My eyes widen when Jules appears on the screen. Staring intently, I try to fathom what the hell she’s doing on there. The women in the room gasp and there’s a slight wail. I don’t need to look to know who let that out. Jules words sting as she solidifies for the people near me, and the viewers at home, that my marriage is a charade … a joke. Anger builds within me, and my heart breaks for Joey. She doesn’t need this. I don’t need this. Jules Maxwell and I were not together when I signed the contract, or when I married Joey. We had broken up months before; it was yet another twirl on the merry-go-round that ended with one of us jumping off. This time I ended things and after meeting Joey, I’m not sure I ever want to get back with Jules.
As if in slow motion, I turn my gaze to Joey. Everything is telling me to get up and pull her into my arms, but I’m frozen. I’m not supposed to care about Joey, but I do. The last thing I want is for her to get hurt. That includes when the show is over. She and I need to end on amicable terms. I want to be her friend because treating her like my father treats his exes is out of the question. Joey and I will never share a child, but we share this … this show, these moments captured on television.
As soon as Jules’ message finishes, Joey springs from the couch and rushes down the hall. Millie and Amanda look at me, both throwing daggers, daggers that I deserve but not because of Jules. I didn’t put her up to that, the producers did. She’s just conniving enough to go along with it. I’ll be happy to thank Rob as well. If he hadn’t opened his big ass mouth, Jules would’ve never found out about my plan to annul this marriage as soon as I got out.
Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell appear next on the screen. Listening to them tell Joey how much they love her, makes me long for a normal set of parents. Mine, they probably don’t even know I’m here, unless they called looking for money. But her parents, they sit together holding hands, showing me what a loving family she comes from. Joey says her mother is neurotic, but maybe that’s her mom’s way of showing Joey how much she loves her. At least, Joey knows her parents love her.
“Joshua, I wanted to shake your hand at your ceremony. I look forward to meeting you when the show is over,” Mr. Mitchell says before the screen goes dark. My hands cover my face and run through my hair.
“Shit,” I mutter under my breath. Thing is, I want to meet her parents. I didn’t last month but each day that I get to know Joey more, the more I want to spend time with her outside this house. I still think ending the marriage is the right thing to do, but I want a chance to know her away from reality television. I want to see if we’re compatible in the real world.
Both women get up and scramble into the kitchen. I catch a glimpse of Joey’s backside as she cruises past us. A loud bang makes us jump, increasing the tension in the room. Right now I really despise the open concept of this house because there’s no privacy and at this moment I need some.
“I thought my video was embarrassing.” I tilt my head and glare at Gary.
“Huh?” I say sarcastically. “Really, Gary, your video was embarrassing?”
He shrugs and Cole mumbles something that I can’t quite catch. My head rocks back and forth, and my lips are pursed. Now I’m just pissed. Heaving myself off the couch, I stalk into the kitchen. The women fall quiet and scatter, leaving Joey and I alone. Her back faces me as she busies herself. Anger rolls off her in waves. I’ve never felt someone’s anger before, but I can feel hers. Joey leans against the stove; already the smell of something delicious wafts through the air. My fingers graze her shoulder. She flinches, trying to move away from me.
“Joey,” her name falls quietly from my lips. I don’t know if it’s desperation, or nerves. Either way, saying her name not only hurts, but also makes me long for her.
“Joey to the confession room.” Linda’s voice booms over the speakers. Joey doesn’t waste any time—she picks up a towel and dries her hands before walking out of the kitchen. Not once does she look back toward my direction.
“I’m so screwed,” I say to no one and everyone who happens to be listening. I’m in a situation that I don’t know how to fix. It’s not going to matter what I say to Joey, or how many kisses I bestow up
on her, the words that Jules said tonight will always stay with her. If we were to try a relationship outside the house, Joey would always wonder. I know I would if I were in her position.
All of this just proves that I’m not worth someone like Joey Mitchell. I can’t imagine she would ever be as spiteful as Jules and do something as hurtful and embarrassing. I brought that on Joey, she didn’t ask for it.
Cole walks into the kitchen and heads straight for the refrigerator. The clank of beer bottles is the only sound in the house. He hands me one, his expression telling me that he’s sorry, even though it’s not his fault. I tip my bottle toward him as a thank you before bringing the cool glass to my lips. I start with one quick sip, but quickly tip back the bottle and let the sweet hops coat my throat.
“Sometimes you just need a beer.”
“No truer words said, especially right now.” Setting my bottle down, I lean against the counter. “I wondered how long I’d be here, building a relationship with Joey, before it all came tumbling down.”
He puts his beer down and sighs. Between him and Gary, Cole and I would be friends outside the house. Gary, I can see myself meeting him every once in a while for a beer and whatnot, but he’d be the one to brag to his friends about me. Cole, on the other hand, I want to catch a game with or have him over for a barbeque. He and I will be friends once the show is over.
“I don’t have any advice.” He shrugs. “Before I came on the show I had a hard time meeting women. It seemed that the only time I did was at a conference or when I’d be set up on a blind date. I wish I could pat you on the back and tell you what you need to do, but the truth is, I’m scared shitless. When the show is over, then what? How do I make things work with Millie?”
Running my hands through my hair, I breathe in deeply. “Hell, what do I know? I could walk out the door and ask an audience member on a date and she’d say yes. Not because I’m what she’s looking for in a guy, but because of who I am. And look at me. I came on a reality show to get married.”
“We all did,” he reminds me.
I finish off my beer and grab us two more. I’m afraid to leave the kitchen, fearful that I’ll miss Joey when she comes back. My plan is to stay here until she does and work some charm to get her to talk to me. I’m not stupid enough to think it’s going to be easy, but I’m going to try.
“I think I love your wife,” Cole says, causing me to spit my beer out all over the counter. He grabs the towel that Joey left behind, and starts wiping.
“What the hell, man?”
“I didn’t mean it how it sounded. It was the aroma from the cake. It’s going straight to my stomach, which leads to my heart. It smells really good.”
“Yeah it does,” I agree with him, quickly. Just as the timer sounds, Joey appears. I can’t be sure, but I think she was eavesdropping. I’d be okay with it if she was, but she has to know I’d rather speak to her. Cole takes his leave when she enters, giving us a bit of privacy.
Standing out of her way, I pay attention to every move Joey makes while she moves around the kitchen freely. As soon as she has the cake pan resting on a wire rack, I reach for her hand. She tries to tug it away, but I tighten my grip, not allowing her to slip away so easily, and pull her toward our bedroom. The only thing that would make this more comical is if she’d set her feet firm to the ground so I could drag her, anything to lighten the mood around here.
Earlier this afternoon when we were in our room, we shared a very intimate moment, which was ruined by the scum ball producers. Now I need to make up for that. Once inside the room, I shut the door and lock it. Her arms are crossed over her chest in complete defiance. She doesn’t want to be here. With each step I take toward her, she takes one back. We’re back to the first days in the house, except she was happy then and right now I’d give anything to see her smile.
I hold my hands up in front of me, calling for a truce, or mercy. Whatever she’s willing to give me.