Page 46 of The Book of Luke

“Save the apology until you owe me one,” he replied, still unbothered.

As I took my place, I saw Shawn shaking his head in disbelief, but it was Imogen who snagged me, silently mouthing, “Sorry…” I blinked quick, refusing to let emotions get me now.

Melange unsurprisingly was picked for the women, but her head was high when she joined me. “Chin up, tits out,” she repeated.

“Amen,” I answered, steeling myself for battle. Unless it was some crazy brain teaser or sprint, I’d best the comparably slight PB at anything physical. If the producers had gone to the trouble of orchestrating this twist, I suspected a beatdown was in store to conclude the episode, and the last thing I wanted was to send PB home black and blue. He might be asmug prick, but he was kind ofmysmug prick now. Plus, who’d have my back with him gone? I’d be the prize stag on the last day of hunting season, desperately banking as much appearance-fee cash as possible before my head hung above a mantel.

“Now our second victims!” Ecklund abruptly whipped to me and Melange. “Who doyou twowant to go against?”

“Bitch, are you serious?!” Melange crowed, cacophony erupting from both teams.

“Bitch, I am.” Ecklund grinned.

I was speechless—when had they ever just skipped a vote?—but Melange was howling to the heavens. “Baby, I’m gonna drown me a rat!”

“I take it you want Chrissy?” Ecklund asked.

“Christina Estelle Motherfucking Big Bitch Dixon, come on down!”

Ecklund glanced at me, along with every eye and lens there. “Luke?”

I saw PB wink, as if he’d suspected this outcome all along.Clash of the Titans…

“Hartt.”

22

2015

SEASON 20, EPISODE 4:

“Come Hell… and High Water”

It’s fucking sabotage!” Hartt barked. “What about the rules?!”

“This is a TV show, not the NCAA,” Zara replied calmly, Troy by her side. “Producers can legally adjust the format at their discretion as long as we don’t target specific contestants, and this decision was made well before a winning team was declared.”

“I’m supposed to believe that?”

“Do you want to see the time-stamped emails with the network? The only ‘rule’ ofEndeavoris that you’re in the game unless you’re eliminated, violate contract, or choose to depart. Would you like to do the latter?”

“You’d be up shit’s creek then,” he snarled. “Waste of a flashy Trial.”

“Not really,” Troy mused. “It just confirms you’re so scared of Luke you quit the show.”

“I’m not scared of that washed-up old man!”

“Then beat him or leave,” Zara said flatly. “The van’s right there.”

Foiled, he and Chrissy stalked toward the terrified Italian PA who held our swimsuits for the competition. Melange and I had alreadydressed, so I cornered PB while I had the chance. “Did you know this would happen?”

“I certainly didn’t think it would happentonight.”

Melange swiftly joined our huddle. “Wait, what? Don’t say you inceptioned this…”

PB sighed. “I told Troy I wanted to talk to Luke privately about Jiamin. As bait.”

Her jaw dropped, genuinely shocked. “You talked about the engagement?”