“Fuck this shit.”
“You can’t do that.”
Charles held up his hands for silence. “Bitch and moan all you want. It’s happening. This isreality television, folks. Not a highly edited version of thePartridge Family. If you continue tobe dull, my dear friend Dennis will pull the plug before we get enough footage for one season, and all this will be for naught.”
“I’m not sharing with some random guy I don’t know,” Maggie said. “That’s a sexual harassment lawsuit waiting to happen.”
“You wish.” Jazz snickered.
I had to wonder what was wrong with that guy.
Maggie threw her hands up. “Case in point, Charles, and he’s on my team.”
“Now, now. Calm down. There are no teams, and you need to stop thinking that way. You are ten contenders. The end.” Charles produced a piece of paper from his pocket. “Since we only have two women, we’ve obviously put Maggie and Olivia together.”
The girls shared a smug smile.
“Yep. The division is already fair,” Vern mumbled.
Jazz looked ready to blow a gasket. I couldn’t blame him. My back was up, and I was starting to regret this whole fucking show and its stupid contract. I had no idea why Charles suddenly felt the urge to take over, but I didn’t like it.
Glancing at Gale, I saw the terror in his eyes as he side-eyed Jazz. My muscles stiffened. I might not like this kink in the game, but Gale looked ready to vomit.
Before I could protest, Charles referenced a paper and announced the room assignments.
“Olivia and Maggie.” He tossed them a key card attached to a coiled red elastic lanyard. “Nineteen A, ladies. Right beside the command. The walk-through is locked, so no one can enter your room that way.”
He scanned the group, plucking another key card with a green elastic lanyard attached. “Lex and Roe.”
Lex caught the key midair before glancing at Roe.
“Eighteen B, gentlemen,” Charles said.
The producer spun a yellow coiled lanyard around a finger like this was a fun game before launching it at Jazz, who let it hit his chest and fall to the ground. “Jazz and Vern. Eighteen A.”
I cringed.
“Fuck that bullshit.” Vern spat a wad of phlegm in Jazz’s general direction. It landed at his feet.
Jazz moved to go after him, but Olivia caught his arm. “Don’t.”
I gave Vern a warning glare. “Charles, that’s a stupid idea. They’ll kill each other.”
Vern had no self-control, and Jazz seemed permanently hostile.
“Excellent. If that happens, boys, be sure you do it on camera.”
The only people who remained were Elliott, Noah, Gale, and me. Since Olivia was paired with someone from her team, it meant two members from mine would also be paired. Either way, if Gale didn’t end up with me, Noah and Elliott were the best alternatives. Better than Vern or Lex, who were more outspoken.
I didn’t have a means of translating that to Gale, nor was there time. Charles dangled a blue coiled lanyard with an attached key card in Gale’s direction.
“Are you with us, Junior?”
Gale didn’t move or respond, but Charles waited him out, shaking the key card until Gale walked forward and took it.
“You’re with Noah. Seventeen B.”
On one hand, I was glad we hadn’t been paired. Sharing a room would have been dangerous. I wasn’t sure I could keep my hands off him, nor was I sure I could keep my feelings in check.
