“Okay, Jack,” Beckett said, stepping forward and nudging the man back. “I’ll take it from here. Ladies, first of all, I’d like to say what a pleasure it has been to meet you all. I really enjoyed getting to know each and every one of you, and I am honored to have you all be a part of my story.”
Laying it on a little thick, Avery thought, and almost rolled her eyes.
“But since I must choose only one woman, I will go with my heart.”
Silence settled over the group and they all waited as Beckett drew the moment out.
“Avery, I choose you.”
Chapter 35
“Why did you really choose me, Beckett?”
It was the day after the final elimination ceremony. There had been tears, anger, and more drama than Avery had been expecting. Cherylynn, true to her word, had hugged Avery and promised to be in touch.
“I just need to lick my wounds a little first, you understand?” Cherylynn had whispered in Avery’s ear when she’d hugged her goodbye. Avery did understand, and admired the fact that Cherylynn hadn’t turned on her for winning the prize. It said a lot about her as a person, in Avery’s estimation.
“I wanted to share this prize with a friend,” Beckett admitted, stretching his legs out in front of him. They had claimed two of the lounge chairs by the now-empty pool deck, watching as the post-production crew dismantled cameras from the house and did general clean-up.
“But what about love?” Avery asked.
“What about it?” Beckett turned to look at Avery. “I don’t love any of these women. And I don’t think anyone is under any illusions that I do. Even production isn’t. This is ‘reality’ TV – I gave them what they wanted, and I’m being paid handsomely to do so. So are you.”
“That’s a lot of money to not at least try,” Avery said, the win still weighing uncomfortably on her.
“I did try. Why do you think I kicked all those catty women off? I gave everyone some time. And I do think I found someone I’d like to spend more time with.”
“Who?” Avery asked, lowering her sunglasses and meeting his eyes.
“Promise you won’t be offended?”
“Promise.”
“Well, obviously I want to see you again, because you’re my friend now. But I kind of like Cherylynn.”
“Did you tell her that?”
“No, but I will. I have her contact information, and I think I’ll stop by this ranch of hers on the way back to California.”
“She would love that. I think she really likes you, Beckett.”
“I really like her, too.”
“Then why in the world didn’t you pick her? This makes no sense to me.”
“Because I don’t want to spend the rest of our relationship wondering if she just chose me for the money,” Beckett said, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t want to put that kind of pressure on us.”
“I do see. But that could have also been an amazing gift to each other.”
“She doesn’t need the money, Avery. Didn’t she tell you about that ranch of hers?”
“Yes, but I’m sure the money could help with a few things around the ranch.”
“Cherylynn’s loaded, Avery. It’s not some dilapidated ranch with falling-down stables. There’s oil on their land. And she’s part owner. Money is not something she needs from me. If anything, she’s more successful than I am. Taking this game show and prize out of the mix will give me a better understanding of who she is, and what she wants from a partner.”
“I had no idea,” Avery said, shocked that the easy-going Cherylynn was wealthy. “She’s gonna give you hell though for putting her through this.”
“I look forward to it. At least I’ll know she cares.”
“Tell her hi from me when you go,” Avery said, reaching out to pat his arm. “I’m glad we met, Beckett. This was a tough experience, but a good one for me.”
“I think so. But you’ve got your own angry person to deal with. At least judging from his face.” Beckett nodded in the direction of Roman, who was storming over to them, fury coating his face.
“What is going on?” Roman demanded, brandishing papers in his hands.
“Um, I need you to be more clear,” Avery said, sitting straighter in her chair. “Roman, we’re just talking. Beckett and I –”
“This isn’t about Beckett. This about you. Or should I say about your twin sister, Ruby, the one who was actually supposed to be on the show.”
He could have thrown a bucket of ice water on her for how her blood seemed to chill at his words. Beckett let out a long low whistle.
“Roman, I can explain –” Avery said, standing up and reaching out to him. He took a step back, disgust on his face.
“I can’t stand liars.”
“It wasn’t like that. I’ve been honest about everything about who I am,” Avery said.
“Except for your name – oh, and the fact that you aren’t Ruby?”
“She begged me to take her spot for her. I shouldn’t have listened to her, but I always seem to end up bailing her out. Please, Roman, you have to understand. She was worried she’d get sued by the show for pulling out last minute. It seemed harmless, all I had to do was tell people to call me Avery. I didn’t lie about anything else, I promise. Every word I said was true,” Avery pleaded, trying to make him understand her vantage point.
“All I see here is fraud,” Roman spat. “And if you think you’ll get the prize money just handed off to you now, you are dead wrong.” Roman turned to walk away and Avery lunged at him, grabbing his arm and forcing him to stop.
“I don’t care about the money, Roman. You don’t have to give it to me. I need you to listen to me – please hear me out. My sister has a long history of getting herself into these situations and I always – always – bail her out. I wasn’t going to help her this time, but I knew she was right about one thing. I had been hiding under a rock since my accident. I needed to be pushed – and god, was this a massive push, but I did it. I never meant to hide this from you.”
“You could have told me,” Roman bit out. “I thought we had something.”
“Roman, we do. I almost did the other day but then the rainstorm came,” Avery said, and saw Roman’s gaze dip to her necklace and then back up to her face. “Please, Roman, please don’t leave things like this with us. I want…”
“What do you want, Avery?”
“I want to spend more time with you. I think about you too, a lot. I want to give this an honest chance. I don’t want to live a lonely life, sheltered in my apartment, hiding out from the big scary world. I want to take risks again. I want to travel the world with you and help make a difference. I have so many ideas on what we could do – how we could help. I want to give this a chance – give us a chance. Will you take that chance with me?”
Roman looked at her for an interminably long time before shaking his head no, crushing her heart with one look.
“I can’t trust you. I’m sorry, Avery. You’re not who you said you were.”
With that, he disappeared into the villa.
Avery collapsed back onto the lounge chair, hugging her knees into her chest, and blinking through the tears that clouded her vision.
“He’s just mad, Avery,” Beckett said, coming to sit next to her and throwing an arm over her shoulder. “You can fix this. We have fragile egos, us men. Let his temper cool and it’ll be okay.”
“I don’t think it will,” Avery said, knowing Roman didn’t trust easily – not with his background.
“Then he doesn’t deserve you anyway. Relationships are going to have misunderstandings and arguments. If he can’t get over this and work through it, then you can do better. Because you’re pretty awesome, even if you pulled a fast one to get on the show.”
“I didn’t lie about who I was… not as a person,” Avery promised. “It was just my name.”
“I get that. And I kind of like that you did it. It’s spunky. I like spunk.”
“We
ll, look where I ended up.”
“Exactly where you need to be. Now, tell me about this sister of yours… is she as hot as you?”
“Beckett,” Avery warned.
“Kidding, kidding. I’m going after Cherylynn, don’t you worry.”
“You’d better, or I’ll hunt you down and kick your butt.”
“See? Spunky. I dig this Avery.”
“I think I do too.” Avery sighed and looked toward the villa, wondering how long she’d have to give Roman to cool down before she could make him see sense again.
Chapter 36
Six Weeks Later…
“Dude, you need to chill,” Luke, Roman’s friend and cameraman, dropped to the ground next to Roman and leaned his back against a tree. They were in Liberia, producing a documentary on the black-market chimpanzee trade, and Roman had been working non-stop. He was at the point of exhaustion, but he didn’t really care. All he wanted to do was keep working so he could drown out the vision of Avery’s haunted eyes as she begged him to give her a chance.
“I am chill,” Roman pointed out. A baby chimp snuggled into his chest under his shirt, skin to skin, which was about as chill as he thought he could get in this moment. They were staying at a rescue started by a couple from the States who had been doing their best to raise awareness as well as save the chimps. This particular chimp’s mom had been stolen from him, and he needed round-the-clock care. Roman was currently on cuddle duty while the handlers took a little break. “I don’t think it gets more chill than holding a baby chimp on my chest and sitting against a tree in the morning breeze.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about. When are you going to talk to her?”
Roman didn’t have to ask who Luke was talking about. His friend had been on the show with them; he had been the one to deal with Roman’s wrath when he’d been about to issue the bank transfer for the prize money and discovered Avery was not who she’d said she was.
“I’ve said all I need to say.”
“I don’t think you have,” Luke said.
“Pretty sure I did.”
“Pretty sure you didn’t.”
“Luke,” Roman began, then shifted and wrapped his arm tighter around the snuggling chimp, “what else could I possibly have to say?”
“Um, maybe tell her that you love her?”
“What? That’s crazy,” Roman said. The chimp started awake at his words, blinking big eyes up at him, and then began to pick at Roman’s chest hair. Roman shifted again and began doing the same back with the chimp’s fur. Performing necessary grooming was a way to show love and care between chimps, and Roman was pleased to see the baby chimp picking up on the skills.
“You wouldn’t be driving yourself – and your crew, mind you – into the ground if you didn’t love her,” Luke pointed out.
“Awww, am I working you too hard, pretty boy?” Roman asked, spoiling for a fight.
“Don’t needle me just because you’re heartbroken,” Luke said. “You can hardly pick a fight when you’ve got a baby chimp on your chest. Talk to me, Roman. I’m your best friend. Why can’t you let this go?”
“She lied to me. I can’t get past that.”
“She lied to the show. Not to you.”
“A lie is a lie.”
“Not all lies are made the same.”
“My dad lied to my mom,” Roman said, looking down at the chimp, not up at Luke. “He was married. A different life. A different person. He didn’t tell her.”
“Ah, there it is.”
“Yeah, there it is.”
“Avery’s not your dad, though. She didn’t deliberately mislead you. I don’t think she went on the show thinking to find you there. To even find love. She was bailing her sister out, which speaks a lot to her sense of loyalty.”
Roman hadn’t let himself think like that.
“I don’t think the show would have actually sued Ruby.”
“They didn’t know that. And it sounds like Avery has been buried in medical bills. I can see why the cash prize would be appealing to someone who can’t get ahead of their debt.”
“How do you know that?”
“I talked to the sister – Ruby. She was calling and calling, furious at you.”
“She was?”
“She was. Do you know the last boyfriend left Avery too? When it got too tough?”
“I didn’t leave Avery. And I’m not her boyfriend.”
“You most certainly did leave her. Things got too tough and you left,” Luke said. “You could’ve hashed it out then and there, but you let your pride get to you.”
“She lied, Luke.”
“Yeah, she made a mistake. People fuck up all the time. You can’t tell me you’re perfect. When will you learn to forgive?”
Roman just shrugged, not sure how to answer.
“Do me a favor, will you? I made something for you. Watch it when you go back to your room. Today.”
“Maybe.”
“I’m invoking the best friend clause. Promise me.”
“Fine,” Roman said, running his hand over the chimp’s head. “I’ll watch it.”
“Good.” Luke stood and looked down at him, “Why did you still give her the prize money if you were so mad at her?”
Roman shrugged again and looked away.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought.”
The chimp squealed against his chest, bouncing up and down as he did whenever his handler approached. Handing the happy baby off, Roman stood and stretched, then wandered toward his room. There he found his laptop open on his bed with a note from Luke.
Press play.
“Great,” Roman said, plopping down on the bed and pulling the laptop onto his lap. He hit the play button, then watched as Avery’s beautiful face filled the screen. His heart swelled in his chest. She had no idea how lovely she was, Roman thought, his eyes drinking her in.
Despite his work obligations, he’d handed the tapes off to his editors and hadn’t looked at anything from the show in weeks. But when his own face filled the screen, Roman realized this wasn’t the edited copy of the show. His heart seized as he watched Avery stealing looks at him across the villa. The camera cut away to him interviewing her, and how he watched her when she walked away. To the night he had followed her into the water at the beach, when the siren had sung for them. And then to the day he’d rescued her, the look of sheer terror on his face bringing it all crashing back like a brick smashing through a window.
Luke had been filming them all along. He had compiled an entire video of Roman and Avery falling in love. Finally, it faded to black and words filled the screen.
What are you going to do about it?
Epilogue
She’d taken a sabbatical from work.
Not that this was the time to take off from work, not when she didn’t know what she wanted from her future – but Avery had worked relentlessly for years, never taking a holiday, and even her boss could see she was on the brink of burning out.
“Take three months,” her boss had urged. “Think about what you want. We can use you on projects all over the world. Or maybe you’d like to propose something to us?”
“I can’t just leave,” Avery had protested.
Her boss had smiled at her, his eyes kind. “We actually care about our employees, Avery. You’re about to burn out. I’d rather have you take the time and come back refreshed than have you implode on the job.”
“But doesn’t that reflect poorly on me?” Avery asked.
“How? We all need mental health breaks. We give new parents leave to be with their newborns. We give people sick leave. Bereavement time. It’s all a part of life. You can’t ignore the human aspect of having employees. I’ve found over the years that we’ve had less turnover, and happier employees, when we just give people a chance to be human. Take the time, please.”
Avery had taken the time. The prize money had come through, much to her shock, and she’d been able to clear her debt and put a nice chunk
away in her savings. A part of her felt guilty for taking the money.
“Don’t you dare give that money back, Avery,” Cherylynn had threatened, having been debriefed on the whole story by Beckett. She’d breezed right past Avery’s lie, saying she knew good character when she saw it, and had immediately launched into berating Roman for leaving Avery.
“It stills feels like I shouldn’t have taken it,” Avery said, still feeling guilty about the money. She jumped when Ruby smacked her hand on the table.
“Enough of that. What’s done is done,” Ruby said, turning on her lounge chair.
“She’s right, you know,” Cherylynn said, on the other side of Avery. The three of them had taken a holiday at the Laughing Mermaid. Ruby had left her world trip, claiming that Zane bored her, but Avery knew it was because she was worried about her sister. Cherylynn had wanted in on the girls’ trip, and before Avery knew it, she’d found herself back on Siren Island, surrounded by a fierce group of powerful women, all of whom were enjoying spending their time picking apart Roman’s bad decision.
“It’s not like it was Roman’s money. It was the show’s money. And let me tell you, honey, they are going to profit so much from you. Do you have any idea how much money these shows make? A hundred thousand dollars is nothing to them. Nothing at all. Consider it being paid well for your appearance on television. They owe you – especially since you weren’t using the show to build your brand like the other girls were.”
“I hadn’t thought about it like that,” Avery admitted.
“Well, start. Jeez, I’m sick of this moping around,” Cherylynn said. “What’s done is done. You better get back in the saddle soon, or I’m going to put your butt there myself if I have to.”
“We could go out dancing tonight,” Mirra offered.
Cherylynn cheered. “Yes, dancing! Slutty clothes. Hot island guys. Let’s do it.”
“Beckett won’t like that,” Avery smiled.
A Good Chance (The Siren Island Series Book 3) Page 20