Reality Love Bites
Chapter 10
"Well, today wasn't the big disaster that I was expecting, so bravo girls."
Instantly Bo's hackles rose at Vex's comment and she stopped her recount of one of Kenzi's most outrageous stunts that she had been animatedly sharing with Tamsin and gave him a hard stare. "What the HELL is that supposed to mean?" she demanded.
"Oh puh-lease!" Vex rolled his eyes at the defiant brunette sitting beside Tamsin. "You can't honestly say that you've given this show your all. The only reason you are still here is because of Tamsin."
Bo crossed her arms over her chest. "Well, shouldn't it be her decision who she wants to spend time with?"
Vex burst out laughing. It was close to being hysterical and it took him a minute to stop and pull himself back together. "You can't honestly be that naive, Darling!"
"Vex," Tamsin said softly as she rubbed Bo's thigh, hoping to soothe her a little. "The whole process was a surprise to me as well. I had no idea that almost every single decision would be discussed and negotiated. That I would be forced to keep contestants just because they make for more titillating and outrageous television!"
"Drama and titillation is what brings in the ratings, Tam Tam. Can you honestly say that this woman has shown you anything genuine to suggest that she isn't here just for the prize money? She hasn't shown any enthusiasm in any of the challenges since the paintball event and even then she allowed her straight friend to go on the date with you. I think winning the poetry mic night challenge was an accident to boot!"
"YOU BASTARD!"
"Am I wrong?" Vex asked with a raised eyebrow. Bo clenched her jaw and said nothing and just continued to glare at him. "The truth is you have cruised through this competition so far and if the other TV executives don't protest when Tamsin asks to take you to the final three, I will!"
"How do you know I want to keep Bo? Maybe I will dismiss her in the next elimination. Perhaps I just really wanted to have a proper date with her first before dismissing her."
"So you are going to get rid of her in the next culling?"
"I have had an enjoyable time today and you have gotten some pretty good footage. You told me so earlier."
"Oh my God! You want to keep her around!" Vex exclaimed emphatically. "Un-fucking-believable. She may be beautiful and have a nice rack, Tamsin, but she hasn't given you any real substance!"
"HEY! I AM SITTING RIGHT HERE!"
Vex ignored her and focused on his friend, "What is this hard on you have for this girl, Tam? Please tell me because I just don't get it. The time for messing around is over. I'm going to let you in on a little secret. There are not going to be any more challenges. Starting tomorrow, you are going to have dates with Nadia, Crystal and Ciara because they haven't a date with you yet. And then the night after tomorrow you will choose your top three to spend an entire day and night with you at your cottage. Please don't waste a spot on her," he finished with a point of his finger.
"Why do you dislike me so much?" Bo asked a little deflated after Vex's outburst. She could feel how much he cared for his friend and she wasn't here for the right reasons and the guilt flooded through her making her feel sick to the stomach.
"I don't dislike you as opposed to distrust you. I am not just doing this for my career. I did it for my friend, who has been alone in her grief for too long." Vex turned to Tamsin. "I love you and I have listened to Ciara, my other best friend, tell me constantly that she can't tell you how she feels because it's like she is betraying Jess."
"You did this to make Ciara admit her feelings for me?"
"And for you to realise yours for her, yes."
"And if I choose somebody else," Tamsin asked, struggling to clamp down on the rising emotions within her.
The entire process of the show had dredged up so many repressed and unresolved feelings for Tamsin. She hadn't wanted to face that she was desperately lonely and longed for someone to love and hold in her arms at night. She had allowed her guilt to reign for way too long and she had always clamped down on her feelings whenever the idea of being more than friends with Ciara had entered her mind.
But since it had been revealed that Ciara was here to win her heart, her love, she hadn't been able to think about anything else and she had been going out of her mind with the need to talk to Ciara.
"If you have genuine feelings for someone else, of course, I would want you to go with your heart, but at the same time we need the viewer to believe that it's real and I'm sorry, but I don't feel anything between the two of you and neither will the audience." Vex fixed his gaze onto Bo. "If you really want to continue to the top three, you better pull out all the stops when you say goodnight on the doorstep tonight. I am talking about a pouring of the heart about how strong your connection to Tamsin is and how you really want to be her wife. And then I will expect a melt into a puddle kiss to prove your growing feelings towards Tamsin. I want you to give the performance of your life and convince even the most cynical viewer that you are falling in love. Got it!"
Bo swallowed the lump in her throat. She was in love, but it wasn't with Tamsin and she felt raw and exposed because even Tamsin knew that Bo's heart wasn't in it for her. Bo broke her gaze from Vex and looked at Tamsin. Bo valued honesty above almost everything else and tried to live her life accordingly, but what she was doing right now was so beyond her comfort and moral zone.
Obviously the look in Bo's eyes let Tamsin see her thoughts and her struggle because Tamsin leaned forward to whisper into Bo's ear. "Can you do this if I tell you I have a plan and that everything will turn out okay in the end. You don't need to believe just make sure everybody else does."
The limousine pulled into the driveway. "It's time to act your asses off ladies and be assured that the other contestants will be watching." Vex slid out of the limo with the cameraman following to get the shot of them exiting the car and saying good night to one another.
"You ready?" Tamsin asked with a small, reassuring smile.
"I feel like I'm going to be sick," Bo responded morosely.
"Can you do this?"
"I don't know," Bo responded honestly. "It just feels so wrong. You know my heart belongs to someone else. It's dishonest and unfair to everyone else that are here for the right reasons."
"COME ON LADIES!"
"You can do this, Bo."
"I just... Why are you doing this?"
Tamsin searched Bo's troubled eyes and had the sinking feeling that the night was not going to end well. "We don't have time to discuss this. You will just have to trust me. If it helps close your eyes and think about the woman who does have your heart while you kiss me."
Tamsin got out of the car and held her hand out to her. Bo hadn't thought of anything else but Lauren and the thought of Lauren watching her kiss Tamsin made her physically ill. She allowed Tamsin to lead her onto the porch and tried to push her her troubling thoughts aside. She had stayed for one reason and one reason only, to spend as much time with Lauren as she could. She was in love with the blonde doctor and Lauren was in love with her. She didn't want to taint that love any more than she already had. She didn't want Lauren watching her make out with Tamsin.
"I had such a wonderful time today, Bo and I certainly saw a glimpse of the woman that wrote such a touching and romantic poem to win the date today."
Bo stared blankly at Tamsin. The poem! Bo had almost forgotten why she was on this date in the first place. The poem was for Lauren. Everything was about and for Lauren. She wouldn't cheapen what they have for the sake of money and ratings. She would be true to herself and the way she felt about Lauren. "I'm sorry. I can't do this anymore," Bo said softly, pleading with Tamsin to understand that it wasn't about trust, but about what was the right thing to do.
Here it comes, Tamsin thought to herself as she watched the struggle disappear and clarity and determination replace it. If this is what she wants I won't change her mind. "What can't you do?" Tamsin asked playing along.
"I can't keep pretending. The poem was written about someone else. I have fallen in love with one of the other contestants and I can't continue pretending to be interested in you when my heart belongs to another. I value honesty and I have behaved terribly and am not proud of my behaviour. I hope you can forgive me. I should never have gone on the date. I have deceived you and I will not waste any more of your time. I am leaving the competition as of right now."
Tamsin took Bo's hand in hers as tears brimmed in her eyes. She could see Vex biting his hand to keep from shouting out. He didn't want to disturb the filming of this moment and Tamsin knew that she would need to sit Vex down and reveal to him that she already knew that Bo didn't care for her and that she wasn't hurt by Bo's actions. "Thank you for being honest with me, Bo. I can't say that I'm not disappointed, but at the same time I did feel that we hadn't clicked the way that I had hoped."
"I'm sorry," Bo said softly, tears forming in her own eyes from the revelation and freedom she felt from her confession.
"Please don't be sorry for being true to yourself and ending this now and not later. Before you go could you do one thing for me?"
Bo nodded, "If it is in my power to do so sure."
"I would like you to whisper who in the house you have fallen in love with before you get into that limousine and leaving immediately. One of the house staff will bring you your belongs. I hope you understand that we cannot allow you to go back into the house and have contact with any of the other contestants."
"I understand," Bo said sadly. She leaned forward and whispered Lauren's name into Tamsin's ear and felt the blonde nod.
"Thank you. Good bye, Bo. It has been an honour and a privilege to have been given the chance to get to know you and I wish you all the luck in the future of getting the happy ending you deserve." Tamsin gave Bo a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"It's time to go, Bo," Vex said and opened the car door for her.
Bo's heart constricted in her chest at the thought that she may never see Lauren again. Bo hadn't anticipated Tamsin informing her that she couldn't say goodbye to the other women in the house. And just like Kenzi she left the house and the tv show in complete disgrace...
"What's happening?" Lauren heard Evony say loudly as Crystal stood on a chair staring out of the small window beside the front double doors of the mansion.
Lauren had ignored Evony when she had burst into the room where she had been resting and exclaimed that she should join the rest of them for the commentary of the conclusion of Bo's and Tamsin's date. She had felt more and more nauseous as the day had gone on and it wasn't from the food poisoning she had been suffering from. It was the thought of Bo and Tamsin spending an entire day together and what type of intimacy was going on between them. But curiosity had won out and she stood at the top of the circular staircase and leaned against the bannister listening to Crystal relay everything she was seeing from her perch upon the chair.
"They are just talking. Tamsin is holding Bo's hand," Crystal exclaimed. "It looks kind of intense and Bo looks like she's about to cry at any moment. I can't see Tamsin's face."
"So Bo's playing the emotional vulnerability card. Interesting. It's probably going something like this. "I can't believe how fast these feelings are growing and it is all kind of overwhelming blah blah blah. I have been hurt before and I am scared to jump into anything so quickly. Please tell me you are feeling what I'm feeling blah blah blah."
"You think that would work?" Crystal inquired with a frown.
Evony snorted, "Why not? Play all vulnerable and broken and women feel the need to fix it and kiss it better. Bo is smarter than I gave her credit for.
"Oh wait! Bo is leaning towards her. She is whispering something in Tamsin's ear."
"Whispering sweet promises of what she'll do if she gets the all night date, no doubt." Lauren wanted to slap Evony in the face.
"Bo still looks like she wants to cry. She almost looks as if she's in pain. Tamsin has just wrapped her arms around Bo in a hug and kissed her on the cheek."
"Not even a kiss on the mouth? Great! I totally made out with her. Their date must not have gone well. That's..."
Crystal cut Evony off, "What's going on? Bo has just gotten in the limo and closed the door. Vex seems to be consoling Tamsin."
"Excuse me, which room is Bo Dennis in please?"
Lauren let out a squeak of fright at the softly spoken voice coming from her left at the top of the stair.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to startle you."
Lauren managed to find her voice, "Tha.. That's okay. What did you need?" she asked, hoping that she hadn't heard the woman correctly.
"I need to grab Miss Dennis's things from her room. Could you point me in the right direction please."
"Uh, sure. It's that one." Lauren pointed at the door across from where she was standing. "What's happening? Is Bo okay?"
"I'm sorry. I am not at liberty to divulge any information about anyone or anything. I just need to get her stuff so that they can escort her off the property. Excuse me." The woman smiled at Lauren apologetically before heading into Bo's room and closing the door.
The sound of the front door opening and Vex's voice ringing out for the ladies to gather in the living room, followed by the clapping of his hand echoed in the huge entry hall. Lauren got her feet working and took the stairs two at a time to join all the others as they rushed after Tamsin and Vex.
The curious voices of the gathered contestants mingled together as Lauren stepped up alongside Ciara and waited for Vex to tell them what was going on. Of course it was Crystal and Evony that were being the loudest and Lauren ground and clenched her teeth together in irritation.
"You okay, Lauren? You look pale. Perhaps you should go back up to bed."
Lauren turned to Ciara and smiled at the caring and elegant woman. "I'm doing much better. It's just Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb over their grating on my last nerves," Lauren responded softly back, causing Ciara to let out a small burst of laughter and Nadia to smile beside the english woman.
"Okay ladies, listen up! I have a few announcements before I send you off to bed for your beauty sleep. Some need it much more than others..."
"Vex!," Tamsin chided punching him in the arm. "You are all incredibly beautiful women. Ignore him."
Lauren found it difficult to keep eye contact with Tamsin and focused on Vex instead.
"Firstly, if you haven't figured it out already by spying through the window, Bo Dennis is no longer with us. She will be on her way to the airport as we speak to join her little heterosexual friend Kenzi." Vex held up his hands for silence as questions started to fly from Evony and Crystal. "And before you start demanding to know what caused Bo's unexpected departure, I'll stop you and just say that it is for personal reasons that will be kept between Bo, Tamsin and Myself. DO NOT pester Toby," Vex pointed at the cameraman that was filming them and had been present outside, "for information. He has a confidentiality contract just like all of you. So leave him alone. GOT IT!"
"Hey! Why are you looking at us?," Crystal whined.
"Shut up, Crystal," Evony said with a roll of her eyes. "I won't lose sleep over Bo going home, so what's the next piece of news?"
"Very well, moving on. There will be no more challenges and over the next couple of days the ladies who have not had a date with Tamsin will each get an opportunity. So that means Crystal, Nadia and Ciara will each get either a morning or afternoon date and over the next two evenings Tamsin will dine and hang out here with all of you." Vex looked at each of the contestants in turn. "Now I cannot stress this enough..." He paused for dramatic effect. "Use every single moment over the next two days to make an impression to our bachelorette because at the end of that second night Tamsin will pick her final three."
The was the collective sound of the five women drawing in a sharp breath at that revealed information.
"That's right ladies. The end is nigh and so is the money and the prize of marrying this stunning woman beside me. So get your beauty sleep and bring your A-game to these final two days. Crystal?"
"Yeah?" the perky blonde answered uncertainly.
"You are set to have your date first. It is a breakfast date and Ciara will be having the afternoon date with Nadia having an afternoon date the day after. Any questions?"
"Yeah, who decided the orders of the dates?"
"I picked the names at random out of a hat, Crystal. Anything else?," Vex asked, scanning the women once more who responded with "no's" and shakes of their head. "Fabulous! Then Say Goodnight to Tamsin and get off to bed.
Tamsin made blatant, intense eye contact with both Lauren and Ciara as all the contestants shuffled off towards their rooms. Lauren looked back with sadness and uncertainty which pulled at Tamsin's heart as she thought about how she could fix the damage of Bo leaving before her plan had come to fruition. But her heart leapt when she met Ciara's gaze and she had to force herself to stay where she was and not rush into her best friend's arms. Ciara gave her a knowing smile and a wink before leaving Tamsin with Vex and closing the doors behind her giving them some privacy.
"Drama! Drama! Drama!," Vex exclaimed. "That was a huge surprise. What name did Bo whisper to you! Do you think we need to kick her out of the house as well? Have they been secretly getting it on? Because that is totally a breech of contract!" Vex tilted his head at his friend thoughtfully. "You don't look shocked or surprised by any of this."
"That's because I'm not."
"You knew!" Tamsin nodded. "For how long! And why didn't you say anything!" Vex's voice was getting louder and louder by the moment.
"Come on back to the cottage for a drink. We need to talk," Tamsin said simply as she linked her arm with his and led Vex towards the door...
Author's Note: So were you all surprised by what's happened? I would really love to hear from you. Can't wait to wake up with your reviews. Thanks for the support you have shown for my announcement about my plans to hopefully publish. The support has always meant so much and I can't thank you enough. As always any mistakes are my own.
Take care and thanks for reading.
Doccubus21
xoxo