Page 65 of Heart to Heart
“They’re voting for her because it’s obvious how in love with each other you are.”
Stunned, all I could do was stare at Wanda. I knew how I felt for Avery, but I hadn’t gotten as far as to call it love. Was she in love with me? That seemed a tad far-fetched, knowing why she was even here at all.
“I have no idea what to say to that, Wanda,” I said.
“Great. Since I don’t need you to say anything. What I need you to do is vote Avery off the show.”
“Do you really think that’s necessary? As long as she’s not the woman who’s chosen at the very end, does it really matter how long she stays?”
Wanda stared at me as though I were a child who’d just thrown a rock through her living room window.
“I’m not doing it. Avery isn’t hurting anything by staying in the competition.”
Wanda nodded, her face unreadable, which secretly scared the holy hell out of me. Slightly worried my earlier assessment was prophetic, I discreetly crossed my legs as I waited for the undressing of a lifetime.
“You’re not really in love with her, are you?”
I opened my mouth to speak but abruptly closed it. I hadn’t known Avery long enough to know whether or not I was in love with her, although to say I wasn’t interested or didn’t want to explore things further with her to find out, was a lie. Admitting that to Wanda, though, probably wouldn’t be a smart move on my part.
My silence, apparently, spoke volumes. “Mmhmm,” she said. “Just as I suspected. Which is why I came here to show you this.” Her tone was laced with superiority, like a parent confronting a child with evidence of a lie they’d caught them telling. I watched as she opened her purse and pulled out a folded sheet of paper, handing it to me.
“What’s this?” I asked, taking the paper and unfolding it, wishing I hadn’t as soon as my brain processed what I was seeing. My hands tightened into fists, nearly folding the paper back in half again as the image of Avery with another man stared back at me, taunting me.
“The news just broke onPeep Hole’s website. It appears sweet little Avery has herself a boyfriend back home.”
ENTERTAINMENT NOW!
Kelly Kilpatrick:“Welcome to Entertainment Now! I’m Kelly Kilpatrick.”
Georgie Bristowe:“And I’m Georgie Bristowe.”
Kelly Kilpatrick:“We’re following breaking news from the set ofHeart to Heart.Peep Holehas obtained exclusive photographs taken of one of this season’s front-runners, Avery Martin, in a rather, shall we say, compromising position with Ryan Davey, a bartender from Michigan. Apparently,Peep Holetracked Ryan down a week ago and his interview will be airing tonight. What do you think, Georgie? Does Avery have a secret boyfriend she’s been keeping on the side in the event things don’t work out with Tristan Tate?
Georgie Bristowe:“Look, I’ve seen the bartender in question, and he looks remarkably like Ryan Gosling…”
Kelly Kilpatrick:“Really? Because I’m getting Ryan Reynolds vibes from him.”
Georgie Bristowe:“No! He’s a total Ryan Gosling. Anyway, if he is, in fact, Avery’s secret boyfriend, all I have to say is you go, girl. But also, she’ll be seeing you soon, Ryan. Because now that the cat’s out of the bag, there’s not a chance that Tristan will keep her on the show.”
Kelly Kilpatrick:“The next elimination is going to be interesting, for sure.”
CHAPTER 34
AVERY
The last timeI was on cloud nine was when my mom won Taylor Swift tickets for me back when she was in herFearlessera. Nothing against Taylor—I’m sure she’ll bounce back just fine—but winning those tickets had nothing on the way I felt walking back up the stairs to the mansion. Even Jay had commented on the stupid grin that wouldn’t leave my face, making sure I knew how much I looked like one of the cast members from the movieSmile.
The odds of getting to make out with your celebrity crush were slim to none, but here I was, walking into the mansion fresh off the hottest make-out session in the history of make-out sessions. And the best part? Tristan seemed just as into it as I had been, which was mind-blowing to me in and of itself. My head spun in all the best ways that, at first, I didn’t even notice the commotion in the house.
“She has some audacity, coming here with a boyfriend back home,” I heard Kennedy say.
She was huddled together with Eleanor, Felicity, Jacqueline, and Charlie in the hall. They all held something in their hands, inspecting it as they spoke.
“I just don’t believe this,” Jacqueline said. “She doesn’t strike me as the type of girl who would do this.”
“Please,” Kennedy countered. “I always suspected she wasn’t what she seemed. Things have just been falling into place too nicely for her.”
I walked down the hall toward them, all the bliss I’d been feeling slowly fading away with each step.
