He rubbed the back of his neck. Yeah, he got the gist.
“Welcome, Demi,” he said, voice uneasy.
“Aww. Thanks for having me,” I chirped, dialing my cheerleader voice to maximum sarcasm. “I hear you were just talking about me.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a few crew members trying not to laugh. Jazzy appeared thrilled. She lived for the drama.
Good. They might want to grab some popcorn for the show I was about to put on.
“We talk about all the cast members in here.” He tried to sound casual. Deflect the accusation. Amateur hour, if you asked me.
“You wouldn’t be trying to pit us against each other, would you?” I asked, faux shocked and appalled. Honestly, it was Oscar worthy.
“No,” he spluttered.
Poor guy. He looked like he’d just been caught cheating on a pop quiz.
“Oh, good.” I put my hand over my chest, letting the silence stretch just long enough to make him sweat. “I would hate to think that anyone onLove Unscriptedwould do such a thing. That would just break my heart. You know, because we are all just here to find love.”
“Are you really?” he asked way too cockily. “Your audition tape and our first interview together didn’t really suggest that. Didn’t you say it would be hard to get to know you and that it would take a miracle for you to find love on this show? And from the first week’s dates, it looks more like you’re trying to set everyone else up. Almost as if you’re avoiding a relationship. Why is that?”
I wanted to shake him. He knew why it had to be this way. Why I couldn’t and shouldn’t date any of these men. What was he playing at here? As if in answer to my silent question, I could feel him pleading with me. What? Did he want me to play along here? Was he seriously using me for ratings?Oh. My. Titans.
Well, if he wanted fireworks, he was going to get some. An entire celestial display of them.
“Isn’t your job as the ‘Architect of Love’”—I used air quotes to highlight how ridiculous the name was for a grown man—“to find the right person for me? For all of us on this show? Is it my fault you didn’t choose right?”
His jaw tightened.
I leaned in, voice sweet and lethal.
“It’s not like I would lead these men on. They’re my friends. I like them. What would that say about me if I did?”
I flashed him a brighttake thatsmile.
He sat up a little straighter and adjusted the collar of his button-up—which, unfortunately, looked way too good on him. He had that whole effortless, casual suit thing going. No tie. Just the top buttons undone, offering a glimpse of what I already knew to be a truly glorious chest. I’d seen him shirtless enough times on the beach to confirm it was sculpted in all the right places and glistened like the sun loved him and him alone.
Ugh. If only I’d never harbored a crush on him. Or worse—thought I was in love with him.
“How can I choose when you’ve already decided for yourself?” he tossed at me. “You didn’t even give any of these men a chance.”
“Well, I guess I made your job easy for you, didn’t I?” I stood, ready to end this circus. “I take it this interview is over now.”
Apparently, Roman had other ideas.
“Not even close,” he grumbled.
I sat back down, spine stiff, glare ready to go. Seriously—what else was there to talk about? No doubt his beloved show would milk this little tête-à-tête for all it was worth. Icould already hear the dramatic music and visualize the slow zoom.
“If you don’t think any of these men are for you, tell me what you’re looking for. Really looking for. I want to help you.” His tone shifted to something more sincere. Less host and producer. More human.
And it occurred to me that he was trying to live up to his part of the bargain.
Wow, that was kind of sweet. Yet extremely awkward considering we’d made out. And, to be honest, considering that I would like to do it again.
What was more awkward was realizing I’d never actually stopped to think about what I wanted in a partner. Not really. Beyond “He has to be my true love,” I had nothing. Just a list of rules. Rules designed toprotectme from love, not help me find it.
That epiphany hit harder than I expected.
