“I wonder what will happen when he finally gets your texts,” Joelle said.
Jackie piped up. “Once he figures out that Ivy’s not the one who handed that stuff in, he’s going to freak out, call her the second he reads it, and beg for her forgiveness.”
“I seriously doubt that,” Ivy said.
“Why do you doubt it?” Taya challenged. “If he’s as great as you think he is, that’sexactlywhat he’ll do.”
Why did she doubt it? Because no one had ever fought for her before.
“When Dad messed up with Mom,” Jackie started, “he got in his squad car to speed right past traffic jams to get to her, then got down on one knee and proposed.”
“They were in a fight at the time?” Ivy asked. “I don’t remember that part of the story.”
“That’s because they leave that part out,” Jackie assured.
Taya leaned further in. “When I was ticked off at Danny one time,” she said in a whisper, “he walked right out of a final exam to find me on campus and make it right.”
“My old roommates will never forget the gesture Ronny made for missing my Nana’s funeral. Flowers fordays.”
A mean ache sank deep into Ivy’s chest at the topic. Here, she’d finally managed to get some recognition about her job. Admiration, even, which felt great. It’s what she’d wanted all these years. But now, with talk of grand gestures by the men who loved the women sitting at the table with her, Ivy realized she’d fall short in that department no matterwhatshe achieved at her job.
No accomplishmentshemade would offer what these guys had—a man who’d put a ring on her finger and swear his life to her.
“Well,” she said, wishing she could shed the iron cloud descending over her head, “whatever happens tonight, it’s going to be a lot of fun to watch. Two of the men I interviewed will be on the show tonight.”
“Two, without counting Easton?” Jackie asked.
Ivy nodded. “Yep. The gambler from Vegas and the football player from Arizona.”
“Would youdieif Easton was there and he actually went onto the show?” Joelle asked.
Taya gave her arm a swat. “Hush, don’t say things like that. He already refused to go on the show because he’s got feelings for Ivy.”
“Well, he’s got a big objection to the whole set up, actually,” Ivy corrected, heart still stinging from the idea of Easton in that mansion with five eligible bachelorettes. Women that men would compete for, fight for, speed onto a traffic-ridden interstate for.
“Yeah, but he likes you too,” Taya insisted.
Ivy looked down at her uneaten food. Was this what her life would be like ten years from now? She’d still be Marsha’s assistant, enjoying a few perks from her boss with the girls, then go home to an empty house while they returned to their families?
Tears clouded her eyes at the thought.
“We better hurry and finish our food, guys,” Jackie blurted. Her tone sounded so urgent that Ivy started digging into her soup as well. She didn’t want to go to the show tonight on an empty stomach. But a few bites into her food, Ivy felt a small pat on her leg from her sister.
A soothing one that said Jackie saw the pain she was in. That she was sorry for it. And that she’d provided a distraction to take the focus off of her. Ivy placed a hand over Jackie’s and gave it a squeeze. Thank heavens for sisters.
Tonight, it was very unlikely that Ivy would see Easton, which was a heartbreaking fact in itself. But even worse was the fact that—if hedidshow—Easton would give a live interview for two minutes tops before heading into a mansion where five women would try everything in their power to get a proposal out of him.
There was no third option. But at least one thing could be said. Ivy might go home alone once the evening was through, but whatever the hours might bring, whatever the night might reveal, she’d have her sisters by her side.
Chapter 18
Nausea rolled through Easton as he tossed from his shoulder onto his back.
Ivy hadn’t sent in the contract. Her coworker had.
He clenched his eyes shut tighter and shrugged onto his other side. Napping in the middle of the day had never been his specialty, but Easton needed the sleep. He’d had hardly any rest since the time he’d arrived, and his mind was starting to slip. Besides, if he could manage to ignore the daylight and fall fast asleep, perhaps he could avoid the temptation to leave the campsite and do something…something the stubborn part of him didn’t want to do.
Do everyone a favor and take care of the situation by tonight. Has to be tonight.
