She doesn’t believe me. She knows me too well.
I had a choice. I could either admit that I was essentially going through a quarter-life crisis or I could dig in and commit.
“I’m interested in knowing more about Julian Winters…”
Which is the truth.
“Filming starts next week…”
Also the truth.
“I decided to just sit for the next exam. In July.”
All facts.
My dad seemed content with my reasoning. “Well that makes sense. You should do something different before beginning your career and take at least one risk. So this makes sense.” He nodded. “I get that. We traveled before starting our careers. And you haven’t dated anyone since Tate so this should be good for you. Have you heard from him?”
I looked over at my mother for help, but she seemed to still be sizing me up, focusing on the holes in my story. I quickly returned my gaze to my father.
“Dad.” I shook my head. “No.”
My father loved Tate Lewis. Even though Tate dropped me as soon as he got an NFL offer and broke my heart three years ago, Dad was still in denial that the situation was seriously over.
“Okay, okay.” He lifted his hands and gave me an easy smile. “So this is one of those shows where the last woman standing gets to be with the man?”
Just hearing it reduced to that made me ashamed of even pretending to go on the show. I almost balked and told the truth, but I heard my mother’s words in my head.
Giving up is the first step to failure.
The words played on a loop.
I took the first step toward failure. Walking away from the test, running home because I got scared, that’s a failure.
I cleared my throat. “Yes. This season the man in question is Julian Winters. He’s a songwriter and music producer. On a fundamental level, I don’t believe in reality dating shows. But I figure, if I participate and I am myself and stay above the fray, it could actually help the image of women that is being conveyed. And he is very intriguing.”
I sold that so smoothly, I almost bought it myself.
My dad nodded in agreement. My mother was a harder sell.
Pulling out my phone, I pulled up the picture of Julian.
“This is him.” I showed my father first and then my mother.
She looked at the phone and then me and then the phone again. A smirk played on her lips. “Ah, I see. Well the look on your face earlier makes a little more sense now. I look forward to watching you on the show, Zoe.”
She didn’t look completely convinced, but she was dropping the issue.
Shit, it worked!
I was surprised, but grateful. But then it hit me.
Shit! Now that means I have to actually go on the show.
Pick up The One & After The One to see how this story ends!
Epilogue
Two Weeks Later
Lost Boys Lost: Slut-shaming Scandal Comes to A Head
By Joan Stanford
The Herald
Slut-shaming and victim blaming is predominately directed toward women and can be harmful socially, psychologically, and emotionally. Additionally, slut-shaming is another way society tries to police female bodies. While men tend to be praised, celebrated, and encouraged to explore their sexuality, women tend to be judged, shamed, and policed for embracing theirs. The prevalence of slut-shaming is rooted in sexism and misogyny and grounded in the belief that men are able to assert themselves, but women are not.
Slut-shaming is more than just name calling. There is a power and control dynamic that disproportionately hurts women. Women are punished socially and professionally for being labeled a slut or ho. Slut-shaming, despite what a woman has or hasn’t done, can be a deeply traumatic experience that can make women targets for sexual assault. And it is this issue that has started a firestorm on the campus of Hamilton University.
In a statement from the Andrew Sheldon, President of Hamilton University, Date Night has been permanently cancelled. The controversial podcast hosted by graduated members of the HU chapter of Mu Epsilon Nu fraternity spiked in popularity this year. For the past six years, Date Night used its platform to offer advice to college students and donated ad revenue to local charities. As a new charity is selected, a new trio of alumni are at the helm and guide the tone of the podcast.
A year riddled with envelope pushing topics and a heavy tie-in to the happenings on campus and around the city, Date Night tripled its ad revenue in the first three months. The more recognition they gained, the more money they earned. The uptick in donations seemed to protect them from intense scrutiny. They toed the line and got in hot water a couple of times, but this fall, things took a turn.
In September, Date Night ran into trouble surrounding the objectification of women both in podcast and newsletter form. In October, Date Night faced shaming, bullying, and defamation of character allegations that came to a head when one of the more outspoken members known as City Boy confronted a target off air. That incident sparked a campus-wide discussion and protest. Last week, an article featured in Re-Mix Magazine by A. Bishara highlighted local designer Serena Brooks and sparked a larger discussion. These occurrences caught the attention of the Hamilton University administration.
In response to the outcry and backlash regarding the slow response, President Sheldon made a determination effective immediately. In part, his statement read as follows: ‘Although we commend the charitable contributions stemming from the Date Night with The Lost Boys podcast, Hamilton University has been made aware of the content of said podcast and will discontinue funding to Mu Epsilon Nu. If the fraternity moves forward with the podcast using private funding, we will suspend the fraternity indefinitely.’
When contacted for a follow up, Mu Epsilon Nu fraternity couldn’t be reached for comment. But the reaction on campus has been largely celebratory. The reaction from our readers has been a resounding good riddance.
Have You Read The One?
The cattiness.
The fights.
The shaming.
I don’t generally watch reality television, but I definitely don’t watch reality dating shows. Besides the fact that it’s completely staged, it’s a horrible depiction of people—women especially.
Women are pitted against each other to compete for the affection of a man they “fall in love” with after a week or two.
I call B.S.
It is complete crap.
So when my best friend, Koko, was hired as a makeup artist on the set of the most popular reality dating show, The One, I teased her mercilessly.
She told me that if I didn’t stop teasing her, she would get me back.
And she did…
Which is how I ended up as a contestant on The One.
The One
http://amzn.to/1RkPnp3
The One Series
Have You Read The One Series Duet?
The cattiness.
The fights.
The shaming.
I don’t generally watch reality television, but I definitely don’t watch reality dating shows. Besides the fact that it’s completely staged, it’s a horrible depiction of people—women especially.
Women are pitted against each other to compete for the affection of a man they “fall in love” with after a week or two.
I call B.S.
It is complete crap.
So when my best friend, Koko, was hired as a makeup artist on the set of the most popular reality dating show, The One, I teased her mercilessly.
She told me that if I didn’t stop teasing her, she would get me back.
And she did…
Which is how I ended up as a contestant on The One.
The One (Series Premiere | Part 1 of 2)
http://amzn.to/1RkPnp3
After The One (Series Finale | Part 2 of 2)
http://amzn.to/2bGS7g5
Playlist
Cuffing Season Playlist
Music inspires
me. The artists mentioned below wrote songs and lyrics that depict the mood of Serena Brooks journey in Cuffing Season. If you haven’t had a chance to listen to any of these songs, you should purchase them immediately and listen on repeat.
Body Count
Jessie Reyes, Normani, Kehlani
Under Control
The Internet
Incomplete Kisses
Sampha
Maybe
Alina Baraz, Galimatias
Focus
H.E.R.
Bloodflows
SOHN
None of Your Business
Salt-N-Pepa
Hold Me Down
Daniel Caesar
NFWMB
Hozier
Facts
H.E.R.
Acknowledgments
Cuffing Season, like Sweatpants Season before it, is a multilayered novel. On the surface, it is a contemporary romance that deals with what happens when you have instant chemistry with someone, but you’re unsure what will come of that attraction. In addition to being fun, sexy, and swoon-worthy, Cuffing Season deals with real issues.
Slut-shaming and victim blaming is predominately directed toward women and can be harmful socially, psychologically, and emotionally. I believe slut-shaming is another way society tries to police female bodies. Regardless of what they did or did not do, women are punished socially and professionally for being labeled a slut or ho. Cuffing Season is a way to remind others that shaming women for their choices to engage with other consenting adults is rooted in sexism and needs to stop.
To my family and friends who have loved and supported me, thank you. I am blessed to have you in my life. I love you all to the moon and back.
Amy—thank you for creating my beautiful covers time and time again.
Jennifer—thank you for your editing, your feedback, and your comments. They are legit the best!
Michelle—thank you for being you and for using your formatting skills on my work. I appreciate you so much.
Kumiko—thank you for being such an asset to my book life. You’re the best.
Authors, bloggers, readers, thank you. You have changed my life with your love and support. It truly means so much to me. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. I can’t begin to explain how much it means to me to have you take the time to read my words. It’s an honor to do this for a living and it’s an honor to be read by you. Sending each and every one of you hugs and love.
www.authordanielleallen.com
Also by Danielle Allen
Fiction and Non-Fiction by Danielle Allen
Cuffing Season
Sweatpants Season
Broken Clocks
Disasters in Dating
Brink of Disaster: That One
Brink of Disaster: This One
The Art of Being (non-fiction)
Nevermore
The One
After The One
Work Song
Heartache
Heartfelt
Love Discovered in New York
Autumn and Summer
Back to Life
Back to Reality
Back to December
Cuffing Season Page 23
