Page 2 of A Chance at Love

Jess and I stick close together as we drift around the room. It doesn’t seem like anyone else is here with a friend, which definitely seems like it’s going to be an advantage for us.

“How many fake boobs do you think are in this room right now?” Jess whispers into my ear.

“At least…fifteen,” I say.

Jess laughs loudly. A girl with extremely glossy lips looks at Jess like she just screamed out something offensive.

“Good morning, ladies!” A voice booms out from across the room. We all quiet down, our attention immediately focused on our host.

“I’m Warren Turner,” he says, although we all know who he is. Of course he’s Warren Turner. Anyone who watches reality TV knows he’s Warren Turner. “And I’m very, very pleased to welcome you to the Love Mansion. Are you ladies ready to meet the men of your dreams?”

Around me, a sea of girls erupts in cheering and hooting. My eardrums throb. But I join in, too, of course.

Up front, Warren laughs and gestures for us to settle down.

“All right, ladies,” he says, flashing his TV-perfect smile and glimmering his eyes, “here they are!”

As soon as he says it, two huge wooden doors open up behind him, and hot man after hot man begins to stream out. They’re each so tall and handsome—and radiating vibes of sex—that my whole body instantly flushes with heat.

“Holy shit,” says Jess.

“I know,” I murmur.

Around us, the other girls are equally stunned into silence.

But as the guys continue to enter the room, I force myself to get over my initial shock. I do my best to ignore their physical hotness for the time being and focus on the things that will get me the greatest chances of winning this competition. Does the guy look trustworthy? Does he look like he’s good at strategy? Does he look like he’s not a total douche?

Of course it’s all the really hot ones that look untrustworthy, bad at strategy, and douchey.

I do see a handful who have potential, though. I mentally catalog their faces so I can remember who I want to talk to as soon as we’re set free. As the guys continue to file in, I turn to Jess and say, “See anyone you like?”

“Um, yes,” says Jess. “A see a whooole lot I like.”

But then her expression changes. Surprise takes over her face.

“Um, Whitney?” she says.

“What?”

“Look.”

I turn to look at the front of the room again. At first, I’m just blinded by all the muscles and handsome grins and good hair.

But then I see him. He’s the last guy to walk in.

My high school boyfriend.

---