Page 83 of Say Yes to the Nemesis

She nods, then looks me up and down. “You look comfortable.”

I glance down and realize I forgot to change out of Ryan’s shirt. It’s oversized and soft and worn in. Definitely not from wardrobe. Or my closet.

My stomach lurches. Before I can say anything, Elena’s voice rings down the hall.

“Wren! Get in here. Now.” Her voice cracks down the hallway like a whip. “Some of us are trying to run a show.”

I stiffen and look toward Jennifer. She gently shoos me on.

“We’ll talk later.”

I nod and then approach Elena, trying not to fidget with the hem of the T-shirt like a guilty teenager sneaking in after curfew. Elena looks like a million bucks in a red wrap dress and white heels. She waits for me until I reach the doorway, then marches into the conference room, sitting down and kicking her heels up on the table.

Marcus is right beside her with a tablet, chewing gum and scrolling with an intense expression on his face. He raises his eyes and smirks. He’s watching me like I’m a bug under glass and he’s going to trap me. I plunk down in the seat across from his. Elena turns to me.

“Let’s talk about how this season nearly went off the rails.”

I hesitate. “I think it’s going well, don’t you?”

She waves her hand like she’s irritated by everything. I brace myself. Elena never wastes time on meetings unless she’s about to detonate something.

“That depends on what your definition of ‘well’ is. It’s the most boring season ofThe Last KissI’ve ever witnessed. I’ve been here for twelve years.”

My eyebrows rise. “What do you mean, boring?”

“I mean the bachelor isn’t horny enough.”

Marcus snorts and looks up. “There’s more action in the B-roll between Raven and JacqLyn.”

“Exactly,” Elena says. “He hasn’t kissed half the girls. Don’t even get me started on the fantasy suite buildup. If this season tanks, we blame blue balls.”

I press my lips together, trying not to visibly react. Elena slaps me lightly on the hand.

“You know him, Wren. You guys go way back. Any idea how to get his mojo flowing?”

It just so happens I have exactly every idea of what will get his mojo flowing. But I can’t exactly share that with her.

“He’s, um… private. I’ve never seen him hit on anybody. I think girls mostly chase him around and he just accepts. Even on New Year’s Eve… and Cinco de Mayo… I’ve never seen him drunk.”

Maybe he’s just a slower burn than the usual contestants.

“Why hasn’t he ever been drunk, do you think?” Elena asks before I consider it. The answer is out of my mouth.

“Well, his mom… she had problems with addiction. Specifically, alcohol.”

Marcus looks at Elena, his expression worried. “Shit, really?”

I nod, wishing I hadn’t said anything at all. If he knew I had blabbed about his mom, Ryan would be really upset.

Elena tilts her head and taps a finger against her lips. “Interesting. Still, if the girls are drunk enough, maybe he won’t have a choice. Then maybe they’ll make the moves for him, like you suggested.”

I blanch. “I wasn’t suggesting anything like that.”

Elena waves me off. “I want you to come up with three activities guaranteed to make him loosen up. Horny is the goal. Think flirting. Think touching. Think jealousy, even.”

I nod quickly. “I’ll, uh… I’ll think about it.”

“Good,” she says. “Get to work.”