Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 28472 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 142(@200wpm)___ 114(@250wpm)___ 95(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28472 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 142(@200wpm)___ 114(@250wpm)___ 95(@300wpm)
“That channel has over four million subscribers,” I say defensively, but Binnie’s not wrong. For the last couple of years, I’ve been swimming in a sea of ennui. Nothing interests me.
“Then do this show. You don’t have to date anyone. Be the asshole on the island. Make everyone hate you. The show would be even better if there was a villain, but no one wants to play that role because of the real-life hate they get, but you wouldn’t care. Insult the guys. Be cold to the girls. Play with yourself. I really don’t care. Just please agree to be on the show. I will get on my knees if I have to.” Binnie’s face is full of genuine anxiety. This show is her baby. One she conceived four years ago and that she wants to keep going.
It’s only three weeks of my life. What’s the worst thing that could happen?
CHAPTER 2
QUINN
How did I let myself get into this situation? I still can’t believe everyone got me to agree to this. A dating show? I’m going to make a fool of myself on national television. Why would anyone think I was capable of doing this?
“I packed for you.” Laura plucks the pen out of my hand midstroke.
“Hey, I’m trying to leave notes so everyone knows what to do and where things are.” She slips the pen through her ponytail. I’d snatch it back, but she’s much taller than me. Most people tower over me around here.
“We don’t need notes. You do know some of us have been doing this longer than you’ve been alive.”
“But—”
“No buts.” Ethan strolls into the office area of the facility. His bare chest is covered in a thin layer of sweat.
I’d tell him to put a shirt on, but the man is called a thirst trap online. Girls fall all over themselves whenever I post something and he’s in it. The more attention we get, the more donations we rake in. So his shirt stays off.
It’s not cheap feeding and housing over thirteen big cats and twenty-eight small ones at the moment. We don’t allow visitors. We’re purely a rescue. It’s not only about feeding and housing them. Some require special diets and medications. We rely on donations and grants to continue to run this place.
There are a handful of us that live on site. The closest town is over forty minutes away. This place is all I know. My dad raised me here. The only time I left was when I had to go to college. Some of the courses I was unable to take online. I hated leaving. To be honest, it sucked, but I did it. I learn more here than I ever have in any classroom. Still, my dad thought I needed to get out into the world. I did, and then I came right back. This is, and always will be, my home.
“Why didn’t you guys put Ethan up?” I motion toward the thirst trap. “That sounds way more logical.” He’s even charming and has jokes. Actual funny ones.
“They wanted you.” He shrugs. “You’re the popular one.”
“Popular one?” I snort. “Maybe with the leopards.”
“Yeah, it’s the cougars that want me.” Ethan smirks. I can’t help but laugh at his stupid joke. “Seriously, though. They reached out to us about you. You’re the one the followers adore. I’m only eye candy.”
When I launched our social media platforms years ago, I had no idea how much it would explode across the internet. But it did, and we quickly picked up a ton of followers.
“Adore? That your nice way of saying I’m cute not sexy?”
“They wouldn’t know if you're sexy. You always keep your shirt on.”
“Oh God.” I grab the straps of my overalls. “This show is being filmed on a beach. Will I have to wear—”
“A bikini? Yeah, I got you some. Like I said. I packed for you.” I glare at Laura. I’m scared to see what’s inside the suitcase. Laura is like a mom to me. She pretty much is a stepmom. She and Dad have been together forever. They aren’t married, but they might as well be. They’re a perfect match.
“I’m going to be the”—I make air quotes—“chubby girl.” It dawns on me. “That’s why they picked me.”
“What’s wrong with being the chubby girl?” Ethan asks. “Something to hold on to.”
“Shut up. You’re not even into girls.” There is nothing wrong with being a bigger girl. I just don’t favor the idea of that being the reason I might have been picked. My second favorite thing to cats is trash reality TV. I have an idea of how these things work. At least I think I do.
“I like them big boys.” Ethan wiggles his eyebrows. I’m going to miss him so much.
“If you weren't my twin, I’d feed you to Storm.”