Makayla looks over at me and smiles. Out of all the other women, she had an introduction just like mine. She’s an elementary school teacher who loves the mountains and white-water rafting. From what I can tell, she’s down to earth.
“What do you think the guys will be like?” she asks. We continue to look around for good hiding spots, but they’re all getting taken by the others.
I shrug. “No clue. I have a strange feeling I’ll be a huge disappointment to the guy who picks me. I’m not like the other women.” For a second, I forgot about the cameras.
Makayla snickers. “Honestly, same here. I’m no super model like these other women. On the weekends, I like to sit on the couch and binge watch shows on Netflix.”
“Same,” I laugh, loving how easy it is to talk to her. I look down at our eggs and sigh. “Time’s running out, Makayla. We should probably hide our eggs.”
She nods. “Want to help each other?”
I nod back. “Sounds great to me.” We walk around the courtyard and there ends up being a large crack in one of the palm tree trunks. It’s big enough for her to slide her egg in.
“This is perfect,” she says excitedly. She glances down at my egg and scans the courtyard. “We need to find a good spot for you.”
Time is running out. There’s a rock and cactus garden just at the edge of the courtyard with Wanglo flowers intermingled throughout. Their bright yellow petals are even shining in the waning sun. All the other women stayed away from the garden. I guess for fear of getting pricked. I look at Makayla and smile. She shakes her head and laughs. “Seriously? You’re going to make some poor guy reach in with all those thorns?”
“Hey,” I say with a shrug, “someone has to do it. I’m curious to see which guy will go for it.”
I walk over to the rock garden and carefully place my egg as far in between the cactus as I can get. The viewers on TV are either going to love or hate me for that. Honestly, I think it’s awesome. I look over at my sister and she gives me the thumbs up. Maybe it’ll work to my advantage and none of the guys will be brave enough to reach for it.
The time has come for us to leave the courtyard and wait in the meeting room while the men are introduced and find our eggs. This is our chance to see them for the first time. There will be TV monitors in the room for us to watch them. Makayla grips onto my arm as we walk back into the resort.
“I am so nervous,” she says, shivering.
So am I. Once in the meeting room, we sit down in front of the monitors. All of the people who were in the room before are no longer around. It’s just us and a couple of people I recognize from my sister’s work. There’s a table in the corner with drinks and snacks. I’m tempted to grab me something, but I jump when one of the girls squeals so loud it makes my ears hurt.
“Oh my God, there they are!”
Makayla squeezes my arm. “This is it.”
The men line up on the stage just like we did. My nerves have me nauseous and the last thing I need is to throw up when I’m introduced to my bachelor. Taking a deep breath, I let it out slow and stand. Makayla’s eyes go wide. “What are you doing? Are you not going to watch?”
I hold up a hand. “I’ll be right back. I need a ginger ale and some crackers.” And some peace and quiet. The other women act as if they’ve never seen men before. It’s not like they’re going to meet their soulmates. The chances of that are slim to none. Slowly, I drink the ginger ale and let it settle in my stomach along with the peanut butter crackers. I was too nervous to eat earlier and now it’s biting me in the ass.
When I make it back to Makayla, all the men have been introduced. “You missed it,” she says, shaking her head. “Now you’re not going to know who everyone is.”
I laugh. “I’m sure they’re all the same anyway.”
She shakes her head. “Sorry to disappoint you, but no. I’m not going to lie, there’s one guy I hope finds my egg.”
Sitting down beside her, I focus on the screen. The guys are in the courtyard with the cameras following them around. A couple of them have already found eggs and are back on the stage. Most of the guys don’t even pay attention to the rock and cactus garden. They walk by it without a single notice.
I smile and sit back in my chair. “Doesn’t look like anyone’s going to find mine. Maybe that means I’ll be spending this vacation alone.”
And just as I say it, one of the cameras follows a guy who’s headed straight toward the rock garden. I can’t see what the guy looks like, but then he faces the camera and the breath whooshes out of my lungs.
“Oh. My. God.”
Makayla gasps. “What?”
I can’t take my focus off the guy on the TV, the one about to find my egg. It’s been so long since I’ve seen him, but there’s no mistaking that grin of his and those stark gray eyes.
Makayla squeezes my arm. “Allie, what’s wrong? Do you know him?”
With a heavy sigh, I look at him and huff. “Yep. I know him very well.”
“And?” she prods, nudging me with her elbow.
“And he’s an ass,” I reply, hating my life. “Just my damn luck.”
4
Hudson
I’ve battled fires. I’ve competed in obstacles courses. I’ve done the Spartan race. I’ve scaled buildings and rock formations. All done with ease and without fear. But
