Page 71 of Heart to Heart
“We’re clearly being sent somewhere,” Bianca said as though this should have been common knowledge to everyone in the van. “If you know anything about this show, they always shoot at least one episode in some picturesque locale. Today’s not a taping day, so they’re using it as a travel day. Since we shoot tomorrow, smart money is on the location being somewhere in the Americas. Better yet, they may go for nostalgia and choose a location where Tristan has filmed before. Am I warm, Jim?”
From the way Jim’s face deflated, she was scorching. And that was how Bianca bought us silence for the rest of the ride, until we pulled into Long Beach Harbor.
I looked out the window, gaping at the massive cruise ships that were longer than city blocks back home. I’d never stopped to consider how massive the vessels must be, and my being the only one in the van gaping at their Herculean hulls, taller than most of the buildings I lived near, made me feel even more like a fish out of water.
“If we’re getting on one of those, I’m taking a rain check,” Charlie joked. “I’ve seen Titanic. It doesn’t end well.”
“Thanks for spoiling the ending of the movie,” Brittney L. said, prompting the rest of us to look at her, waiting for an indication that she’d been joking. Spoiler alert: no indication was made.
“Okay, ladies,” Jim announced as our van pulled off to the side of the road in front of a dock where a large, tri-deck catamaran ferry was berthed. Its sleek, white exterior gleamed in the early morning sun, starkly contrasting the brilliant blue of the Pacific Ocean. A path had been hastily cordoned off upon our approach, making a walkway from where Jim parked the van, leading all the way to the dock. Curious onlookers gathered nearby, their phones at the ready. The moment Jim threw the van into park, the door was flung open by one of the production assistants, and we were quickly ushered out of the vehicle and down the path.
When those in the crowd on the street realized who we were, shouts ofWhere’s Tristan?andYou look great, Bianca, permeated the air around us. My name was called a few times, but I shut all that out as I kept my head down on our walk down the dock. Brine from the waters of the Pacific intensified as we neared the ferry, as though the ocean itself were greeting us as we boarded. Once on deck, we followed another assistant intothe cabin on the first deck, where we were welcomed by rows of seats and, standing in the middle of the rows, Kamila, donning a pair of short red shorts and a navy blue and white striped three-quarter sleeve shirt with an anchor embroidered on it, smiling at us.
“I bet you didn’t expect to see me today,” they said, as we all cast sideways glances at each other. From behind the bar, a camera emerged, capturing our confusion. “Let me explain while your luggage is being loaded. We’re heading to Catalina Island.”
“Where Tristan filmedNautical Nights,” Bianca muttered. “Called it.”
“When we arrive there shortly, four of you will be going on a group date with Tristan.”
“Yes!” Felicity and Tatiana squealed.
“The rest of you will get your time with him tomorrow. Now, as you know, these last few episodes will be fast-paced, with a lot jammed-packed into them before the season finale and, maybe, the proposal of a lifetime.”
I don’t know what it was about the thought of a proposal and Tristan that made me break out into a smile. It’s not like I was the one he was going to propose to, but smile I did. The fairytale that this show always tried to sell was eye-roll-inducing while watching from home, elbow-deep in a bag of Doritos. But living it was a completely different story. There was a magnetic charge in the air, and the enthusiasm was contagious.
“So,” Kamila said, breaking me from my reverie, “sit back, relax, maybe some of you take a nap,” they paused to allow laughter from the rest of us, “and get ready to bring your A-game, ladies.”
CHAPTER 38
AVERY
I stoodon the patio outside our villa. Built on a hill dotted with coastal sage, the once sprawling ranch overlooked Isthmus Cove, where sapphire waters sparkled like diamonds. Watching the waves rolling in and crashing against the shore was enough to make me homesick for the beaches of Lake Michigan.
“This may not be Hawaii like I was hoping,” Taylor said, stepping outside to join me, “but it’s beautiful, regardless.”
I nodded, smiling at her. The villa had six bedrooms, which meant for the first time since this journey began, I was able to have my own bedroom, since Taylor was bunking with Brittney L. and Felicity and Charlie were sharing a room. That in and of itself would have made the middle of Siberia seem like paradise.
“How do you think Sasha’s doing?” she asked. “Why do you think she chose to leave?”
It surprised me that Taylor didn’t know why Sasha left the show. She’d been almost as tight with her as she had been with me. It was a further testament to how much she cared about Jay.
“I don’t know,” I answered, “but I’m sure she’s having a banging good time wherever she’s at.”
The door to the villa opened, and the rest of our group stepped outside onto the bluestone patio, admiring the same panoramic views of the cove that had captivated me. All of us assembled like an off-brand version of the Avengers must have been enough to summon Kamila from wherever they’d been waiting, as they appeared from seemingly out of thin air, having changed from their ferry outfit to a royal blue sundress that complemented their warm skin tone.
“Hello, hello, hello, again.” They clapped their hands together with each greeting. “That’s some view, eh?”
“It’s like a dream,” Charlie answered.
“Well, don’t go to sleep yet, because the view is about to get a whole lot better.”
In the distance, an ATV rumbled to life. None of us had to be told who the operator was. Our squealing and racing pulses were enough, and before we could second guess ourselves, Tristan crested a hill, racing in our direction. When he drew near, he whipped the ATV around, sliding sideways and expertly bringing it to a stop just feet away from the patio. His glee was infectious, as though he’d missed doing the stunts he used to do when his star in Hollywood shone a little brighter. I hoped that all the work he was putting in for this show would be enough to catapult him into the heavens again.
“An entrance only an action hero could pull off,” Kamila mused. “Tell me, Tristan. Did you drive the boat here, too?”
“I wanted to, but they wouldn’t let me for some reason.” He smiled at us, his eyes landing on me as his smile relaxed and his face softened from the hardened action star to the Tristan I’d come to know when it was just the two of us.
“Gee, I wonder why,” Kamila deadpanned, making it a point to look into the camera. “Okay, Mr. Tate, you have the floor. Why don’t you put these ladies out of their misery and tell them what you have in store for them today.”
