Page 66 of Say Yes to the Nemesis

Two contestants take Nikki by the arms and start guiding her down the trail.

JacqLyn and Daisy fall in line behind. I hang back as we start to follow her down the mountain. The cameras are rolling, but most of the group is silent as we descend.

Down at the bottom, the paramedics are already there. They’re closing up the back of their truck, ready to take Nikki to the emergency room.

Divya goes with them, her lips pressed into a thin line. I have to give it to her. She held it together really well today. Didn’t lose her shit for a second.

That’s the closest she’s come to knocking my socks off.

There’s a picnic set up for us on the other side of the parking lot, but I’m not feeling it anymore. I find Rich and apologize but firmly tell him the date and the shooting are over for the day. He doesn’t like it, but he eventually concedes, giving the orders to pack it all in.

On the ride back, Wren sits beside me and stares out the window. It’s nearly impossible for me not to brush her pinky with mine.

I swallow. Who am I becoming? Where did the cocky hockey player go?

I wish like anything that Wren didn’t make me feel so damned needy.

eighteen

RYAN

When the producerstold me there was a surprise guest today, I figured it would be someone’s mom. Maybe a former contestant. Not someone that might make my stomach do something close to a nervous backflip.

Standing right in the middle of all the girls, making them die with laughter, is my best friend Jay. Also, coincidentally, Wren’s big brother.

My gut clenches. If Jay’s here, I need to be twice as careful. He doesn’t know about me and Wren. I can’t let him find out.

Well, there’s nothing for him to find out. Notreally.

Steeling myself, I stroll up to the gaggle of people. Jay is gently ribbing his sister.

“You’re gonna lose, buddy. Just like you did when you were in third grade.”

She screws up her face. “I hardly think that something more than ten years ago should be admissible in this event.”

Jay slides his arm around her shoulders and gives her a squeeze. “Sorry, kid. That’s the field you’ll always be playing on when you play with someone my age.”

Something about the easy way she leans into it makes my throat go tight. She looks safe with him. Protected. Like the rest of the world hasn’t touched her yet. Including me.

She rolls her eyes and spots me. “Oh look, there’s Ryan,” she says. “Let’s all look at him now.”

I don’t miss the sarcasm in her tone. Neither does Jay. He’s wearing a whistle, a pair of aviator sunglasses, and he’s holding a pair of red and blue flags. He looks like he’s coaching a high school football game.

“What is all this?” I say. “Also, hi.”

“Hey, man.” He gives me a side hug. “I’ve just been chatting with your lovely bachelorettes here.”

Daisy laughs and steps closer to Jay, patting him on his six-pack abs. “You know, if Ryan doesn’t pick me…”

She trails off. She’s kidding, I think, but Jay steps away and points at his ring finger, which glistens with gold.

“Sorry, ladies. I’m married. You would all love my wife, though. She’s the best. Also, she makes amazing cupcakes. In fact, I brought a tray of them for you guys to enjoy later.”

The girls exclaim as I give him a questioning smile. “So what’s with the getup?”

“Capture the flag, baby,” he says.

“I’m amazing at capture the flag!” JacqLyn crows. “Y’all are going down.”