Page 83 of Forbidden Dance
“You don’t want to see this,” Suze says.
They don’t know anything, so I shrug casually. “I think it’s cool he got his show back,” I say. “Hopefully he isn’t still Tweeting naked chicks.”
I’m impressed by my ability to sound completely calm and indifferent. Suze watches me for a moment as if trying to decide if it’s okay to keep watching, then hits the play button again.
Blitz shakes his head at the camera as if he can’t believe it is following him. It zooms close on his face.
“Don’t let Mariah see this,” he says.
“Who’s Mariah again?” Aurora asks.
“One of the finalists,” Suze says. “She’s the fan favorite. Nobody wants Giselle after the scandal, and Christy is a total skank.”
I control my smile at her assessment. I know the contestants by heart at this point. I’ve watched all of season two and seen how Giselle, Mariah, and Christy were selected by Blitz to be finalists. All that was before we met. But this segment is new.
I remember what he said. No matter what I see, to have faith in him. I fully intend to do that.
The camera pans up and shows the sign on the shop. It’s a jewelry store.
The scene cuts to inside. It’s a promo video, slick and polished even though it’s supposed to look spontaneous. I know all this is scripted. Blitz is playing a role.
It’s still hard to watch. A woman on the other side of a glass case asks him if she can help him pick out something. Blitz tells her he wants a gorgeous engagement ring for the perfect girl.
“Please say it isn’t for Christy,” Jacob says.
I want to laugh. They are so caught up in it. But Blitz is good. His expression is absolutely sincere as he looks at rings and discards several as “not good enough for how amazing she is.”
He looks straight into the camera and says, “I can’t handle it if she says no.”
I want to laugh. He’s so good. But the others are completely bamboozled. Aurora squeezes my arm. “You okay, Livia?” she asks.
I don’t know what to say. I can’t tell them how things really are.
The scene cuts away with a voice-over that says, “The finale ofDance Blitzwill air live in just four days. But the fun won’t end there. Once Blitz has proposed, we’ll follow the happy couple for three intense episodes where they perform in Paris, meet her extended family for the holidays, and the first important planning session for the big wedding.”
What? There’s more after the finale?
Now I can’t catch my breath. Blitz said he would declare a winner and be done. But there’s more scheduled! There’s air dates and everything! That can’t just go away. It’s got to be contractual. He’s obligated. This could go on for months.
Jacob notices my distress. “Shut that mess off,” he orders Suze.
She immediately complies.
Jacob envelops me in a hug, his tall solid frame surrounding me. “I’m so sorry, baby girl,” he says. “He’s just a man-whore preying on the innocent.”
I know I promised Blitz I would have faith, but I’m not sure I can. He hasn’t told me about the extra episodes.
Why hasn’t he?
I back away from the desk, planning to head home. Walk through the park. Okay, maybe not there. Take a random street, one with no memories.
I need to think. Why wouldn’t Blitz tell me about those extra episodes? That he can’t come get me. Can’t come back to San Antonio to live. Can’t keep his promise.
I’m just down the steps when I realize why.
He isn’t going to do them.
He’s going to blow it on purpose.
