Page 28

My stomach plunges. We chorus “yes,” and again, and again, until the word seems to lose all meaning.

Now the cameras leave us as their operators hurry to the parking area. Perrie steps closer to me and sucks in a long breath. It sounds shaky. I can relate.

It’s been a long, long time since I’ve seen him.

“Oh,” Skye says softly, and I give her a questioning look. Then I see what she sees: a figure approaching in the distance.

He’s tall and well-muscled, dressed to the nines in a black suit and tie, with his brown hair styled neatly. The broad shoulders and sturdy neck of someone who either spends a lot of time in the gym or does manual labor for a living (and you can bet your ass it’s not the latter in this case). A square jaw, sparkling green eyes that crinkle in the corners, and upsettingly flawless skin that is probably the result ofextensivepricey treatments, because it was nowhere near that glowy when I knew him.

Jordy fucking Miller.

Now there’s a face I would’ve been happy to never see again.

EIGHTMaya

“Jordy!” Grayson cries as he gets closer. The cameras swing past us like we aren’t here. “How are you?”

Jordy’s smile is blinding as he saunters up the path to give Grayson a handshake. “I’m good, Grayson.”

I didn’t notice on the phone, but Jordy’s fake accent has, somehow, gotten even more obnoxious since I knew him. There’s no way, there is justnoway I’m the only one who notices how forced and inconsistent it is. The emperor has no clothes, goddammit!

Grayson steps back from Jordy and stands with one foot pointed toward the cameras, the other at Jordy. “Are you ready to re-explore your past relationships to find the one that got away?”

“I’m so ready.” Jordy gives a small laugh that can only be described astrained.It’s like an actor who’s been instructed to play a character who’s self-conscious, charismatic, and approachable. And as much as I hate to admit it, he’s pretty good at the role.

“Then let’s go to the party,” Grayson says, sweeping his hands to the side.

Gwendolyn rushes forward to speak to Jordy and Grayson.The other producers steer us all in a group around the back of the mansion to the grounds, which are glittering and twinkling with a Christmas Wonderland warehouse worth of fairy lights and candles.

“It’s quiet,” Skye says.

“My producer told me it’s a copyright thing,” Kim says. “If they use a song in an episode, they have to pay for it.

“Oh, great,” I say to Perrie as we break away from the group. “A party with my ex, a bunch of girls who hate me, and no music. That’s exactly what I hoped tonight would be like.”

“Hey, you have me,” she says. “And… food, thank god.”

I follow her gaze to an open pair of double sliding doors that lead to a well-lit room full of tables of small snacks. We investigate and find a spread of what Kim calls mini sausage rolls—a meat-and-vegetable mixture covered in pastry—mini quiches, potato chips, carrot and celery sticks, and a huge, crusty bread bowl full of what looks like beetroot dip and melted cheese. Ithinkit’s a Chalonian dish, but have no idea what it’s called. Next to the food is a tray of filled wine and champagne glasses.

Wine, my nemesis. We meet again. And so soon.

“Hi, girls!” A voice chirps about six inches from my ear, causing me to shriek and drop the quiche I’m holding.

“Gwendolyn,” Perrie says in a strained voice, turning around. “Hi.”

Gwendolyn grabs a wineglass and a flute from the table and hands them to us. “I just wanted to drop by and let you know that everything you see here is a free-for-all! Don’t be shy, help yourself to some food and drink. There’sno limit.If you run out, we’ll just bring you more. We want you to have fun tonight!”

“You want us to get drunk tonight,” I correct.

“Is there a difference?” Gwendolyn beams.

“Between having a nice night with great people and getting wasted and blacking out?” I ask. “No, I can’t think of one. Perrie?”

“Toe-may-toe, toe-mah-toe,” she deadpans.

“Wonderful!” Gwendolyn squeezes my shoulder before hurrying off while we stare after her.

“Real important to her that we get drunk on camera, huh?” I ask.