Harper shook her head. “I’ll just be walking around by myself. And if anyone asks about what happened, I’ll just explain that Fox called me for a ride back to the inn last night. Super boring. It won’t make for good TV.”
“And hopefully bridesmaids putting on facial masks won’t either,” said Reagan, with a glance at Bruce. “Let’s go.”
Ten minutes later, Sienna was seated on the chaise lounge in Reagan’s room, cucumber slices on her eyes, and the cool wetness of a hydrating blend of aloe and snail mucus on her skin.
She let out a long, low sigh. “This was a great idea. I really needed to relax.”
“Me too,” said Reagan from her spot on her bed. She’d kept her eyes cucumber-free in order to flip through a bridal magazine. Sienna could hear her turning pages and the scratch of her pen as she took notes.
“Getting ideas for your own big day?” asked Sienna.
What she really wanted to ask was why Harry was still here after what she’d overheard in the forest, but frankly, Sienna’s own drama was enough for the morning. It was better to focus on fun things like weddings that wouldn’t involve eight cameras and a cranky producer.
“Yeah…” Reagan’s voice drifted off. “I don’t know when it’ll happen, so I can’t really do much until I know what season to plan for.”
“When do you think you’ll set a date?”
“Harry really wants to make partner first before we make any plans.” Reagan flipped a few more pages. “He’s under a lot of stress right now at work.”
“It’s great that he could take the time off to be here,” said Sienna. She was heading into dangerous territory, but Reagan had left that one wide open. Maybe talking her through it would take Sienna’s mind off her own stuff. “He’ll be able to stay until the end?”
“I—” Reagan stopped.
Sienna peeled off one of the cucumbers to peek at her friend’s face that had turned a bright scarlet.
“Right now, that’s the plan. I’ll let you know if anything changes.”
“Yeah, there’s been quite enough changes lately.”
“Oh?” Reagan’s eyebrow raised.
Sienna popped the cucumber back on her eyelid to avoid her inquisitive stare.
“Changes, like feelings have changed?” Reagan asked.
More like Sienna had arrived with an apartment and now she had none. She was still too embarrassed to tell anyone that she was officially homeless, though she’d have to tell her mother soon enough if she hoped to live with her until she figured things out.
But Reagan wasn’t entirely off base when she assumed Sienna was talking about feelings. Sienna’s emotions had been all over the place since she met Fox, and while he hadn’t come out and said it, she knew he felt something too. Though after how she’d left things last night, those feelings weren’t the warm and gooey kind anymore.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Sienna mumbled.
“You’ve totally flipped since our first day. You were all gung-ho, this is about my career, and now you’re hiding from the perfect opportunity to get on camera? What on earth has happened in the past four days?”
Sienna felt the trickle of a tear beneath her sheet mask and pulled it off, along with the cucumbers. She ran to the bathroom to throw it all in the trash then grabbed the tissue box on the back of the toilet. In the mirror she caught sight of the goopy mess of her face and the tears started to pour out of her.
Reagan was beside her in an instant. “Oh, sweetie, what’s the matter? Is this all because of what happened yesterday?”
“Wh-which part of yesterday?” Sienna blubbered. The energy drained from her completely, and she sat down on the floor of the bathroom. “The part where I accidentally betrayed Fox, or the part where I yelled at him on purpose for trying to help me? Maybe it was the part where Bruce is mad at me for not getting good footage with Fox?”
“I’m sure it’s not as bad as all that,” said Reagan, and she put her arms around Sienna’s trembling shoulders. “Bruce seems to have gotten the message we’re not his typical group of attention-crazy celebrity wannabes.”
Sienna choked out a laugh. “Except that’s exactly what I am.”
“Not from what I’ve seen. You may have one of the best fake smiles I’ve ever seen, and you were a little over the top that first day, but you’re trying to do what’s best for Audrey and Eli, and I think everyone can see that.”
Sienna sniffed. “Thank you.”
“And as for the Fox problem, he got a break last night. I’m sure he’s in a better mood today. It can all get sorted out. You just need to talk to him.”
If Sienna talked to Fox, she would have to explain what was going on. Her heart rate quickened. “I can’t.”
“Of course you can. We all lose our cool from time to time.”
Sienna shook her head. “No, it’s not that. He can’t know why I was hiding in the safe room in the first place.”
“And why were you in the safe room?” Reagan asked, her brow furrowed.
Sienna blew her nose in a raspberry so loud that she was sure the cameras downstairs would be able to hear, but she didn't care about stuff like that right now, not when she had so many other things to worry about. “I’ve been trying so hard to make it work in New York, but I just can’t afford it anymore. My roommate found someone else to take my room. When I go back after this, it’s to get my stuff, and that’s it for me. My dream of being an actor is officially over.”
The relief of finally saying it out loud to someone was like breaking a faucet, and it all gushed out of her. Reagan held her while she cried in long, racking sobs for what felt like hours.
When the tears had slowed to a steady trickle, Sienna looked up at Reagan. “I didn’t want anyone to know. I wanted you all to think I had it figured out.”
Reagan crinkled her forehead. “Why on earth would you want that?”
“Because you all have it together. I’ve always been the kid sister that everyone takes care of. Even you; it’s like I had three older sisters. I want to be a grown woman who can take care of herself, just like you all can. I don’t want any of you to worry about me.”
“You think we all have it figured out?” Reagan started to laugh, softly at first, then louder.
It’s not that funny, Sienna thought. But then again, Sienna had never heard Reagan laugh this hard, so there had to be something she was missing. That, or Reagan had finally cracked.
“We have no clue what we’re doing,” she said through lingering chuckles. “We’re all figuring this adulting thing out as we go.”
“But if I can’t do it on my own, if I’m not perfect then—” Sienna stopped and bit her lip. She’d already told Reagan about her apartment, but this was something else.
“Then what? The world will end?” Reagan stopped laughing and gave Sienna a small, sad smile. “That kind of pressure comes from crazy pageant moms like mine, not like nice, normal ladies like Emily Hudson.”
“I know it won’t.” Sienna frowned. “I’m just thinking about Milo.”
Reagan’s eyebrows shot up. “You’ve heard from him?”
Sienna shook her head. “No, but Dad left when I was little because I was too much. Three kids, fine, but four, and a crazy attention-seeking toddler like me...”
“What does that have to do with Milo?”
“Well, Milo did the same thing, just ten years later. I was too much for him. I’m too much for everyone. I need to show them that I can do it on my own, that they won’t have to take care of me. Then no one else will leave.”
“Oh, Sienna.” Reagan sighed and took her hands in hers and knelt in front of her to look her in the eye. “You had nothing to do with anyone leaving. I don’t know much about your dad, but I do know there is nothing a three-year-old could do to make her father leave.”
The faucet of tears that had started to twist off was back on full blast now. Sienna breathed in Reagan’s words, wanting them to be true, needing them to
be true.
“And I only knew Milo a little, but from all the stories your sisters and Eli have told me, he was loyal to a fault—especially to his family. It must have been something beyond his control to pull him away from you all.”
It made sense, hearing it from Reagan. Sienna had told herself that hundreds of times and never believed it. But after everything that had happened in the past few days, anything seemed possible. Her entire life felt like a reality show, with one dramatic surprise coming after another, so maybe she could suspend belief a little more and accept that what Reagan said was true.
“So what am I supposed to do?”
“Be you. Just you, however you want to be,” said Reagan, giving her a hug.
“But I’m an actor. I’m never just me.”
“Well, start now. It’s reality TV, after all.”
Sienna sighed and wiped her eyes. It seemed like they’d stay dry for at least a few minutes. “We don’t have anything until the competition this afternoon. Should we just stay here and try another mask?
“Actually, I think you should talk to your mom.”
“That charcoal one looked good—”
“Sienna.” Reagan leveled her with a stare eerily like Audrey’s irritated teacher look. At least she wasn’t rubbing her temples. “You need to tell her about the money problem. Maybe she can help.”
Sienna snorted. “She can’t wait to tell me ‘I told you so,’ you mean.”
“I highly doubt that. And if she does, then you never have to listen to my advice again.”
Nineteen
6 Days Until Dream Wedding
Fox woke up to the sound of knocking.
He laid in bed for several moments waiting for the fog of sleep to fade. And as it did, his mind began to come into focus.
There was someone outside his room.
The sun was shining through the thick curtains just enough that Fox could tell that it was late morning.
Late morning?
Fox shot up in his bed and snatched the phone off of his dresser and saw that it was already past nine. He’d slept through that morning’s meeting—that morning’s required meeting.
Fox jumped out of bed and hurried to get dressed. He was pulling his shirt on over his head when a voice cried out from the other side of the door.
“I know you’re in there, so you might as well open up, buttercup.”
It was Wade. Better than Bruce.
Still, Fox was late, and wasn’t sure what kind of competition they were supposed to be starting right now. He glanced at the small bathroom in his room and debated giving his teeth a quick once-over before answering.
Fox shook his head. He was already in hot water after last night. So, with one last longing glance toward his toothbrush, he answered the door instead.
On the other side was a much-too-refreshed looking Wade. He wore a giant smile on his face and carried two cups of coffee. “Everyone was wondering where you were.”
Fox grabbed the extra coffee from Wade’s hand and hurried to explain. “I forgot to set my alarm when I got in last night, and these stupid curtains make it so the sun doesn’t come through the windows, and—”
Wade’s chuckle cut him off. “Relax. You’re good. Bruce gave us the morning off.”
Fox’s head whipped up. “He what?”
Wade smiled. “I guess he sees how hard all of this has been on everyone and wanted to give us a break.”
Fox’s mind was sharp from the adrenaline of his jumpstarted wakeup, and the idea of Bruce giving them a break just didn’t feel right. Bruce didn’t do anything out of concern for the contestants on Wedding Games. Fox knew that much, at least. But he’d get to brush his teeth after all. He waved Wade in and ushered him to the small chair in the corner of the room.
“So why do you think he’s giving us a break?” he asked before he loaded up his toothbrush and started brushing.
“Who knows why that guy does anything that he does?”
Ratings, Fox thought as he moved on to flossing.
“He told us to enjoy the property, and I thought I might go for a walk to loosen up my muscles after last night,” Wade said. “My quads are feeling tight.”
Now that the initial panic of messing things up for Eli and Audrey had passed, Fox could feel all the aches and pains that came from the previous night. While his work kept him healthy enough, Fox wasn’t eighteen anymore. His body wasn’t prepared for the late-night mountain run, or the secret agent moves through Wellspring. He was acutely aware of his lack of sleep thanks to the way his mind had buzzed with thoughts of Sienna until 4 a.m.
And he was still thinking about her.
Fox nodded. “Sure. Sounds good.”
He grabbed a pair of tennis shoes, and five minutes later, Wade and Fox were walking along one of the various hiking trails surrounding the Emerald Inn.
“So, where’s Eli this morning?” Fox asked once the massive building was out of view. It was unfortunate the camera still followed just a few yards behind them.
Wade gave the cameraman a quick glance. “He’s, uh, in the safe room with Audrey.”
Fox’s eyebrows shot up.
“Everything’s fine.” With a high arch to his eyebrows, Wade jerked his head toward the camera.
Whatever Eli and Audrey were doing, Wade didn’t want to say on camera. He continued to make weird faces, but Fox couldn’t interpret what Wade was trying to say. They needed a distraction, or to lose the cameraman, but even then, Fox knew better than anyone it wasn’t foolproof. Just because you didn’t see the camera, didn’t mean it wasn’t there.
“So, how about the Bears,” he said, hoping his slight hesitation wasn’t noticeable.
Fox didn’t know anything about football, but it seemed like a safe—and boring—topic of conversation. With any luck, Wade and Fox could be so bland, the cameras would want to leave.
A corner of Wade’s mouth tipped up. Apparently, he was much better at playing charades than Fox. Wade started rattling off statistics and droning on about this player and that coach and their chances at making it to the Super Bowl this year. The words came out so smoothly, like Wade was an expert, though Fox wasn’t sure if any of it was true.
Fox nodded and made sounds of agreement as Wade continued, but the cameras were still there. He was just about to give up hope that he’d be able to talk openly with Wade, when the cameraman’s phone rang. Fox held his breath as he listened to half of the conversation.
“Yeah. Uh-huh. Nope, just sports talk. Yep. Be right there.”
The guy didn’t even bother saying goodbye to Fox and Wade before going down the trail back to the inn.
The two friends watched his retreat in silence, and at some point, Fox realized he was holding his breath. Once the crew member disappeared behind some trees in the distance, Wade started laughing.
Wade patted Fox’s back hard. “I knew you were hopeless, but seriously, I started listing the Weasley family tree once it was obvious neither you nor the cameraman were paying attention.”
Fox looked up with a sheepish smile. “Yeah, not my thing.”
“We can’t all be perfect like me.”
“Perfect.” Fox rolled his eyes. “But now that he’s gone, what’s going on with Eli and Audrey?”
Wade glanced around the woods, like he expected someone to jump out any second. Honestly, Fox wasn’t convinced they wouldn’t. But he looked at Wade expectantly anyway.
“Audrey wants to stop filming.”
“Are you serious?”
Wade nodded.
“That’s great.” Though not entirely unexpected. Fox thought this might happen. “There’s already been so much drama, and we’re not even halfway through this crazy thing.”
“Yeah.” Wade scratched his beard. “It would be great, except the contract states that the production company gets to keep the footage they already have.”
“So what?”
Wade sighed. “Can you imagine how angry Bruce would be i
f we all just up and left? What do you think they’d do with what they have?”
Fox wasn’t sure, but Wade made an excellent point. Enough had happened in the last few days, that they could easily twist it into something juicy if they wanted.
“Not only that,” Wade said. “Audrey and Eli have already put a down-payment on a house.”
Another revelation Fox wished he’d known about sooner. “That might have been a little premature.”
Wade shrugged. “No kidding, but you know how it is.” He punched Fox on the shoulder and winked. “When you find the right one, you just gotta go for it.”
Like Wade was one to talk.
While Wade was a nice guy, he still wasn’t the kind of guy to settle down. Fox couldn’t remember a single time in the past ten years when Wade had had a serious girlfriend or long-term relationship.
Fox snorted. “Oh yeah? And what do you know about going for it?”
“You know I don’t kiss and tell.” A sly smile crossed his lips. “Actually, I think this is the perfect question for you though.”
Unease filled Fox’s veins. “What do you mean?”
“Don’t play dumb.” Wade shook his head. “Have you decided if you’re going to go for it with her?”
Fox didn’t need to ask who her was. She was hovering at the back of every thought Fox had had in the past twenty-four hours.
“You know that I can’t.”
Wade stepped over a small creek that was flowing down the incline of the mountain they were hiking up. “Sienna’s not worth it?”
Fox sighed. “She’s totally worth it. But I don’t know if she thinks it is.”
“But you’ve already said you think she is. So, what’s the problem?” Wade asked.
“You know, I could fall head over heels for her, bare my freaking soul to her, and then she could leave me to my self-destructive ways.”
“You’re describing what happened with Becky.”
The Bridesmaid & the Jerk Page 14
