Page 6 of A Chance at Love

“No shit,” says Jess, and not subtly at all, she raises her eyebrows at me. “So true love can happen on TV, huh?”

“Oh, definitely,” says Samira, hopping onto one of the beds. “Honestly, I think that’s kind of why I keep applying to these shows. It’s not exactly the most effective way to meet guys, but...you never know.”

“Aw,” says Jess. “I hope you meet someone, Samira.”

“Thanks,” she says, and laughs. “I can tell the dude I paired up with today isn’t my Prince Charming. But maybe he’ll grow on me. Who’d you two end up with? Sorry I can’t remember. There’s so many people here!”

“I’m with Noah,” says Jess. “The hot redhead.”

“That’s right,” says Samira. Then she looks over at me. “And you’re with...wait, I think I know this. That entrepreneur guy, right?”

I nod. “Yep. Leo.”

“He’s her high school sweetheart,” says Jess.

Samira’s eyes go wide. “No way.”

“Yep,” I say, silently cursing Jess for saying anything. The less attention on Leo and I, the better, as far as strategy is concerned. “It’s true.”

“I’m guessing you two didn’t have a horrible breakup, then, if you’re paired up with him now?”

I shrug. “It was a mutual breakup.”

“Ah,” says Samira. “Let me guess. End of high school?”

I nod. I sit down on my bed and smooth my hand over the sheets. I wasn’t planning on getting into this, but now that it’s out, I may as well tell the story.

“We dated our entire senior year of high school. He was my first love. Actually…my only love, I guess.” Shit. I really don’t need to open up like this. “Anyway. We got into different colleges, and we both agreed that it didn’t make sense to do a long-distance relationship. Not when we were so young. So we broke up. It really sucked. But we had to do it. I mean, how many college kids do you hear about being in long-distance relationships?”

Samira nods. “I bet you would have broken up anyway.”

“Yeah. Exactly.” I shift on the bed. “And now here we are, six years later, meeting again on a reality TV show.”

Samira breaks into a grin. “Tell the truth. Do you still have feelings for him?”

I let out a long sigh.

“She wants him but she won’t admit it,” Jess tells Samira.

“Gotcha,” says Samira. “And do you think he wants you?”

“Oh, he definitely wants her,” says Jess. “I could practically see the outline of his hard-on in his pants.”

“Jess!” I scream.

But Jess and Samira are laughing too hard to hear me. Oh, for fuck’s sake. Why am I even bothering?

“Fine!” I say. “I want Leo. There! Are you happy now?”

“Yes,” Jess says, gasping for air. “Thank you. I just wanted you to admit it. That wasn’t so hard, was it?”

I sigh and get up from the bed and walk past Jess and Samira, who are still laughing.

“Where are you going, Whitney?” Jess chokes out.

“Bathroom,” I mutter.

But when I walk out of the room, I run smack into Leo.

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