Royal Chase

“Nico’s in New York and I’m in California and I feel like part of me is missing. And I’m very secure in our relationship. You know I adore him. But when we’re apart, I’m counting down the minutes until we’re together again.”

There was nothing I could say to that.

“Look, it’s late and we should both get some sleep. Just ask yourself this—when you’re apart from Dante, do you miss him?”

“Good-night, Kat.” I hung up the phone.

It was a question I didn’t want to answer.

Chapter 16

I had a lengthy conversation with your doctor, and he thinks you need more Vitamin Me.

They kept Dante and me separate on our return back to California, and I was glad to have some alone time before returning to the house.

Genesis was excited to see me, Michelle was indifferent, and Scabigail was hostile. Genesis had a date that afternoon with Dante, and she asked if I would help her get ready. I said yes, and helped do her hair and her makeup while she told me about what an amazing time they’d had in Cozumel. There had been some kind of comic book convention at their hotel, and he’d agreed to take her. I tried to imagine Dante with a bunch of comic book enthusiasts, and I couldn’t.

He must have really liked Genesis to do something like that.

Which is good. Even if it felt awful.

She left, and I had more time to think about what a terrible person I had become. How I was engaged to one man and falling for another. How I despised cheaters and was in danger of turning into one.

And how all of America could end up hating me for being such a fickle, horrible woman.

Taylor scheduled another interview, covering up the camera so we could talk candidly. I didn’t tell her about Sterling and not missing him, but I did tell her pretty much everything else. It was nice to have someone to talk to who wasn’t half-asleep or halfway across the world. She was so sympathetic and so kind, she even started crying. Which made me cry, and we sat in the interview room crying and hugging each other.

When we finally stopped, she told me that Matthew Burdette was not only happy with how I’d been with Dante, he had a present for me.

She handed me a piece of paper. “He had an assistant make up a list of people that he knew were looking for a new public relations company. He said as soon as the show was over he would personally put in a good word for you. You can start calling them once we’re all done here.”

I looked over the names, and I recognized most of them. Even just two of them hiring my company would make a huge impact, which was both exciting and disturbing. It felt like a gift or a bribe, and something to give Burdette even more leverage.

I went into the kitchen to find something healthy to snack on. Crying it out had helped to clear up some of my negative emotions, and the prospect of having a life again after this show, and of being able to grow my business, made me feel happy.

And I stayed happy, right up to the moment where I saw Dante and Genesis outside in the backyard holding hands. She rested her head on his shoulder, and he tilted his head so that they touched. She turned to smile up at him, and it looked like he was about to kiss her. My stomach hardened and I felt sick with jealousy. Doubled-over, ready-to-run-for-the-bathroom sick with jealousy.

It’s okay, I told myself. I have Sterling, and we’re getting married, and I want Dante and Genesis to be happy.

I really did want it. Even if it made me want to bludgeon somebody.

Then it was time to get ready for a cocktail party. I guessed that Michelle would be sent home. They wanted Abigail to stay to cause problems, and I saw with my own eyes how well Genesis was doing. Burdette wanted me to stay, so it seemed like the only logical outcome.

I was glad Genesis didn’t come upstairs while I was getting ready. It gave me time to compose myself, so that I could be nice and happy for her when I saw her again.

As soon as I came into the family room, Dante took me by my elbow and asked to speak with me. I put on a bright, happy smile and followed him.

Then he said the last thing I expected him to say. “Do you want me to send you home? I don’t want you to be unhappy. You can go back to Atlanta, if that’s what you want.”