I'm introducing an audience surrogate for all of us. I made a couple mistakes that I'll fix later. I hope it didn't interrupt the story too much.
Chapter Ten:
Sam looked at the wall of women in the war room.
"That is still a lot of women," Sam said.
"This time three women will be eliminated," Macy said. "We have a one-on-on date featuring a live performance from the Fangirls and my favorite, a two-on-one elimination date of a dinner after visiting an art gallery."
"Spencer hates both ideas," Faye said. "But he is an excellent sport."
"Okay," Sam said. "Run them all by me."
"1. Ava," Faye said. "I have her picked for the final three. A PI with a dark past who appeals to Spencer.
"2. Mel," Macy said. "Our wolf in sheep's clothing. A shady civil rights attorney. Not much contact but that will change after tonight's one-on-one."
"3. Sarah," Faye said. "A vet who hasn't shown much chemistry with Spencer, but we'll see if that changes in the two-on-one.
"4. Star," Macy said. "Our witch who I picked because I thought she was a freak, but it turns out he likes freaks."
"Be nice," Faye said. "5. Mika, our social worker. Not enough interaction to show anything."
"6. Kayla," Macy said. "Our homeless shelter manager. Another saint, we're her pitting against Sarah in the two-on-one."
"7. Bella," Faye said. "Our bride who even I thought would have been knocked out in the first round."
"8 Halia," Macy said. "Another novelty, I didn't see lasting, but he speaks fluent Hawaiian. "
"Finally, 9. Leah," Macy said. "Spencer's buxom crush."
"Hey guys!" Shawna said from the viewing area. "We have a shirtless-Spencer!"
Macy smiled gleefully. "He promised three of these."
They watched as Reid slowly walked into the water in dark blue swim trunks.
"George Orson is getting a bonus," Macy said.
He began to do laps in the pool.
Faye couldn't help but grin as women rushed to put on swim suits.
Sarah appeared in the skimpiest bikini imaginable.
"Mind if I join you?" she asked.
"No," he said casually and proceeded to do laps.
The other women slowly appeared. Reid was pushing to do another lap when Sarah rushed into him. She had his arms around him. She tried to kiss him but only hit his cheek.
He looked annoyed. "I don't know you that well," he said.
"But you could have, just now," she said flirtatiously running a hand down his chest. He peddled away.
Faye sighed. "You know it is not in his contract that he has to do three of these."
Sarah splashed some water at him. "You know, you're a tease," she said.
"I was just going for a swim," he said defensively. "Swimming is supposed to alleviate stress and anxiety."
"Whatever," she said and swam away.
Mel sat on the edge with her feet in the water.
"You know we're not all here for your looks," she said.
"Or my time in jail?" he said.
"You are smart and kind," Mel said.
"Thanks."
She got up off the ledge.
"I can't wait to see you on our date."
Macy let out a sigh of contentment.
"This is what good television looks like."
Faye watched as some of the women gingerly got into the pool.
"Like lions circling their prey?"
Sam grinned.
"Whatever gets eyeballs," he said. "What you've done so far looks good. Keep up the drama and make sure our Lonely Heart is happy."
"Oh, I intend to," Macy said.
Faye thought about asking what Macy meant by that but decided against it for now.
…
Reid was dressed in a casual blazer and Mel wore a simple green dress. They watched the concert in an outdoor amphitheater. The Fangirls was an all-female rock band. Faye wondered what possessed Shawna to book them with lyrics like "All girls want something hot. All girls want to live on the edge of a kinky fiction." Mel smiled and tapped along to the rhythm while Reid was trying too hard to look like he was enjoying himself. He looked visibly relieved when the show ended but shook hands and thanked all the woman for the entertainment.
They ate dinner in a gazebo decorated in fairy lights.
"So, you're not a fan of rock music," Mel said with a smile.
"The only music I really like is Beethoven," he said.
"Not even Mozart?" she said.
"The music of Beethoven speaks to me in the sense that I feel something different every time I listen to it."
"That is profound," Mel. "I'll listen to anything ranging from Vanilla Ice to the Dixie Chicks."
"I don't judge," he said. "Music is about expression and how it appeals to people. You have an ear for a large range."
"Thanks," she said.
Faye sighed peacefully. Finally, a decent date.
"So, I never caught your last name? What is it?"
"Greenaway," she said.
"Really?" he said. "I knew an Elle Greenaway. Are you two related?"
Faye groaned internally. Macy was going to kill her for missing this connection.
"She's my first cousin," she said.
"I worked with her for about a year," he said. "Then we lost touch."
"I don't see her that often either," she said. "She'll drop by for a holiday gathering with gifts, not say much about where she's been, and send random emails to family members saying she's safe."
"Wow," he said. "I hope she's happy."
"She just looks busy," Mel said. "So how well did you know her? Did you ever have a crush on her? Not that I think you should-I just. Oh, you know what I mean."
"She thought of me as her younger brother, which I was to everyone back then. When she was shot, I felt responsible for some of her suffering and I wish I could have done more for her afterwards. Maybe she'd still be with the FBI."
Mel gently placed a hand on his. "Elle Greenaway feels very strongly about things. She never liked playing damsel distress at parties. You couldn't have done anything to change her mind."
"Thanks, Mel," he said. "I needed to hear that."
"Now let's change topics," she said cheerfully. "Where do you like to vacation when you have time off or do FBI agents not vacation?"
"Paris was lovely actually," he said. "I really enjoyed…"
Faye madly Googled away as the date proceeded to go smoothly. Mel was invited to stay and become part of the final six.
She joined Reid as he took the back entrance to his living quarters.
"You really didn't know about Elle?" he said.
"That is going back ten years," she said.
"I wonder how many other secrets there are then," Reid said.