Choose Us Read online

  Travis smiled, hearing my made up career for the first time. “It must be hard being a personal assistant. You probably get bossed around, get sent on mundane errands, and probably don’t get told how helpful you really are.”

  I smiled at him over my glass of water, catching the twinkle in his eyes. “You have no idea.”

  “So, are you getting along with the other girls?”

  “Well, I can’t say I’ve talked to them all, so I can’t give you a complete honest opinion. The ones I did talk to seemed nice.” I rattled off the names of the girls from the couch. “There are a few who seemed to form a clique already, and Nicki, their ‘leader’ seems a little… She seems over-the-top.” I hoped that was enough to say without seeming like I’m pushing him to dismiss someone.

  “Cliques? Leaders? What is this, high school?” Travis asked.

  “Tell me about it. But that’s how it is in there. Nicki mentioned she had met you once before.” I casually explained.

  “Did she? She never mentioned it when we spoke. When did she say she met me?” He gave me a questioning glance.

  “She said it was sometime last year, in Chicago. I guess after an event you went to a bar and she was there. You bought her drinks, talked for hours!” I exclaimed dramatically.

  I glanced up at Travis and saw the super confused look on his face.

  I knew I was right. Lying dirty tramp.

  “I don’t really recall that happening, but I’m a busy guy and I’ve hit my head a few times,” he said with a grin.

  “Believe me, I know. I’ve been there every time you hit that big ol’ noggin of yours.”

  We talked for several more minutes, about nothing at all really. I wanted desperately to tell him who I really thought should go, but I didn’t want to come off to America as a judgmental bitch. I was still me after all, and as much as I didn’t want to be on the show, I still wanted America to like me—at least a little. This whole thing was going to be harder than I thought.

  When Travis and I returned to the house, he was pulled away to a different room to make his final decision. So I secured a seat by the fireplace where I could eavesdrop on Nicki and her crew.

  "I just know we hit it off. There is no way I'm going home tonight," one of Nicki's posse exclaimed. I glanced up quickly, and noticed Nicki roll her eyes.

  "We have so much in common," Nicki said loudly for the whole room to hear. "I swear he was about to kiss me before the crew said our time was up."

  Yep, now it was my turn to roll my eyes at her. I don’t think she had ever told the truth in her life. Before I could say something, Taylor came swooping in and sat next to me.

  “Don’t give in to her. She just wants the attention,” she whispered, glancing back at Nicki.

  “She is so frustrating! Why would anyone think it’s okay for her to be on this show?”

  “I’m sure it’s the drama she’ll add. Helps with the ratings and all.” Taylor wiggled her eyebrows.

  I couldn’t help but laugh. “Yeah, you’re probably right. I just wish it would have been anyone but her to add the drama.”

  Taylor snorted over her cup of water. “Oh sweetie, I think everyone in this room thinks the same thing.”

  “Even her minions?” I glanced at Nicki who was swarmed by the other girls.

  Taylor barked out a laugh and quickly covered her mouth when everyone looked her way. “Especially her minions. Who do you think is going to get the most air time? Those who lay under the radar or those who make such a fuss about everything and cause the most drama? And right now, those girls know they have no chance of competing against her in the high maintenance department so they won’t get as much air time. They are secretly hoping for her demise,” Taylor whispered the last part wickedly to me.

  My goodness, I did not realize this TV show would be so complicated. I figured it would be quick, simple and painless. Travis would figure out who was his best fit quickly and the rest would just be a bunch of fun relaxing time. Guess that’s what I get for never paying attention to any of those other dating shows before.

  Before I could do anything but stare stupidly at Taylor, Travis came walking back into the room with Tessa, the middle aged retired snowboarder and host of the show.

  “Alright ladies, now is the time you all have been dreading. Travis has come to his decision and five of you will be leaving us shortly. If you could all come and stand in front of the doors, we’ll get started.” Tessa informed us. She gestured for us all to line up in front of the doors that led to the backyard. The camera crew spent a few minutes positioning everyone in just the right spots before they motioned for Travis to take it away.

  “I know I haven’t gotten to know you all very well. This elimination is unfortunately based on first impressions more than anything. I know it sucks being the first girls to leave and I very well could be making the wrong choices here, but again, it’s all based on the little I have learned about each of you. Sometimes you feel that click and sometimes you don’t.” Travis was poised, glancing at every girl as he talked, so he wasn’t singling just one out.

  I tried not to laugh at how professionally lame he sounded. This was definitely a Travis I didn’t know. I wondered just how much input the producers were having in what he said or how he presented himself. I hoped it was just for this initial show, and they’d let Travis be himself after this. Nothing like him being a puppet on their strings. I sighed and tuned back into what Travis was saying.

  “So, we have these string bracelets you will get if I ask you to stay. You can wear them for as long or as little as you’d like. It isn’t necessary to wear them the entire time you are here, if you don’t want to. It’s just my gift to you for continuing this journey with me.” He held up the bracelet for us to get a good look at. It was maroon, with two thin strings and what looked like about ten small gold metal beads lining the front. It looked to be adjustable by just pulling the strands in the back.

  “So, let’s start, shall we? Travis, who is the first person you’d like to stay?” Tessa clapped her hands and ushered Travis to begin.

  “This person seemed slightly shy when talking to me, but I am really interested in getting to know her more.” Travis played with the bracelet. “So this bracelet is going to Taylor.”

  I beamed when he said her name. If I could pick anyone right now, it would be Taylor.

  She giggled and made her way up to Travis. He slipped the bracelet on her and gave her a hug before she turned around to head back to her spot with a huge grin on her face.

  “I can’t believe she got picked first. She is so lame.” Nicki, who was standing just to my left, hissed under her breath. I’m pretty sure I’m the only one who heard her, but wished like hell the cameras were able to pick up on what she said, so everyone else would know what a bitch she really was.

  Travis picked up another bracelet and continued to call girls up to receive them. Erin and Addison were called up, as well as Nicki’s wannabe minions Lena, Kara and Holly.

  “The next woman was very interesting to talk to and fell all over herself when we first met.” Travis grinned while playing with the bracelet.

  I let out a low gasp, while Nicki let out a low squeal.

  “Nicki, this one is for you.” Travis held out the bracelet as Nicki pushed her way past the girl in front of her. She threw her arms around Travis before he could put the bracelet on her and she gave him a kiss on the cheek.

  The tops of Travis’ cheeks turned slightly pink. No one else would even notice the tinge, but I did and knew exactly what it meant—he was embarrassed from her reaction. I just shook my head slightly at her over dramatic display of affection and groaned inwardly that Travis had kept her here.

  Nicki walked back up to her spot next to me with a smug grin on her face. “Sure feels nice to have this thing,” she muttered, just loud enough for me to hear. “Too bad you won’t know what this feels like.”

  Ugh, I so wanted to punch her in the face. I wondered if that w
ould be okay, if it would add to the drama the producers were so eager to have.

  “Next up, this woman made a quiet, yet breathtaking entrance. She is someone I feel I can talk to about anything, and one who I would love to keep around for a while.” He glanced up and made direct eye contact with me. “Riley, it’s yours.”

  I couldn’t help the grin that formed on my face as I held my head high and walked past Nicki to receive the bracelet. Travis slid it on and winked at me before wrapping me in a hug.

  “Tonight, meet me at the guest house, midnight. Take the door off the kitchen and follow the pathway to the left,” he whispered in my ear.

  I nodded against his neck then released him and headed back to my spot, with a perma-grin on my face. I glanced at Nicki who was eying me and lifted my arm to acknowledge the bracelet. Nicki scowled at me before turning her body away in the opposite direction.

  Krista and Whitney, the last two of Nicki’s minions, got the final bracelets, leaving Bethany, Chloe and three girls I didn’t know without one.

  “The ladies who didn’t get a bracelet, I am sorry to say I just didn’t feel the click and unfortunately your time here has ended,” Travis said uneasily.

  Chloe burst into tears as she walked up to give Travis a hug, making him even more uncomfortable.

  “But we barely got to talk! How are you sure we didn’t click?!” she wailed.

  Bethany draped her arm around Chloe and led her out the door, before she could make a bigger spectacle out of herself.

  When all the goodbyes were said, Tessa clapped her hands again, “Well, you’ve all made it past the first cut! I would suggest you get to bed early tonight, since it’ll be an early morning for you all. Lots of fun events going on! So, say goodnight to Travis and head on up to bed.”

  “It’s only 10 o’clock. Who goes to bed at ten?” Nicki moaned from the front of the group.

  “I do.” Travis smiled at her. “I’m exhausted after meeting you all today!”

  Nicki melted at his words, “Well, I guess a little extra beauty sleep never hurt.”

  After we said our good-nights to Travis and each other, we all headed up to find our rooms. Each room had one of our names on the door. The crew must have done it right after the eliminations.

  I found my room on the second floor and my suitcase was already on my bed. Another thing the crew must have done. I closed the door and leaned back, relieved to have my first completely alone time since this afternoon. No cameras, no crew, no other girls… just me, my thoughts, and this huge gorgeous room.

  One wall was half taken up by a window with a huge, comfortable window seat. On the other wall sat a huge queen four-poster bed that was covered with a white quilt with lime green flowers. The wall opposite the window had a small walk-through closet, which entered into a private bath.

  I quickly unpacked my belongings and grabbed some comfy yoga pants with a soft cotton t-shirt and headed to the bathroom to take a quick shower.

  I stood under the waterfall spray of the shower for much longer than I anticipated, washing off the day’s events and thinking over what Travis had said when he gave me the bracelet.

  Breathtaking. He said breathtaking. What in the world did that mean? Sighing, I turned off the shower and quickly dried off. I threw on my pajamas and crawled on my bed to relax until it was time to head out to visit Travis. I glanced at the clock. 11:15. Still about 30 minutes before I would need to leave.

  I started playing with the bracelet on my wrist. I figured I would take it off as soon as I reached my room. But it was simple and comfortable, and something I would definitely wear in my normal life anyway. There was something else that kept me from taking it off, but I just couldn’t put my finger on what.

  At 11:45 I quietly shut the door to my room and made my way to the servants’ staircase, which was located right next to my room. The house was quiet, but I still walked as slowly as I could, glancing down the stairway before I descended, making sure it was clear. Who knew if one of the girls had the case of the midnight munchies?

  The bottom of the stairs opened into the dark kitchen. The light of the moon barely made it through the windows, but it was enough to light my way to the door so I could get there without bumping into anything.

  I found the door unlocked and quietly opened it, stepping out into the cool night. Closing the door behind me I followed the path to the left as Travis had instructed.

  The guest house was about a quarter mile down the path. It was hidden from the main house by a patch of trees but had the same views of the lake. The house looked small and cozy after being in the mansion.

  I walked to the front door and lifted my hand to knock, but it flew open before I could make contact.

  “I thought you were going to bail!” Travis pulled me into the house and gave me a hug.

  “I haven’t had a normal conversation with you in two weeks. You really think I was just going to stay in my amazingly comfy bed and get some much needed sleep?” I mumbled into his chest.

  I felt his laugh rumble though him before I heard him. “Well, if it makes you feel any better, I have a pretty comfy bed here.”

  “Oh thank goodness!” I sighed against him. “I’m exhausted!”

  I kicked off my running shoes by the door and followed Travis through the entryway/kitchen area, down the hall and into his bedroom.

  That little punk had a king size bed in here.

  Seriously, what would one person need a king size bed for? I walked over to the bed and face planted into it, sinking a good inch in.

  I lifted myself up on my elbows. “You’ve been holding out on me. This bed is so much more amazing than mine!”

  Travis laughed from his side of the bed, before climbing in and adjusting the pillows behind him.

  I rolled to my back and sat up, scooting myself close to him against the headboard.

  Damn, even the pillows are amazing.

  “I’m never leaving this bed.” I sighed, relaxing into the pillows.

  “I’m not sure that’s what the producers were going for. But it could be arranged.” Travis wiggled his eyebrows at me while flicking on the TV with the remote.

  I would have hit him, but I felt much too relaxed to even lift a finger.

  Travis flicked through the channels at warp speed, twice, before deciding to shut the television off. He threw the remote on the nightstand and leaned back deeper into the pillows next to me.

  “Travis.”

  “Hmm?”

  “Why on Earth did you keep Nicki here?” I watched him closely for his reaction.

  He groaned and rolled to face me. “I know what you said about her and I was going to send her home tonight. But then I walked out and saw her there and….”

  “You thought with your dick. That’s what you’re saying.” I flicked him on his nose.

  “Can you blame me?”

  “Yes! She is a horrible, wretched, utterly fake woman!” I watched him squirm at my words. “Seriously Travis, I thought I was here to help you make decisions. To tell you who the girls are behind your back. If you wanted to just think with little Travis, then why am I here?”

  Travis shook his head and pressed his palms to his eyes. “I know, I know. I messed up, okay?”

  I huffed a long breath out through my nose and closed my eyes. I tried to focus on anything other than the stupid decisions Travis made.

  “Look, I’ll take your opinion into more consideration next time, okay?” He placed a gentle hand under my chin, forcing me to look him in the eye.

  “I guess that’s all I can ask for.” I sighed as I closed my eyes and snuggled deeper into the pillow. “But, if you feel like letting me go earlier than planned, I’d be okay with it.”

  “Not a chance. You’re stuck with me.” Travis laughed. He pulled the blankets out from under our bodies and covered us with them.

  “Don’t let me fall asleep here. I’m pretty sure that would cause major issues if the girls found out.” I sank deeper
into the pillows. I finally felt completely relaxed for the first time in weeks.

  “Mmmhmm, that would be bad.” He agreed.

  Those were the last words I heard him say before I fell off into a dreamless sleep.

  “Riles. Riles wake up!” My shoulder was being shaken so hard I thought it was going to dislocate.

  “Mmm, five more minutes.” I groaned, rolling to get out of the horrible grasp.

  “Riles, you don’t have five minutes! It’s 7:30. You need to get up and get back to the house!” This time I recognized Travis as the shoulder nudging culprit.

  “Trav, go away.” I threw my arm out, hitting him in the jaw.

  “Doll, I can’t go away when I have to be at the house in an hour!”

  Wait, did he say an hour?

  I shot up, rubbing my eyes against the bright light streaming through his bedroom windows.

  Shit, I had fallen asleep in his bed. Now I had to find some way to sneak back into the house, with all the girls awake. Double shit.

  “Trav, you weren’t supposed to let me fall asleep!” I whined, crawling out of bed. “How am I supposed to get back into the house undetected?” I walked over to his windows, throwing my hair up into a messy bun at the top of my head.

  I peeked through his curtains and could see the main house just through the trees. People were moving about throughout the house. I turned to the other window which looked directly out to the pool.

  “Nice view you have here.” My voice dripped with sarcasm. I could make out two figures drinking coffee out on the patio.

  Crap, getting back there under the radar was going to be next to impossible.

  “Trav, how am I going to get back there?” Groaning, I followed him into his kitchen.

  “I don’t know. I uh…” Travis glanced around the kitchen trying to come up with a plan. His eyes landed on something and he broke into a smile. “That’s it.”

  I looked down to what he was staring at and laughed. “My shoes? What genius plan did you come up with using my shoes?”