“I’ll pass, but thanks anyway.”
Bobby’s expression changed. He stared at me in contempt for a moment before saying, “Whatever. I was just being charitable.”
“Ahh. How sweet of you, a ‘ten’ giving back to the less fortunate.”
His eyes rolled over me playfully. “What can I say, I’m a generous guy. But rest assured, I’m no saint. I have a reputation to uphold. I’d never dip down lower than a six.”
Instantly a nervous flutter invaded my insides. I didn’t want to know what number he’d ranked me.
“Stop giving me that constipated look, Kenzie. You’re a solid seven, and I’m not just saying that to be nice.”
“Wow, thanks, Bobby. I didn’t take it that way,” I replied, amused by his flawed attempts at flattery and relieved I wasn’t ranked lower. I mean, wasn’t a seven like a B-?
“You’d probably rank even higher, like a 7.5, if you had a shower, wore some makeup, and shaved your underarms and, you know…” His eyes diverted to my bikini region. “The crotch spiders.”
My mouth dropped open. Irritation swept through me. Again, was it my fault the local salon didn’t offer the Brazilian wax? No, I didn’t think so. The nerve of this guy!
“What?” he scoffed. “Oh, please, you aren’t one of those feminists, are you?”
I actually laughed at his piling on of insensitive comments. He was just digging himself deeper and deeper. “Honestly, Bobby, I think you’d be hard pressed to find any girl not offended by that comment, feminist or not.”
“Look, all I’m saying is, on this reality show, seven is a really good number. Even Aisha only ranked an eight.”
I gaped at him. Really? Aisha? Just an eight? Instantly I felt a whole lot better about his chauvinistic ranking system.
“Come on, the water feels great. I promise I won’t be a douche.”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” I called out to him.
He stared me down, a half-smile on his face. “I don’t beg, Kenzie. Ever! Do whatever you want.” And with that, Bobby swam further out. I stood there. Welp, there went that man crush. Even incredible hotness couldn’t make up for a reptilian personality disorder. Still, I was miserably hot standing in the direct, pounding sun, and according to Bobby, I desperately needed an ocean bath, so I shrugged and jumped in after him. Unlike with Kyle, at least I knew where I stood with Bobby. I was a charity case… a stinky, hairy seven.
TV Confessional
“I would rate Bobby a ‘ten’ for looks and a ‘two’ for tact.”
—Kenzie
23
Kyle: Truth Be Told
IwatchedKenzie take off with Bobby and was surprised at how much it bothered me. I knew what he was doing – using her to get further in the game – and it pissed me off that Kenzie would fall for his antics. She was smarter than that. Of course, it was possible that she was doing this just to get back at me. I still didn’t really get why she was pissed at me. I wasn’t the one who’d changed our relationship out of the blue. How was I to know she liked me? Contrary to what I’d told Sarah back at the wedding, I was most definitely not a mind reader.
Dale stood up, grabbed the water buckets, and said, “Let’s get some water.”
“I don’t really want to,” I grumbled, glancing back out at the water.
“Yeah, you do. Let’s go.”
I caught Dale’s eye. He wasn’t giving me a choice. His hand was out, ready to hand me one of the buckets. I got up, grabbed it, and followed him out of camp.
“Is something going on with you and Kenzie?”
“No, why?” I lied.
Dale flashed me a knowing look. Sometimes he reminded me of one of those TV dads, whose disapproving looks seemed scripted. Still, Dale had a way of pulling out my honesty.
“It’s just awkward. She basically told me she liked me. Totally out of the blue. I mean, what am I supposed to say to that? We’re on a fucking reality show.”
