Total pages in book: 162
Estimated words: 158848 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 794(@200wpm)___ 635(@250wpm)___ 529(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 158848 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 794(@200wpm)___ 635(@250wpm)___ 529(@300wpm)
The crowd lets out a collective murmur of admiration.
Molly shifts and leans up, pressing a quick kiss against my cheek.
The audience responds with an even louder chorus of, “Awww…”
“How sweet,” Matt says in a dismissive tone. “Moving on to our winner!”
Naptime’s scenes flash on screen next. He’s got lots of shirtless close-ups and gym short junk shots too, so at least I’m not special in the embarrassing footage department.
The one where he passes out and I shave his head into a mohawk is my favorite. After that, I face forward again. From the sounds of it the rest of his clips involve him being drunk, training, hitting on the ring girls, or peeing in the pool.
An angry rumble works through the audience while the footage from our last fight plays.
“Well,” Matt says. “It looks like you had quite a time in the house.”
“Yeah,” Naptime grunts into his microphone.
“Did you know it was Stonewall who shaved your head?”
I glance over and meet Naptime’s blank stare. “Yeah, I knew.”
Matt pauses but Naptime doesn’t add anything.
“All right then.” Matt holds his arm out to the side. “It’s time for our lovely ring girls to make an appearance.”
They don’t get montages. Matt shows footage of the girls in the hot tub making out with different fighters. Every question is focused on who they did or didn’t hook up with.
My stomach clenches.
If that motherfucker says I slept with Kiki, I’m going to kill him. Wait. I lean forward, glancing at the other couch and one of the chairs where the ring girls arranged themselves. Kiki’s not there. How’d she get to skip out on this?
“And finally, let’s welcome America’s favorite ring girl!” Matt shouts.
That seems like a bit of a stretch.
Kiki struts onto the stage and aims a cruel smirk at me, then Molly. Molly’s body tightens but she casually drapes her arm over my leg, resting her hand on my knee. Maybe not that casual. It’s blatant possessiveness. Under any other circumstances, I’d fucking love Molly staking her claim on me. Here, it just saws me wide open. She has no reason to feel insecure. I rest my hand over hers, twining our fingers together.
Naptime stands and holds out his one functioning arm.
These two assholes deserve each other.
Kiki saunters to the center of the stage, her hand gracefully waving at the audience and a broad smile on her face like she’s a damn beauty queen.
For the first time today, the audience remains silent, nothing but awkward tension filling the air. They’re not as impressed with Kiki as Matt—or anyone else—expected.
“Cut!” echoes for the first time today, breaking the stillness.
Jordan rushes in front of the audience, his arms flailing in the air as he shouts, “Come on! Give us more energy!”
Kiki’s smile falters. She hurries backstage and Matt calls her out again. The walk’s quicker and she waves a lot less this time.
“Whore!” someone in the audience screams.
Not the kind of energy I think Jordan meant.
I duck my head and pray this is over soon.
Molly
What in the demon clown upside down world have I agreed to be part of?
Given all the shitty things the show did to manipulate everyone, Kiki might not be the one who sent me that final text. She could’ve had nothing to do with the “cheating episode.” What if she’s a victim of the show’s lies as much as Griff and I were?
I still can’t help the little daggers of hate sharpening inside me as she struts onto the stage as if she was the star of the entire show instead of a side piece. And I can’t help cringing when people from the audience scream, “Whore!” the second time she walks out.
No one deserves that. Especially if she had no idea what the show did.
Conflicting emotions war inside me but I keep my face smooth and calm. At least, I hope so.
Kiki embraces Naptime. They make an uncomfortable show of licking each other’s tongues, and then finally take their seats.
“Well, well, well.” Matt paces closer to Naptime and Kiki. “You two seem to be extremely cozy now.” He glances at the audience and, I think, attempts to wiggle his eyebrows. “But at a certain point, Kiki, everyone was sure you’d end up with Stonewall. What happened there?”
“Nothing,” Kiki says. “Nothing at all.”
Thank you!
In my heart, I know Griff didn’t sleep with her, but I hate that so many people who watched the show think he did. He’s not a cheater. In relationships or fights. I cast a stink-eye at Naptime. Unlike some people.
“But we caught it on tape.” Matt’s whispery gotcha voice crawls over my skin like centipedes.
Overblown muffled voices and guttural groans echo from the speakers.
“Shhh.”
“Hurry up.”
The images have already been burned into my brain. No need to see them again. I stare straight ahead, ignoring the video playing on the screen behind me.