One To Watch(53)
Duncan [11:27am]: Maybe we all wear gym clothes. Sweatpants, t-shirts with really big arm holes cut out, let these guys know we’re ready to GO if the circumstances dictate
Jon [11:28am]: YES. That’s the move. We’re doing it.
Tim [11:29am]: Really? Carol would let you wear sweatpants to be on TV?
Jon [11:29am]: Man, who’s in charge in your marriage? I’m in, Duncan’s in. Are you in?
Tim [11:30am]: Yeah, fuck it. I’m in.
Tim [1:17pm]: You guys are fucking assholes
Jon [1:17pm]: Hahahahahahahhaahhaahah
Jon [1:17pm]: Dude, you look so stupid
Tim [1:18pm]: You think this is funny? Tina spent all morning getting her hair done. She wants to murder me.
Duncan [1:19pm]: Well, I wouldn’t advise her to try, you look like a serial killer
Tim [1:19pm]: This is bullshit. I’m getting some ribs.
Duncan [1:20pm]: As long as you didn’t remove them from one of your victims
Jon [1:20pm]: I can’t believe you’re going to be on television looking like a gym rat
Tim [1:21pm]: Is Bea mad?
Jon [1:21pm]: No, she thinks it’s classic
Jon [1:22pm]: Ugh that kindergarten teacher is coming to talk to me
Jon [1:22pm]: He has his guitar
Jon [1:22pm]: Help
Tim [1:23pm]: I will not help
Tim [1:23pm]: You deserve this
Tim [1:24pm]: Enjoy itsy-bitsy spider, bitch
Duncan [1:24pm]: Wow Tim, is that what you say right before you commit murder? Creepy tagline!
Tim [1:25pm]: YOU GUYS SUCK
Jon [1:58pm]: Okay, time to divide and conquer. Who’s talking to which guy?
Duncan [1:58pm]: I’ve got Asher
Tim [1:59pm]: Which one is that?
Duncan [1:59pm]: The professor who ditched Bea at the museum!
Jon [1:59pm]: Oh right, Carol was FURIOUS about that.
Duncan [2:00pm]: Same. I need to figure out his angle
Jon [2:00pm]: Cool. I’m gonna check on Luc
Jon [2:00pm]: That guy is way too smooth
Duncan [2:01pm]: Tim, you ready to do your thing with Nash and Cooper?
Tim [2:01pm]: Hell yeah. I just need to go find Mom.
“Hey, Bea—you haven’t seen Nash and Cooper, have you?”
Lauren’s tone was casual, but Bea could see she was somewhat frantic.
“Sorry, I haven’t.” Bea shook her head. “Did you check around the side of the house, where the maple grove is? The property extends further than you think over there, maybe they went for a walk?”
“I’ll check that out—thanks!”
Lauren headed that way, and Bea closed her eyes. Great. As if it weren’t stressful enough bringing ten men home to meet her family, now two of them had taken off entirely? And unlike the first night, this wasn’t Lauren’s doing; this was just Nash and Cooper deciding they’d had enough of even pretending to be interested in dating Bea. Not that she was remotely interested in either of them, obviously—but it still stung to know their disappearance (and the producers’ subsequent search for them) would certainly be yet one more humiliating plotline on this week’s episode.
Add it to the list, Bea thought, mentally ticking them off: The man who walked off on the first night. All the men who didn’t, but who were shocked and horrified to meet her. The myriad horrors of the boat. And worst of all, Asher lulling her into believing, just for a second, that any of this could be real.
But what about Sam? a small voice fired back. What about Wyatt?
Bea scanned the yard and saw that Sam and Wyatt were both embroiled in a high-stakes game of capture the flag along with a couple other guys and several of the older kids. Sam broke into a grin and waved to Bea when he saw her watching—she felt a pang in her gut as she waved back. She wanted so badly to believe that this was possible for her, that she could have a husband and children and easy Sunday gatherings like this one.
But everything inside her told her that she couldn’t.
“Bea, may I steal you for a moment?”
Per usual, Bea felt an involuntary lurch of attraction when she saw Luc, who looked perfect in strategically rumpled slacks and a white button-down. He had two glasses of rosé in hand—the man knew how to make an entrance.
“Of course.” Bea smiled, trying to shove aside her stormy thoughts and enjoy her time with a man who might not be genuinely interested in her, but who at least seemed to genuinely take pleasure in her company.
Bea hadn’t spent any one-on-one time with Luc since the night of the crème br?lée and their kiss—she remembered how comfortable she felt with him as they walked over to a patio area near a tall oak tree, where they sat on an outdoor loveseat. Bea’s fuchsia Mara Hoffman sweater dress was warm and soft, the wine was cool and fresh, and everything felt tactile as Luc slid his arm around her waist.
“I have missed you,” he said softly. “Is that ridiculous to say? I know it hasn’t been long.”
“It feels like it’s been a long time.”
“Ah, but for you it feels long because you have seen so many men, done so many things. For me it feels long because I have thought only of you.”
Bea rolled her eyes. “Come on, that’s not true.”
He leaned in to kiss her on the cheek, his lips lingering near her ear. “You have no idea how dull it was in that house.”