One To Watch(116)

“That was also the week you started getting closer with Wyatt,” Johnny pointed out.

“Yes, absolutely,” Bea agreed. “Wyatt and Sam in particular were so good to me in helping me believe that I deserved more than to shut myself away from the possibility of finding love.”

“And Asher?” Johnny urged.

“Things were more complex with Asher—and with Luc. I had beautiful moments with both of them, and tough ones too.”

“Luc has been pegged as the villain of your season—maybe one of the worst villains in the history of Main Squeeze. But it sounds like you don’t see him that way?”

“I don’t,” Bea said. “I can’t. It’s not that simple for me. Luc hurt me badly, but he also made me feel beautiful when none of the other men could. He was the first man in my life to show me how that felt.”

“Well, you’re about to have a chance to tell him exactly what you think about him—let’s welcome Luc to the show!”

A spotlight illuminated Luc as he made his way toward the stage in tight jeans and a strategically undone black button-down, his hair long enough now to be pulled back in a loose little ponytail. The audience reaction was mixed—they cheered for him like they knew they shouldn’t, but they just couldn’t help themselves. Bea understood exactly how they felt.

“Bea.” He kissed her cheek, and he smelled the same—salt and smoke. “It is good to see you.”

“You as well,” she said politely.

“The last time we saw you two together was at that unforgettable kiss-off ceremony in Amboise. Have you communicated since then?” Johnny asked.

They both shook their heads—they hadn’t.

“The public didn’t find out until after the episode had aired that Luc was having an affair with a producer of this show. But Bea, did you know? Is that the reason Luc went home that day?”

“I did know,” Bea answered.

“Of course she knew,” Luc added. “She saw us herself.”

This prompted a smattering of gasps from the audience, and Bea shook her head—even now, Luc always had to cause drama.

“Well.” Johnny’s eyes widened. “That’s news! Bea, is this true?”

“Yes,” Bea admitted. “That morning, I walked in on them.”

“How did you feel when that happened?”

“You know, it was tough, to have that happen within hours of spending the night with Luc, something which was very meaningful to me—and still is.”

“Because he was the first person you’d been with since Ray?”

Bea sighed. If America was going to know the truth about her sex life, they might as well know all of it. “He’s still the only person I’ve been with since Ray.”

Concerned murmurs from the audience—poor Bea!

“Do you regret your decision to spend the night with him?”

“No, not at all,” Bea said forcefully. “Luc and I have incredible chemistry, and we acted on it. I always doubted whether we could make a relationship work outside the confines of the show, and I know now I was right—and in that way, Luc helped me figure out that even though being with him was so exciting, I don’t have to settle for a relationship that isn’t fully what I want. Do I wish we’d been able to part on better terms? Of course. But I don’t hold a grudge. On the whole, Luc was really good to me, really genuine, and a really important part of my journey on this show.”

“Luc, are you surprised to hear this?”

“Yes, I am very surprised.” He turned to Bea. “I thought you were furious with me.”

“I was furious with you, then. I mean, could you not have waited twenty-four hours after sleeping with me to sleep with someone else?”

Luc grinned sheepishly, eliciting an “Oh, you are bad!” from a woman in the audience.

“Yes, Luc is very bad,” Johnny teased, “and that’s why we think he’ll be very good in the Main Squeeze Mansion. What do you say, Luc? Will you join us for another round this summer?”

“Ah yes, and why not?” Luc grinned, clearly thrilled to be featured on a Main Squeeze spin-off. Johnny took them to commercial break, and as Bea rose to give Luc a polite hug goodbye, he murmured in her ear.

“I am leaving my phone number with Alison for you. Call me anytime you like, yes?”

Bea smiled. “Don’t hold your breath.”

He laughed as he pulled away, his breath tickling her ear.

“We were good together, no? Goodbye, my Bea.”

He kissed her cheek and made his way offstage, leaving room for the next guest. As he walked toward her, Bea prepared herself for a far less pleasant interaction.

“Hey,” Ray said curtly as he sat down beside Bea. He was stunningly handsome as ever, but he looked a little worn, a little gaunt. He refused to make eye contact, and before they could say anything more to each other, a producer was counting them in, and they were back on live TV.

“Welcome back,” Johnny said smoothly. “Our next guest is a man who Bea knows well, but who the rest of us just met recently. Ray, welcome to the studio.”

“Thanks,” Ray said flatly. Bea wondered what sort of contract he’d signed—she couldn’t imagine why he’d agreed to do this.