“Oh, my God,” I moan as I get ready to head down to hair and makeup. I haven’t seen McKayla and Brad since last night and I can’t believe I’m actually looking forward to their bickering. “That was one of the hardest, most awkward things I’ve ever had to do in my life!”

I’m no wallflower, but being the center of attention with all those guys felt so weird. All the grins, all the compliments, started to make me feel dizzy at one point, and I was grateful when Meredith called to cut.

I hated sending some of the men home, too. Some, I hardly even got to speak to. But I had little choice in the matter. When Meredith and Nate went through the list with me, they pressured me to keep those who were more ‘camera friendly’, so even though I wish I’d had more time to get to know four of the guys, I had to cut them. Instead, I kept the fifteen who most matched what I’m looking for, and what Meredith’s looking for.

Luckily, after all the non-match guys had been escorted off set, it was a little more celebratory. We all jumped around and cheered like we’d won the homecoming game.

Lee even picked me up, bouncing me like I’d scored the winning goal, although honestly, I think he might’ve just been feeling my ass. If he wasn’t so hot, I might have more of a problem with it, because I don’t normally move that fast. Besides, I’m hoping it was just for the cameras, so I’ll give him a pass.

We’d shot one more scene last night, where Meredith had us all gather around a big lit-up wheel and I spun it to see what our date activity would be for today. That’s how I found out our first group date is going to be bowling, and I haven’t bowled since I was a kid with gutter guards. I can’t imagine this will go well, but with the guys, I think it’ll be fun.

I let out a sigh, feeling slightly depressed as I look at myself in the mirror.

“Wonder what they’d think if they saw me now?” I whisper, running my hands through my disheveled mane that looks wild from a night of tossing and turning. Without all the hair extensions, makeup, and false eyelashes, I look nothing at all like the diva who rocked the party last night.

I do love how I look all jazzed up, but a part of me thinks that it’s a bad thing. Whomever I end up choosing is going to be so used to seeing me made up like a doll.

The thought depresses me, but I have shit to do. I push down my worries and leave the room, making my way to hair and makeup.

“Holy shit, girlfriend, what happened to you?” Brad exclaims in horror when I walk through the door. Unlike me, he and McKayla look fresh-faced, with Brad wearing neon pink pants and a white dress shirt while McKayla looks like she’s channeling Dita von Teese for a night on the town in her painted-on low-cut mermaid dress, fishnets, and sky-high platform heels. Her hair is styled like Peg Bundy and I wonder just how much product it takes to poof it up like that. As I stare at her hair, Brad questions me. “Did you sleep with all fifteen guys last night . . . all at the same time?” He actually sounds a bit hopeful that maybe I did.

I give him a glare as I make my way over to the chair, trying not to giggle. “Oh, shut up!”

McKayla laughs, her hands on her hips. “You tell ‘em, girl. Don’t listen to him. He’s just jealous, wishing he could get in that meat pile.”

Brad looks at McKayla like she’s lost her mind. “Whatever, bitch. I’ll have you know that I’ve made more than a few straight men change teams. I already know three that I’d turn gay so fast that two-dollar weave you’re wearing would fly off your head.” He does his twirl and pops his hip, his signature move it seems. “No one can resist this booty.” To reiterate the point, he gives his ass cheek a little smack.

I laugh as I climb in my chair and McKayla makes a face of disgust. “Bitch, please. I’ve seen better asses on a donkey.”

“Oh, thank you!” I sigh, wiping at my eyes. It’s only been a minute and I’m already feeling better. “I so needed that after last night. It was so stressful.”

McKayla gives me a sympathetic look as she grabs a flat iron off the vanity. “It sure looked like it, but you need to relax. You’ve got a lot more to go.”

There’s a couple of moments of silence as she gets started. “Well?” McKayla asks me as she’s messing with my hair.

“Well, what?” I ask.

“Spill it, chickadee. Who’s your favorite?” she demands. Before I can reply, she adds, “It’s Lee, isn’t it? When I saw him twirl you, girl, I about swooned myself! I love a man who can dance, and that man looks like he’s got some moves.” McKayla’s eyes are twinkling as she speaks, a look of infatuation on her face. Remembering Lee’s smoothness, I can’t blame her.

Brad doesn’t share her opinion, shaking his head almost immediately as he uses the a wet wipe to remove any residual makeup from my face and then applies a primer. “Oh, hell, no. That one is a slick willy, and I don’t mean that in the sense that he’ll ease on in. I’d watch him with sharp eyes if I were you.”

“I’m watching,” I mutter. “Trust me, I’m watching.” I pause for a moment as Brad starts applying foundation with his brush. “Is there anyone else I should watch out for?”

I watch Brad purse his lips in the mirror. “I think that Matt one is a cutie, but I don’t think it’s my ego talking when I say he might be more interested in me than you. Not sure what that means for you, Miss Em. But if you cut him, I’m making a trip over to the elimination house to see if my gaydar tingles are right . . . at least for the night.”

I laugh at their antics as we go through the list of remaining suitors, discussing who might be here for real or who might be fake. While we chat, McKayla makes a point of telling me to keep my hands out of my hair and stop messing with her genius work.

“What about Hayden?” I ask as both Brad and McKayla draw close to being finished.

McKayla lets out a dreamy sigh as she finishes my hair and gives it a satisfied pat. “That man is hot with a capital Fuck Me, Please. Between him and Lee, they just might burn this place to the ground.”

“For once, I agree with the witch,” Brad says, putting on his finishing touch, my long, fake lashes.

Warmth flows through my chest, grateful that both Brad and McKayla are people who are willing to talk straight with me. I know it’s only been a few days, but they already feel like friends.

“Finished!” Brad announces as he appraises his work, prodding me out of my seat. “Tell me I’m not an artist!”

I have to blink rapidly before I can see, but when my vision clears enough to see my reflection in the mirror, I can’t help myself, nodding. Once again, I look like a movie star thanks to them. I feel a surge of confidence seeing the change from how I looked just twenty minutes ago. “You do good work.”

“Damn, girl, you’re drop-dead gorgeous,” McKayla says proudly, smiling at her hair job. “You look even better than last night.”

I flush at her compliment. “Thank you.”

Brad smacks me on my ass, causing me to jump in surprise. “All right, we did our part, now get out there and get a hole in one!

I laugh, correcting him. “Sorry, nasty boy, but we’re bowling, not golfing.”

With a smirk, Brad sasses back. “Oh, I wasn’t talking about the game, darlin’!”

I shake my head as I walk out. I just can’t with him, but I still manage to hear McKayla teasing, “Dumb ass, it’s one in a hole, not a hole in one because she’s the one with holes.”

Brad smarts right back. “Bitch, girls ain’t the only ones with holes. Trust me on that.”

I’m still grinning when I walk to wardrobe. They quickly dress me in some Grease version of a bowling alley outfit, but I have to admit the black cigarette pants look painted on my curves, and the flirty tie of the shirt at my waist is flattering.

Feeling myself a bit, I follow Nate to the bowling alley. Yes, this mansion has a fucking bowling alley. Who lives like this? Certainly not me. The guys are sitting around at little cocktail tables and all eyes turn to me as I enter. It’s not like any bowling alley I’ve ever seen, though. Everything is luxurious, and the only thing I’d recognize from a normal bowling alley is the ball return machine. At least, no bowling alley I’ve ever seen has leather padded benches to wait your turn on.

I swear, my heart pounds a mile a minute and I almost turn and run out of the room as anxiety grips me. You’d think I’d be used to this by now, but apparently not. There’s one face my eyes fall on almost immediately, but I drag my eyes away as Hayden’s eyes meet mine.

God, he looks even hotter than he did last night. His bowling shirt fits him like a glove, and the sparkle in his eye when he sees me is thrilling.

Meredith ushers me in, unaware of my anxiety, already ranting. “You’re late. Hop on your mark.” Then she turns and hollers louder to everyone else. “All right, people, take turns bowling and talk to each other. Needs to look like a big bowling party. Top two scores will be in the running for a solo date with Emily for lunch.”

With a clap, she settles in to watch the monitors.

I shove down my anxiety and wave, putting on a bright, fresh smile. “Hi, guys. Who’s ready to show me how to bowl?”

There are some smiles and laughs, and a few hands shoot up in the air.

“Anyone good at this?” I ask. “I haven’t bowled since I was a kid, so go easy on me.”

Somewhere in the back, I hear a deep voice. “I never go easy on my dates. They take it the way I give it or not at all.”

It sounds like Mark, and I see Luke laughing a bit as he nudges him and nods his head like it was a good joke.

Uh, yeah . . . asshole alert.

It’s one thing for a guy to boss me in the heat of the moment but a whole other thing to be frat boy, locker room mouthing about it in front of everyone. On fucking camera.

Pretending not to be annoyed, I beam at the men as if I’m so excited to be here. “Let’s get started, shall we?”

The staff’s already set up the computers, so all we have to do is have me push the big green button on the console to start everything. I do okay, knocking down a few pins in my first two frames. A couple of the men are actually really good, and some hit gutter balls every time, but most are somewhere in the middle.

One of them, Shawn, is getting visibly frustrated at his continued lack of success and seems to be on the edge of a temper tantrum. Seeing his behavior really turns me off and ruins the mood. If he can’t control his temper for something like this, how mad would he get at something actually important?

Nope. He’s gone as soon as I get the chance. As the game continues, I find myself surprised at how I’m actually getting into this, watching the guys and being analytical about their behavior, what appeals to me and what doesn’t. And whom I’d like to keep around for a while longer to find out more about.

I know some, Meredith included, may not like my choices, but at the end of the day, there can only be one final Match. So hopefully, there are no hard feelings. My next time up, Hayden approaches with a smile that makes me weak in the knees. I smile back as he speaks, not letting him on to how attracted I am to him.

“Hey, Emily,” he says in that sultry voice that can melt chocolate, “Can I show you something?” He points at my hands. “Not hating on your skills, but I noticed that you turn your wrist as you let go of the ball. That’s why it keeps going left, and you could really hurt your wrist. Do you mind?” He’s gesturing toward me and I realize he’s going to show me. I smile and nod. He steps behind me, nestling my ass in his crotch as he puts his left hand on my hip. He wraps his right hand around my wrist, holding it straight as he leads my arm back and forth a few times, making sure I get the feel of the move.

My cheeks burn scarlet at the proximity of his body and my temperature rises a few degrees. Fuck, I’m feeling something, all right, but I’m not sure it’s my bowling skills improving.

He steps away, our eyes meeting, and he gives me another heated smile. It’s contagious, and I smile back, wanting to yell for someone to bring me a damn fan!

Considering the setup, Hayden could’ve played that much dirtier, but he seems like a gentleman and I appreciate that.

Taking his advice, I consciously swing my arm back and forth, letting go and watching with delight as the ball rolls straight down the alley and slowly knocks every pin down.

“Woo-hoo!” I scream joyfully, clapping for myself. I jump up and down, turning to give Hayden a hug. “Thanks! You were right!”

Hayden hugs me back for a moment, then releases me, raising his hand for a high-five. From there on, we continue bowling, and after the tenth frame, Lee and Hayden are the top two. I’m not really surprised. They both seem eager to win and are pushing each other to the max.

I clap my hands together and smile as if they’re all my Prince Charmings and I’m their princess. “That was a lot of fun today, guys! Thanks for mostly being good sports and making this fun.” I pause, taking a deep breath and drawing out the moment. Meredith told me that whenever I’m making an announcement or a decision, be as dramatic as possible.

“Well, I’m supposed to pick from the top two for lunch. I’d like to invite Hayden,” I say finally, my heart pounding in my chest. More than a few faces drop, even though according to the rules, they’d already been disqualified.

Hayden’s face breaks out into a grin as he starts walking toward me, his arms open wide. But I’m shocked when Meredith interrupts from the sidelines, shaking her head. “Wait! I’m sorry, Emily, but you weren’t supposed to just pick like that. The crew was supposed to bring out the button for you to push. Don’t worry, we’ll edit that out.”

I look at her, confused. “What button?”

As if in response, the crew quickly rushes forward and sets up a prop button and the score displays change above us. The names Hayden and Lee flash back and forth on them, and apparently, when I hit the button, it’ll freeze on one of their names.

Please let it be Hayden.

I stand and watch the names flash, concentrating. When I think I got a lock on the name I want, I smash the button and it freezes on . . . Lee. My heart drops in my chest and it’s a struggle to keep the smile on my face.

I’m surprised when Hayden steps forward and gives me a hug, whispering in my ear, “It’s all right, beautiful. Thanks for picking me when you had the chance. I’ll look forward to our date.” When he steps away, I have goosebumps on my flesh.

Before I can say a word, Lee virtually prowls toward me, appearing irritated and practically radiating power and sex. He takes my hand, kisses it softly with his lips, and then takes a little bow like I’m a princess. There’s a challenge in his eyes when he straightens and looks at me. A challenge I don’t think I want to accept.

“Shall we?”