Page 11 of Say Yes to the Nemesis

And then he turns. Ryan fucking Haart. Shirtless. Muscled. Smirking. And looking right at me. I want to die. I want to disappear. I want him to say something awful so I can be angry instead of whatever the hell this feeling is.

I stifle my automatic reaction.

Jennifer moves forward, gently waving to Elena. When Elena shifts her attention, Ryan looks over his shoulder. Then he does a double take. His eyes widen and his nostrils flare.

We stare at each other for what feels like an hour but is probably only ten seconds. Jennifer looks between us, squinting.

“You two know each other?”

I widen my eyes at him. Don’t say anything… don’t say anything…

But of course, he does.

Ryan rolls his eyes. “She’s my best friend’s little sister.”

My face heats. “And he’s a jerk.”

“Sorry to blow up your spot, but she asked. Did you expect me to lie, Chirp?”

Oh. My. God. I could kill him right now. I grate out, “Don’t call me that.”

“Wow! You two have some amazing chemistry.” Jennifer gives us a grin. To Elena, she says, “Maybe you could play up the history on the show.”

A look of puzzlement flashes across Ryan’s handsome features. I can’t say I blame him. I’m super lost right now.

“Ooh.” Elena smiles, tossing her dark mane over her shoulder. “You know, Jennifer, I think you might be right. Wren is going to be an excellent bachelorette.”

“Wait. She’s a part of the cast now?” Ryan asks, jerking his thumb in my direction. “Chirp, I thought you were working as someone’s assistant or something.”

I couldn’t glare at him any harder if I tried.I’ll murder him, Agamemnon-style. I will Clytemnestra his ass in the bathtub and he’ll never see it coming.

Ryan fucking Haart. He starts to put his shirt back on and all his muscles flex. My heart does that stupid flutter thing it’s been doing since I was twelve.

He’s also fucking awful to me. Literally the meanest, most immature guy I’ve ever met.

“Do not call me that.” I cross my arms. “And yes, I just agreed to be a bachelorette.”

“Do they know we don’t exactly like each other?” His gaze bores into me. “I don’t think they’re looking for the kind of fireworks we would put off.”

This is a nightmare. A full-on, pantsless-in-public, teeth-falling-out dream. Except I’m awake, and he’s standing there shirtless and smug and real.

Please don’t make me be nice to Ryan. But also, please still give me a chance at that big fat bonus.

“If you two can’t work together…” Elena starts.

I turn my eyes to Ryan, ready to plead. He studies me for a beat and then shrugs. Casually, like it’s not really his business either way.

“It won’t be a problem,” Ryan says, waving her concern away. He smiles at her, his expression tightening. “We can work together just fine. Right? We don’t have to actually fall in love or anything.”

He shoots me a withering look. I might hate Ryan, but I jump to agree with him.

“Absolutely. We’re both adults. We can playact.”

Fake it. Smile. Pretend he hasn’t been the star of every secret daydream and every worst moment since I was a teenager.

“If you think so.” Elena purses her lips for a second. Then her phone vibrates. She sighs and checks it, then tsks. “Jennifer, the rep from Alice + Olivia is here with several rolling racks of clothing. Can you sign for it? I have to go return this call.”

“Of course!” Jennifer says. She gives me a wink. “I’ll see you later, Wren.”