The Bridesmaid & The Jerk (Wedding Games Book 1)

by Daphne James Huff

  Her heart nearly stopped and smiled eagerly at Bruce. “Really?”

  The producer gave her a wide grin. “Absolutely. We just need to try to get Fox to be more willing to let us film him. He keeps trying to evade us, and it’s not great if we can’t get the best man on camera. Surely, you can see how that could have unintended consequences for the show. He might not get it, but I know you have experience in the movie business.”

  Unintended consequences? Her chest tightened, and she tried to think of which of the thousand clauses she’d be in danger of breaking if she said no. Would they pull the plug before Audrey and Eli got their wedding?

  Bruce gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. “Can I count on you to help me out with that?”

  Sienna straightened her shoulders and gave him the best smile she could muster with the dread pooling in her stomach. “Absolutely.”

  Thirteen

  7 Days Until Dream Wedding

  “I still can’t believe you wussed out with the tattoo,” Wade said as the guys all made their way down to the dining room. He rolled up his shirt to show off the sleeve that covered most of his arm—and the new addition he’d had done earlier that day. It was still covered with a bandage, but everyone knew he’d gotten a clapperboard to commemorate his time on TV. “It doesn’t hurt.”

  Eli poked the newly inked space on Wade’s arm, causing his freshly tattooed friend to grimace. “I’m not afraid of it hurting.”

  “Then why didn’t you get one with me?” he asked, pulling his shirt back down.

  “I—”

  “Because he’s whipped,” Harry interrupted as he trailed behind the guys.

  Fox didn’t think Harry had even been paying attention to the conversation, too busy typing away on the screen of his phone. But apparently Harry had an uncanny ability to multitask.

  Fox turned to Eli, whose face was turning a deep shade of red. It wasn’t the first time someone had accused his best friend of bending over backward for Audrey, but Fox knew it upset Eli every single time. Fox was just thankful there were no cameras here right now since they were all set up in the dining hall for tonight’s competition.

  But really, whose business was it if Eli was a romantic and wanted to make Audrey happy? It was more than could be said for Harry, who always looked like it was a major inconvenience for him to do anything but stare at his phone and make rude remarks to Reagan.

  Did Harry think the other guys didn’t hear the way he spoke down to her? Or see the way her face fell every time he did so?

  Fox took a deep breath and, as he let it out, realized no one had said anything in response to Harry’s nasty comment yet. “So, what do you think tonight’s competition is going to be?” he asked in an effort to break the tension he could feel building in the air.

  “Does it matter?” came Harry’s snide response.

  Seriously?

  Fox pinched the bridge of his nose. Could Harry not see what Fox was trying to do here? Or did he just not care?

  Fox stopped and faced Harry. With a tight-lipped smile, he said, “We’d be happy to let you sit this one out.”

  Harry put his phone in his pocket. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “It means you’re the only person who doesn’t seem to give a crap about the wedding. You haven’t put that phone away the entire time.”

  “It’s my job.”

  “And you’re so important, you can’t take a five-minute break from it?” Fox said.

  “You know what? I’m not going to sit here and take this from some washed up has-been.” Harry pushed past the other guys. “I’ll see you down there.”

  Washed up has-been?

  Fox opened his mouth to tell Harry where he could shove that stupid phone of his, but Eli stepped in front of him and put a hand on his chest.

  “Listen, Fox. I don’t like the guy either, okay?” He turned and looked in the direction Harry had just stormed off in before facing Fox once more. “But in about ten minutes, all the cameras are going to be pointed on us, and I don’t want to mess anything up.”

  Fox almost laughed. Fighting was exactly what Bruce wanted to see on camera. It would give him the drama he was so badly trying to manufacture. “But—”

  “But we’re going to go downstairs with bright smiles on our faces,” Eli said. “We’re going to act like we like Harry and that we give a crap about this competition. Do you want to know why?”

  “Because that’s what Audrey would want?”

  Eli chuckled. “Yeah, that’s part of it. But it’s also because if we make a big deal out of this and start ostracizing Harry, it’s going to look really bad on the show. We’re going to look like the bad guys.”

  Now Eli was concerned about how he’d look to the audience? Apparently, Sienna’s desire to save face whenever the cameras were around was becoming contagious. Fox didn’t like that one bit. It was one thing for an actress to care about all of those things, but Eli was one of the best people Fox knew. He didn’t want to see his friend become a two-faced phoney, no matter the reason.

  “He’s got a point, you know,” Wade said.

  Fox all but growled when he felt his friend’s hand on his shoulder. He was officially ready for this week to be over. Everything about this reality show reminded him just how fake people could be, and it was overwhelming. As much as he hated his job, he would have much preferred the isolation it gave him to this.

  He looked both of his friends dead in the eye to argue, to tell them they shouldn’t care about what the people watching thought. But when he saw their pleading looks, he softened—just a little.

  Fox sighed. The things I do for my friends. “Fine. I’ll play nice.”

  Everyone filed into the room and were directed to form a semi-circle around Jason Castle, who looked way too pleased to have so many eyes on him. “Tonight’s competition is a little different from what we’ve done thus far,” Jason announced. “Up until this point, you’ve been working in teams to determine one part of the upcoming wedding. Not tonight. This one’s just for Eli and Audrey.”

  What a relief, Fox thought to himself. That meant he might have less time in front of the camera for one evening. Any respite would be something to be thankful for.

  But just what did they have in store for his friends?

  “Tonight is a classic newlywed game to see who knows the other better,” Jason said.

  Fox’s nerves slipped away even more. If all he had to do was clap in the crowd while the cameras focused on the two of them, he could handle that. Especially if Harry stayed on the other side of the room.

  “But that’s not where it ends.” Jason’s smile widened and Fox’s stomach sank. “There’s still a role for the teams to play. How well Eli and Audrey do on the quiz will determine what materials their teams have to decorate their tables. Then those tables will be judged by the local florist and the staff of the inn, who have seen their fair share of weddings. The winning group gets to pick the bridesmaids’ dresses.”

  From the other side of the room, Fox could see the girls’ faces pale before they bent their heads together to start whispering. Of course, it had to be the dresses. What should have been a fun exchange between the future married couple was now a cutthroat competition the girls had no intention of losing.

  It started off easy enough, with questions about things like favorite food and movies. Audrey and Eli were seated back to back in the middle of the room, and each held two signs labeled “bride” and “groom.” When Jason asked a question, they had to hold up whichever person it was true for.

  “Who was afraid of dogs as a kid?” asked Jason.

  Audrey and Eli both held up the “bride” sign.

  “Who takes longer to get ready in the morning?”

  They both held up the “groom” sign and everyone laughed.

  It was hokey, but fun. Plus, Fox didn’t have to talk or do anything in particular, which suited him perfectly. He clapped when he was supposed to and laughed at Wade’s antic
s. He scowled when Audrey got an answer right and called out suggestions to Eli to help him out. The score stayed tied through most of it.

  Just when Fox was actually enjoying himself, he got the reminder that there was still more to come this evening.

  “Remember, this is just part one,” Jason said. “It’s not whoever wins this round who gets to pick the dresses. Your score here will determine what materials you get to use for the judged challenge of table decorating.”

  The camera panned slowly over the two teams. Fox knew they wanted a good reaction shot but didn’t have it in him to do anything more exciting than nod.

  “Next question: who likes to eat their marshmallows burned?”

  Audrey held up the “bride” sign, but Eli held up the “groom” sign.

  Fox frowned. If he knew that about Audrey, Eli certainly did, too.

  “Who wanted to play for the 49ers as a kid?”

  Eli held up the “bride” sign, while Audrey waved “groom” high above her head much to everyone’s amusement. But Fox wasn’t laughing, he was confused. Why was Eli suddenly pretending like he didn’t know anything about his fiancée—or even himself?

  The reason became clear during the second break in the game to bring out the decorating supplies. Fox knew next to nothing about what a wedding table should look like, but he could see that there was some really nice stuff, and some really crappy stuff.

  Eli wanted to be sure Audrey got the good stuff. Of course he’d do that for her. What did Eli care about the bridesmaid dresses? For that matter, what did Fox care about them?

  But he did care about beating Sienna. Seeing her gloating face with each wrong answer Eli gave was almost too much for Fox. Yet at the same time, her wide smile of happiness when Jason announced the girls the winners of the quiz made Fox’s chest tighten in the same way it had when he’d taken her hand out in the woods.

  Was it even a real smile?

  Wade’s disappointed face was for sure an exaggeration, and Eli had just spent half an hour feigning ignorance about the one person he knew best in the world. This whole thing was such a farce, it was all Fox could do to keep from walking out the door.

  Then Sienna caught his eye and real happiness flickered across her face. His breath caught in his throat.

  She was annoying and immature and obsessed with fame, but she’d gotten under his skin in a way no one ever had before.

  Fox held back a groan. Only seven more days, he told himself as the guys made their way to a table heaped with supplies.

  “Where do we even start with this?” Wade picked up a green tablecloth and held it away from his body with two fingers like it was full of spiders.

  Harry let out a long sigh. “Does it even matter? Eli made sure the girls would win, why even bother?”

  Fox’s fist clenched at his side. He was just as annoyed about how pointless this all was, but he was here to help, even if it meant doing dumb stuff.

  “Let’s start by seeing what we have,” said Eli, ever the optimist.

  They sorted through the pile of decorations, all of which looked like it had been bought at least a decade ago. They had fresh flowers, which were pretty nice, but none of them had any clue what to do with them. The girls seemed much happier with their selection, and the sound of their giggling floated over to the guys’ side of the room.

  Fox kept glancing over at them, then back to his watch. How long could this go on?

  “This must be pretty frustrating,” Jason appeared next to the camera, looking way too happy at their confusion over the decorations. “The girls are set up nicely to win.”

  “Yeah thanks to Eli,” said Harry, practically pouting. “Can’t believe we’re losing to the chicks.”

  “Dude, shut up,” said Fox, before he could think better of it.

  He was so tired of Harry’s moaning and complaining. The guy wanted to win, but not to help Eli and Audrey. He just hated losing. And while Fox was pretty sure Eli’s enthusiasm and Wade’s goofiness were being played up for the cameras, Harry was a jerk, whether the cameras were around or not.

  “Alright, alright, sounds like some tension on the team. That won’t help things,” Jason said. He waved a hand at another camera so there were now two focused on the guys.

  “Of course there’s tension, we want to win,” said Wade, with a wink at the approaching camera.

  “Sounds like it’s mostly coming from Harry,” said Jason. “Or maybe directed toward him?”

  The four of them went stony silent, and Fox fought to keep his breathing even. They were always being watched so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Wedding Games crew had picked up on the fact Eli, Wade, and Fox weren’t too happy with the fourth member of their team.

  But Fox was exceptionally annoyed tonight and wasn’t about to admit that on camera.

  “He’s been a great addition to our group,” said Eli, breaking the silence and putting an arm around Harry’s shoulder. “Plus, if Reagan likes him, we like him.”

  Harry laughed, a tinny fake sound that grated on Fox’s last nerve. “Well, Reagan thinks sliced bread is great, so the bar’s set pretty low.”

  Jason chuckled, but none of the other guys did. Fox was getting seriously worried he’d do something stupid if he stuck around much longer. But he couldn’t let the slight on Reagan stand.

  “You should be thanking your lucky stars she sticks by you,” said Fox. He narrowed his eyes at Harry, who glared back.

  Jason whirled to face him. “Is that jealousy I hear? You’ve been friends with Audrey and Reagan since college, right? So maybe you’re a little put out that Harry bagged her first?”

  “She’s not something to be won,” Fox said through gritted teeth. “She’s a person with feelings.”

  “And what do you know about her feelings?” Harry was suddenly right in front of Fox, pushing his chest into him.

  “I know you treat her like she doesn’t have any. It’s wrong.”

  Harry shoved a finger into Fox’s chest. “It’s none of your business how I treat her.”

  The edges of Fox’s vision were going red, and his hands had somehow balled into fists during this short exchange. He knew it was all for the show, that Jason and Bruce were finding drama wherever they could. The worst part was, Harry totally deserved to be punched in the face, and Fox would love to be the one to do it.

  But that’s not who he was anymore. He wouldn’t let some stupid reality show take away all the progress he’d made in the past ten years. He wasn’t a dumb kid who used his fist to show whatever he was feeling.

  So, he walked out. Without a word to anyone. He just turned away from Harry’s angry face and went straight through the door into the hallway.

  Fourteen

  7 Days Until Dream Wedding

  Sienna didn’t even hesitate for a second before following Fox out of the meeting room. She ignored the startled calls of her sisters and Reagan as she made her way through the door and down the hall.

  She did turn, however, when she heard Bruce’s voice. Panic gripped her heart. Had she just done something that would mess things up for Audrey?

  “Sienna, you were doing great in there,” said Bruce, a wide smile on his face and a cameraman at his side. “The camera loves you. I can’t wait for the whole team back in California to see this. You’ve got star written all over you.”

  Sienna’s breath caught in her throat. The words were what she’d been waiting to hear.

  “But it loves you and Fox together even more.” Bruce put his hands on her shoulders. “Go find him. Get him somewhere and have him open up. This thing between you guys is television gold.”

  This thing between you guys?

  Sienna’s heart gave an involuntary flutter at the thought. There was no “thing” between them. They were thrown together for this crazy show, and they’d go back to near strangers when it was over. She’d have her contacts and exposure and something decent to show casting agents, and he’d go back to his boat motors.
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  So why did Sienna’s stomach churn at the thought of never seeing Fox again?

  She plastered on a smile for Bruce. “You can count on me.”

  She started walking, the cameraman trailing behind her. Sienna didn’t know where Fox had gone, but her first instinct told her he’d want to be somewhere away from the cameras. She hadn’t been into the safe room yet but went that way now. It was a small storage room tucked beside the kitchen.

  She knew Fox was behind that door. And as much as she wanted to keep Bruce happy, that wasn’t why Sienna agreed to talk to him. He’d seemed really upset and she wanted to be sure he was okay. But how could she do that with a camera following her? She tried to think of a way to lose her tail, but still wanted to make Bruce happy too.

  She could do both. She just needed a few minutes off screen with Fox first.

  Sienna stopped and took a deep breath before she turned and smiled at the cameraman. “Give me a few minutes to talk to Fox.”

  The guy who was holding the camera furrowed his eyebrows.

  “Look, I promise to give you some good footage, but he isn’t going to leave the safe room if you’re hanging right outside the door. Give me a couple of minutes, and I’ll come find you, okay?”

  The cameraman nodded slowly before walking down the hall.

  Whew. That was easy.

  Now that he was gone, she could make sure Fox was okay. Without the cameras around, she could just be herself. The thought of really opening up to Fox scared her, but also felt right. He’d told her so much in the woods. There was trust building between them.

  Sienna looked down the hall to make sure the coast was clear and pushed open the door. Inside, there was a single folding chair in the midst of all the shelves of extra tablecloths and silverware. And Fox.

  “Not exactly the most comfortable room to escape to, huh?” she said, closing the door behind her.

  Fox looked up from where he was leaning against a shelf, his head resting on his folded arms. “I just needed a few minutes.”