“You are going to be filmed for national television in exactly...”She looks down at her phone.“One hour and fifty-five minutes.”
“And you think I should change?Is that what I’m gathering?”
“Of course!And maybe a shower wouldn’t kill you.You can’t wear...that.”She gestures up and down the length of me.
“And you think I should wear something like what you have on?”I look at her Posh Spice–worthy little black dress, knowing full well I own nothing remotely close to that.
“No.I’m just telling you no airport clothes.Do I have to teach you everything?Because I’ll tell you right now, I’m not built to be the older sister.”
Laughter rolls out of me, and I let it.From the stress of trying to get to the airport on time, making it here, falling on my face, and meeting Levi—a.k.a.Tim McGraw’s feral brother—it feels good to just laugh.Gabriella and I couldn’t be more different, but I think we might become good friends.When I look back up, she’s smiling, whether she likes it or not.
“Alright, fine.Show me what you have, and I’ll help you put something together,” she concedes, folding her arms in front of her chest.“Only if...”She holds up a finger between us.“Only if you let me do your hair.”
Chapter 6
Levi
I’m going to buy ahouse like this one day.Maybe bigger.On at least ten acres in Tennessee.
I let hot water hit my bare legs as I step into what seems to be a twelve-person shower.Nothing like a good rinse after being folded up like a dang easy chair in coach for five and a half hours.I stretch my neck to either side, enjoying the momentary sizzle of the warm water hitting my nape.Tate and her gummy worms attempt to wedge their way into my psyche.Nope!I tell myself.Let that Bambi go.Bambi!She’s totally a Bambi.Besides, that Gabriella girl is way more my speed.Superhot and a little delusional.
I grab the shampoo I brought in my toiletry bag and squeeze a dollop into my palm before running it through my hair.That’s the one thing about this haircut I don’t love—the maintenance of washing it every day.Otherwise, I love it, and despite what Bambi thinks, I do have a party side to me.I can be fun...the most fun.The funnest!She won’t see that side though.This is a business trip in the purest sense.I’m here to win and collect.That’s it.
I rinse my hair, letting the familiar smell of amber and sandalwood overtake the room.I turn off the shower and step out onto the heated marble floors.Who knew that was a thing?I mentally add it to the must-have list for my home while drying off.I throw on a clean pair of jeans and a black button-down shirt that I cut the sleeves off of.It’s a little country, but that’s me.I swipe at the fog covering the mirror a couple times until my reflection comes into view.My mullet is twisted and tangled up into a deflated-looking mohawk.
“I look like a pissed-off teenager.”
When I finish combing my hair into submission, I head downstairs towards the kitchen, hoping someone had some sense to buy beer.The house is packed with people, most wearing the unofficial studio staff uniform of black everything, mixed among the forty contestants.In the kitchen, a couple guys fill the space around the island, watching the camera crew set up outside.There’s nothing I hate more than forced conversation by proximity.
“You guys find any beer?”I say in the friendliest voice I can muster.One of the guys turns, his long, dark braids swaying with the movement.He smiles and it seems sincere.
“No beer, but they have a bartender setting up outside.Wanna go and see if she’ll make us a drink now?”
“Yeah, let’s do it.I’m Levi,” I say before extending a hand.He meets it.
“Clay.”I follow close behind as he weaves around the counter and through the open slider to outside.
