down and high-tailing it out of there. I know he couldn’t see me in the darkness of my window, but still.
Chapter Ten
Memphis
Ican’t believe how much Ever has changed. I watched her as she brought the plates to the table. It was her in the barn. I knew I recognized the voice. Holy hell, she’s grown up. I know she went through hell after the accident. I was a dick for not showing up. I let Skye push her around and like a pussy I just stood there. I was wrong. I don’t think sorry covers how I feel.
And while I want to talk to her, I have a date. Rachel thinks she has it in the bag after she helped pleasantly relieve some of my stress. But I think she will be the first casualty. I wanted to bring Skye and send her packing but Sal told me no. I should have told him to fuck off, but I didn’t. Let’s get this over with.
“Tell me, Rachel, why did you come on this show?” I skip all small talk.
She freezes for a moment, probably not expecting I would ask the question. But she pulls herself together and answers.
“I’m tired of the dating pool where I live. I’ve even tried online dating, but nothing ever came of it. This seemed like a perfect opportunity.” Yeah, to see what I have in my wallet since she knew it wasn’t going to go anywhere the first time we went out.
“And you?” I gesture to Natalie.
“Same thing. I’m a lawyer and guys are intimidated by that.” She’s a lawyer? Shit. I’m kind of surprised.
Dinner is roasted onions, ham, and grits, and the fish caught earlier. It looks delicious, but Rachel makes a noise and I see the disgust on her face. She might suck good cock, but she doesn’t have good taste. I take a bite and it melts in my mouth.
