Page 37 of Playing With My Heart Strings

baylor

I Know Who You Are

Someone is going home this week, which means that at least until I know I’ve made it to the next week, my little fantasy world where Dusty and I can be together without any consequences is just that—a fantasy.

Daniella hasn’t found out any information about Aspen yet.

Nothing she’s told me, anyway. But she also hasn’t come around a lot, either.

Now that I’m thinking about it, every time Dusty has snuck into my hotel room has been when Alex is supposed to be monitoring him.

He takes his job seriously, so I can only think of one reason—or rather, one person—that would be enough to distract him.

We’ve never kept secrets from each other before, but it feels like she is now.

In the days leading up to the elimination, I’ve spent most of my time with the other girls at the house and writing in my journal.

I’ve had a burst of inspiration since joining the show, so I find myself writing down fragments of lyrics almost every night.

They’re not anything I’m brave enough to share, but then again, Dusty shared a song he’d been working on with me.

If there’s anyone I’d share the lyrics with, it would be him.

Footsteps approach from behind me, and I snap the book closed and tuck it under my legs.

“What are you up to?” Sage asks over my shoulder.

“Oh, nothing. Do you want to sit?” I pat the cushion next to me.

She plops down, the drink in her hand sloshing around, before letting out a big sigh. “Do you ever wonder what you’d be doing if you didn’t come on the show?”

I huff out a laugh. I know exactly what I’d be doing if I didn’t come on the show, but it’s not like I can tell her. “Not really. Do you?” I redirect the question back to her.

“It’s not that my life back home isn’t interesting, but I’d probably just be going through the motions. Going to work, swiping on dating apps, going on bad dates with said matches.” She laughs. “God, I’ve been on some bad dates.”

My dating life before now was basically nonexistent, but I nod and say, “Same.”

Sage doesn’t seem to notice my short answers, because she jumps right back in. “I went on a first date once with a guy who showed me his tax returns on his phone. He kept droning on about how he made a million dollars in a year and just had to prove his income to me.”

“He did not!” I gasp, trying my best to hold in my laughter.

“I wish I was lying. Then when he took me back home, he asked if he could kiss me, and I said I was more comfortable with just a hug. But when we went to hug, he tried to kiss me anyway!” She takes a long gulp of her wine.

I scrunch my face, internally cringing with secondhand embarrassment for the guy. “Damn, that’s…rough.”

“Yep. His name was Jeremy. Which, in hindsight, was probably my first mistake. Claimed to be this tech guy who works on AI billboards.”

I snort. “Sounds fitting.”

She palms her forehead with the hand not holding the wineglass. “I’m just glad Dusty’s not like that.”

Normally, Dusty tells the producers who he wants to save and the bottom two or three contestants face the elimination. This time, we’ll be on stage where Dusty will announce face-to-face who he wants to continue next week.

The producers escort us down the hallway to the auditorium—the same hallway Dusty kissed me in a few weeks ago. Butterflies flutter in my stomach as I think about it, but they dissolve just as quickly when we walk on stage.

Spotlights flood the area, catching me off guard. I squint to avoid being blinded by them until my eyes adjust. Not sure I’ll ever get used to that.

Jarrod Stone walks out as the cameras start rolling.

“Good evening, ladies, and congratulations on making it to the final five. Unfortunately, tonight, there is an elimination and one of you will be going home. Dusty?” He looks off to the side of the stage, and Dusty appears.

His hair is a bit messy, like he’s run his fingers through the strands, and his eyes seem to sparkle in the light.

I tug my lip between my teeth as we make eye contact. I wonder if the camera is catching the look in his eyes. A look I want to believe is reserved for me and me alone.

“Hello, ladies. The past two weeks have been very eye-opening, and we’re getting down to the final weeks of the competition.

While this was an extremely difficult decision to make, I believe it was the best one for my heart and for my career.

” He surveys each of us. “The three women who I would like to continue next week are…”

One of the girls sucks in a breath next to me.

“Katherine.”

Katherine dips her chin and slowly smiles.

“Valerie.”

That leaves me, Aspen, and Sage.

Oh, God.

“Finally…” He pauses, and it’s like my heart is trying to break out of my chest, pounding so hard I can feel it all the way in my ears. “Baylor.”

A gargled sound leaves Aspen’s throat as she looks at Dusty in disbelief.

“Valerie, Katherine, and Baylor, you may all follow me.” Jarrod beckons us offstage.

“Sage and Aspen, you are now at risk of elimination. This week, you’ll each have the opportunity to perform a song.

There will be no audience voting this week.

Instead, the women who have already made it through to the next week will determine the winner of the battle. ”

Valerie gasps.

Aspen’s mouth twists into a frown. “You’re kidding, right?”

“I’m afraid not,” Jarrod deadpans.

“How is that fair? We’re their competition!” she screeches but then calms down like she remembers she’s live on national television.

“Best of luck, ladies. We’ll be back after this break.” Jarrod winks at the camera.

Producers start rattling out instructions of who is supposed to be where and what’s going to happen next.

I can’t hear much, but Sage is set to perform first and is given three different song options.

Aspen will get to choose either of the two that Sage doesn’t pick.

She’s at a disadvantage in every way, it seems. But there’s no denying she’s a powerhouse on the stage.

“This is kind of a lot of pressure on us, don’t you think?” Katherine mutters as we sit in the front row.

I scoff and roll my eyes. “Anything for good television. I wouldn’t put it past Col—” I stop myself before I say anything further. The other contestants don’t have a relationship with Colette. They wouldn’t know what she’s like to work with, and neither should I.

Luckily, neither Katherine nor Valerie seem to notice. But out of the corner of my eye, I notice Aspen shooting me daggers.

What the hell does she know?

“And we’re back, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to Heart Strings . We have two incredible singers who are at risk of elimination, and tonight they will battle it out for a spot to continue on to fight for a record deal and Dusty’s heart.”

The classic, cheesy reality dating show lines from Jarrod will never get old. And by never, I mean last week. He really needs some new material.

“First up, we’ve got Sage!”

The lights dim, and the drummer taps his drumsticks together to count off the beat.

The band starts to play a short intro to “Burning House,” and after a few measures, Sage joins in with haunting vocals filled with emotion.

She’s really bringing her all for tonight’s elimination, and I can only hope Valerie and Katherine agree.

The song may be slower, but it really showcases how well Sage conveys the lyrics. She sells the story.

When she finishes, I can’t help but let out a whistle of encouragement, despite the disapproving glance I get from one of the producers.

“Now, give it up for Aspen!” Jarrod calls out. His wording is ironic, considering there’s no live audience, just the cameramen, producers, and us.

No one knows what to expect from Aspen normally, but I can confidently say no one was expecting her to start belting out the lyrics of “Crazy” by Patsy Cline with a growl and pain to her voice none of us have ever heard before.

I can also assume Dusty wasn’t expecting her to look directly at him when she sang about him leaving for someone new, judging by the way his mouth gapes.

Her facial expression on the surface gives off the impression of a heartbroken woman, but her eyes say something else. They bite. I’ve always known Aspen was dangerous, but after tonight, I’m afraid I’ve underestimated the lengths she’ll go to get what she wants.

No one says a word when she finishes her song. The auditorium is utterly silent, and I wonder for a moment if I’ve stepped into an alternate universe, into some twisted haunted house.

Jarrod walks on stage, his eyes wary as he looks Aspen over. “Thank you, ladies. Tonight we have something special for you all watching at home. There won’t be any viewer voting—instead, the three women who are safe will be the ones to decide who will join them next week.

“Let’s begin shall we? Katherine, you’re first. Who do you think should move on?”

A producer hands Katherine a microphone as a camera swings around to face her.

“I love both of you, truly. But tonight, my vote goes to Aspen.” She swallows, and I wonder for a moment if she actually wanted Aspen to move on, or if she’s doing it out of fear of retaliation.

“Thank you, Katherine. Valerie?”

Valerie is more brave. “My vote tonight is for Sage.”

“Thank you, Valerie.” Jarrod nods. “Ladies, we have one vote for Aspen and one vote for Sage.”

Oh, fuck. That means I’m the tiebreaker.

“Baylor? Who is moving on to next week?”

A shiver travels down my spine, and my pulse roars in my head. Do I pick my friend, or do I pick the girl who seems like she’s out to destroy me just to protect my ass? It would be so easy to get rid of Aspen. But if I’m the reason she goes home, there’s no way she won’t take it out on me later.

“Baylor? Are you good?” Valerie taps me on the arm. Everyone is waiting for my response.

I close my eyes and take a long, slow breath. “Sage. Sage is moving on.”

“Thank you, Baylor. Congratulations, Sage, you have made it into the final four. Go ahead and join the other girls.” Jarrod waves her off. “Aspen, I’m sorry, but this is the end of the road for you.”

“I can’t say I’m not disappointed, Jarrod, but it was a good run.” She gives the diplomatic answer to the cameras, but once the attention is taken off her, she looks at me dead in the face and mouths something that looks a lot like I know who you are .