Page 49 of Say Yes to the Nemesis

That is an understatement if I’ve ever heard one.

“Wait. You and Ryan are supposed to be…?” Jay squints.

“We’re not supposed to be anything, really,” I say quickly. “Technically, I am supposed to be competing for him. To keep me on the show. But really, I’m just making him mad. You know how pissed off I make him.”

Jay’s shoulders relax a little. “Oh. I see. So it’s just business as usual between you two, huh?”

I make a face, instantly feeling bad about the lie. It was a little white one, at first. But now it’s grown into a big, hairy monstrosity. Still, I’ve already said it. So I just let it lie.

“Yup.”

Jay cocks his head. “Do I need to straighten Ryan out?”

“No, no,” I say, shaking my head and patting him on the arm. “I’m fine. I swear. We’re just playing pretend in front of the camera. Honestly, nothing physical has even happened between us.”

Which is not even close to the truth.

I blush, but Calla returns to the table just in time, still talking to Bennett about a cake. Jay’s shoulders relax a little more.

“If you need me to, I’ll straighten Ryan out,” Jay repeats. “I can talk to him. Tell him to watch out for you.”

“Please don’t do that,” I say quickly. “This is my job. It’s only for another seven weeks. Then I’ll have a promotion and be well on my way to a career in executive producing.”

He wrinkles his nose, but nods. “Come here.”

He pulls me into a hug, warm and solid. I let myself sink into it for a long moment. Jay is a good big brother and he gives great hugs.

Then, chaos arrives.

My friend Iris shows up with Cora. They’re Calla’s sisters. Cora, cool and intimidating in a sleek black dress and sharp heels that scream “courtroom drama.” Iris in vintage boots and a cropped jacket, looking like a hurricane of fun.

Calla waves them over. I catch Bennett rising from his seat to offer it to Cora, but she pointedly ignores him and takes the empty seat beside Iris instead. Iris squeals, pulling me into a quick hug.

“Where have you been?” she demands. “You haveso muchto tell me about working on a reality show.”

I smile and wiggle my eyebrows. “Later. I promise. Let’s just get settled in and ready to play.”

“Okay.” She winks and moves closer to Cora. “Just let me know when you’re ready to dish.”

Bennett gets up to grab us menus while Jay proudly displays his clipboard, trivia quiz already printed out and color coded. “Are you ready for some sibling duo power?” he asks.

“You’ve got all three of the Nikolakis sisters here,” Cora says, dry as ever. “Westillmight not stand a chance against table six.”

She jerks her thumb toward a table of clipboard-wielding older women in matching baseball caps that readTable Six Trivia Warriors.

It’s funny, but also terrifyingly nerdy.

Jay and I exchange a look.

“We’re not losing to table six again,” I mutter.

“No, we’re not,” Jay agrees. “I won’t stand for it.”

Ryan does me the massive disservice of sneaking up behind me. I guess my back is to the door. But when he comes around the table and drops into the seat next to me, sandwiched between me and Cora, he doesn’t so much as glance in my direction.

He looks extremely casual. Henley, backward cap, smug grin. Like he didn’t kiss me senseless with my brother right next door less than twenty-four hours ago.

“What’s up, guys?” he says.