Tristan picked up the second ribbon. “The second name I’m going to call is…Linda.”
A thin smile spread across Linda’s face as she moved toward him, offering her hand.
“Linda, do you accept this ribbon?”
“I do.”
“I enjoyed our spooky date,” he said.
“Me, too.” She stepped beside Marion.
Tristan took the third ribbon. “Charity,” he said, and Charity made her way across the room to him like she was ready to eat him alive. She towered over him on her heels as he tied the ribbon to her wrist.
Sabrina and Amy shared a nervous glance. Amy had never been mean to Sabrina, and she wished the woman no ill, but she’d be damned if she was about to lose to her.
Brandon waved from the sidelines. “Last ribbon,” he said. “Make it count, old boy.”
Tristan took the final ribbon into his hands. “There’s only one name I’m going to call. And that name is…Sabrina.”
Sabrina let out a sigh of relief. “Damn right,” she said before she realized the words were on their way out. She covered her mouth as she stood before Tristan.
“Do you accept this ribbon?” he asked her.
She nodded as he tied it onto her wrist. It stretched tight against her skin.
“Watch that mouth, you hear?” He was grinning, but Sabrina felt the shame course through her.
“Of course,” she said as she joined Linda in the line of chosen women.
Amy stood silent across from them. Tristan held out his hands to offer her a hug, but she fell to her knees in tears. As she pounded the floor with her fists, Brandon walked over to the shelf of photographs and drew an “X” across her face. “Why?” she called out, but no one moved to help her. Instead, Deja ushered the camera people closer.
“Zoom in on her face,” Deja said, loud enough that they all could hear.
Tristan turned to face the remaining women. “Congratulations!” he said as Deja ushered Amy into a different room, where she could no longer ruin the soundtrack. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a white envelope. He handed the card to Sabrina.
“A date card?” she said.
He nodded as she slid her fingernail along the crease and pulled a white card with words scrawled across it.
Fear makes the heart grow stronger.
Who will be able to stay longer?
Across the bottom of the card were all four women’s names. Sabrina read them aloud: “Sabrina, Marion, Charity, Linda.”
Marion’s face fell.
“Linda?” she said. “But Linda just had a one-on-one…”
It was protocol for any woman on the one-on-one to be excluded from the next group date, for fairness’ sake.
“I need all my ladies on this one,” he said as Marion crossed her arms. “You understand.”
“I do,” Sabrina said, wanting to please him.
“What’s with all the spooky shit? Did I miss something?” Linda said. “Halloween was two weeks ago.” She had a point. The show made no mention of the holiday because the actual airing would take place in the summer, and the producers usually worked to imbue the show’s activities with a sense of timelessness. The production team would edit out Linda’s comment.
“It’s bullshit,” Marion said. “You shouldn’t get to go on two dates in one week.”
“Now, ladies,” Tristan said, frowning. “Let’s not fight. I don’t like it when girls fight.”
Charity rolled her eyes. “It’s bullshit. And I’m not going to take it, not tonight!” She stomped her feet and, like a child, ran up the stairs to her room. Tristan stepped to go after her, then stopped and glanced back at the other women.
Sabrina reached for Tristan’s hand and squeezed it, seizing the moment to comfort him. “I can’t wait…for whatever it is.”
Tristan’s frown relaxed. “Good,” he said. “Now head on up and pack your bags. We’re going on a road trip in the morning.”
Chapter Three
Sabrina
In her half-sleep, Sabrina felt a hand creep across hers. Her heart hammered as she began to scream, but a palm cupped her mouth.
“It’s just me,” a male voice said. She’d recognize the voice anywhere.
“Tristan,” she breathed from behind his hand. He uncovered her mouth. “What are you doing here?”
“Wondering if you wanted to take a walk,” he said.
