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His expression falls. “What if you go with me?”

My heart is staging a coup at the quick change of topic. Is he asking me on a date?

“We could talk to Meg and see if we can double. Maybe getting an outsider’s perspective on what I’m doing wrong will help in the long run?”

"Whoa, whoa, you want me to go on a date too?" I say, trying to keep a straight face.

Trey grins. "What? You thought you'd be the third-wheel through all this?"

"Yeah, I was picturing fake mustaches and sunglasses. I'd sit a few tables away and take discrete pictures to discuss after your date. Kind of like film for your games but for dating instead."

Trey lets out one of those deep-belly kind of laughs and I can't help but do the same. Me trying to blend in and spy would be funny and I don’t think I’d last more than five minutes.

A few moments pass until we’ve sobered a bit. He waves to a neighbor who’s got to be on the neighborhood gossip chain because she looks like she’s taking in every detail of this show.

"What would convince you to do this?" His tone is pleading. I’ve been learning about the underlying issues people have for their actions, and I’m curious why he’s clutching onto this idea so hard.

“Why is it so important that I participate in the dating rituals of the single people? You’re kinda my boss now,” I say, thinking of this as the strangest work crush I could’ve come up with. “You have a lot of friends who you’ve known for lot longer than you’ve known me. Why not rope them into it?”

He shifts from one foot to the other and stares at me, making me feel like he can see into my brain.

“Because I’ve never been good at talking about relationships with them. Sports, business, politics, all of which we can have a great discussion. But with relationships, it’s almost like we’re in competition with each other. And to have someone to talk to and help me out, maybe I’ll have a chance at a future with someone.” He pauses and says, “And then you’ll be over your dating fast and can find happiness with someone too.”

The fact he thinks there’s a remote chance that a guy would settle for me means he’s got a lot to learn. Instead of debating the fact, I muster up all the courage I have.

“What would convince me to do this?” I ask, pausing. And then I have to say it all fast before I run out of guts to get it out. "Is if none of these ladies work out, we'll go on a fun date after."

I think thefunpart of that demotes the whole meaning I was going for. Do I really want to take a chance on getting my heart broken? To the point that I'll never recover from it? For the guy standing in front of me, I think it's worth a shot.

“Done.” Trey grins and reaches out, pulling me into a hug. Every nerve in my body is lighting up like a Christmas tree. I wrap my arms around his middle, for once not trying to pull away like I’ve touched a live wire.

He lets go and gives me that lopsided grin. How’s a girl supposed to resist that?

16

KENZIE

I’ve taken a lot of chances in my life, but circling back to one that hurt me seems like a bad omen.

After my negotiation discussion with Trey, I called Meg to tell her I’m in for the project. My hands shook the entire time and the only thing that could calm me down was imagining Trey’s arms locked around me. It was like five seconds of pure heaven.

Now I’m back at the Love, Austen office after several hours of cleaning up at Dad’s. The progress is incredibly slow, but I’d rather do it right and keep my relationship with my dad rather than ruin it with my impatience.

“Kenzie,” Meg says, stepping out of her office. “I’m so excited you’ve decided to take part in this docuseries. From everything Tiffany tells me, you’re the one I’m rooting for.”

I smile, feeling a little weird that she’s hyping me up about dating. Then again this is her business, so maybe that’s just a standard part of the process?

“Thank you. I’ve got an agreement with, um, a friend to do this.”

Meg grins and nods. “Okay, well, I’ve already briefed six of the eight daters. Here’s how it’s going to go. I’ll need you to take the intake test again. I want to make sure we have the most accurate information for your profile.”

I nod. “Yeah, I can do that. When are we supposed to start filming?”

I spent last night trying to piece together a contract I can use for my business. It needs another revision and I need a pricing sheet to look semi-professional before I share it with my current and future clients. Trey doesn’t seem in a hurry to get his house put together. I mean, the guy hasn’t worried about it for the last four weeks like I would’ve. But I can’t avoid the little things forever or my business is going to fall apart before the month is out.

“I’ll need to check with the producer of the show, but I think this week,” Meg says. “The format will be that we’ll get footage of you taking the test, some more of you during your normal life, such as, work, hanging out with friends, etc. Anyone in the video will need to sign a contract that they’re okay with their image being used in the films.”

“That’s understandable.”