Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 103159 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 516(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103159 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 516(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
Kipton’s eyes widened in shock.
I balled my fists together and was ready to pound Jack’s face. My father and Uncle Dirk must have seen my anger growing because they both walked over. When my father put his hand on my arm, he said, “Hunter, take a breath.”
“There isn’t any other way around this where Travis doesn’t act like an asshole?” Uncle Dirk asked.
Jack just stood there. He had just as much say on the show as Travis. He could play the innocent part all he wanted, but he could go against Travis if he wanted to.
When literally everyone in the room started arguing with Jack, Rose held her hands up and shouted, “Okay, everyone, calm the hell down—and hear me out.”
My mother laughed and looked at my father. “Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
KIPTON
My head spun, and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to scream or cry. When Rose yelled at everyone to calm down, all I wanted to do was fall into Hunter’s arms.
“Oh great. This should be good. If you have an idea, I’d love to hear it,” Jack said, rolling his eyes at Rose.
Rose shot him a dirty look. “Kipton can still be the host. It was the audience’s decision to send Kipton and Hunter on a date. Well…so what? Send them on a date and give the viewers what they want. But Travis needs to realize half those viewers are tuning in for Kipton alone. Look at the comments, Jack. They love her. They also love that she’s hosting the show. Pull her, and you’ll have a ton of pissed-off viewers. This could just be another part of your stupid experiment since you’re so fond of changing the rules every other day. If you can throw in paid actresses, you can let the audience choose the host for a date. Who even cares when the rules are constantly changing?”
“And if the audience wants them to go on a second date?” Jack asked.
Rose shrugged. “Then send them on another date.”
“I’m the host, though,” I argued. “I can’t host my own damn dates.”
“Who says? They’re making up the rules as they go along now, so why not? Have a guest host when you and Hunter go on a date. Or hell, play host right up until the date starts. Have fun with it.”
“Have fun with it?” I asked, pinching the bridge of my nose.
“Yes!” Rose said with so much exasperation in her voice, I couldn’t help but giggle. “Girl, you’re the host whom everyone adores. So much so, they voted you into the damn dating pool! Don’t let Travis turn this into something bad or dramatic or conniving. Go on the damn date, have a fantastic time, and kiss the living shit out of each other. Let the viewers see there’s really something between you.” She glanced at Hunter. “If they truly want this to be a dating experiment, then show everyone what it’s really like when you date someone you feel a genuine connection with.”
Jack nodded and stepped closer to Rose. “As much as it pains me to agree with her, she’s right. That’s what the show is supposed to be about. Finding someone you connect with. Go on the date and just…be yourselves. Once the audience sees the chemistry between you two, they’ll go mad for it.” He turned to Hunter. “And, Hunter, then you can swipe left on however many girls you want.”
“But, to keep it interesting, I think you need to keep Kimber.”
I shot Rose a dirty look, and she gave me an apologetic smile. “I know, I know. Hunter has some weird thing with her.”
Hunter huffed. “I don’t have a weird thing with her.”
“She was the only date you kissed,” I added.
“Only because she keeps kissing me first! I didn’t want to make her feel bad, and it didn’t mean anything.”
Jack started to pace. “No, I think you’re right. We keep Kimber because there was a spark between you two. Then the audience will believe at least two women are in the running for your affection.”
Hunter’s eyes went wide. “Are you trying to ruin my relationship with Kipton before it starts?”
“Of course not,” Jack said. “But we won’t have a show at all if you get rid of everyone.”
“Why Kimber, though?” Hunter argued.
A strange feeling washed over me, and I took a step away from Hunter. “Are you worried about keeping her? About your feelings for her?” Everyone saw that kiss. The one they shared after he removed Kimber’s blindfold on their first date.
He looked at me, seemingly horrified. “No!”
“Then why do you want to get rid of her? Are you worried you might develop feelings for her?”
Hunter’s eyes went wide. “Of course I’m not.”
“I will say, this would truly be a test of your relationship,” Rose mused with her arms folded across her chest as she glared at Hunter. She was clearly thinking the same thing I was.