Blind Reality by Heidi McLaughlin Read Free Book Online Page B

study her, taking her in. She looks like a runner with her long legs. They’re toned with clearly defined muscles. I make a mental note to ask her to workout with me one of these days, but I’m fearful she may be able to squat more than I can. It’s sad to say, but I’d be okay with that. Her smile isn’t forced, but genuine and lights up her entire face. She’s happy to be here, or happy that I’m her husband for the time being. Either way, I’m happy she’s mine as well.
    Walking toward her, I put my hand on her back. It’s a guise to touch her, not to guide her. I have a feeling she’d lead me anywhere I asked, and I’d follow without hesitation. I hope that, if anything, we’ll be friends after all of this because even after knowing her for a few hours, I can tell it’s not going to be enough.
    We enter the common room, or as non-reality-television people would call it, the living room. There are three large couches, I’m assuming one for each of us, with a plasma TV attached to the wall. We don’t have access to it, but I do remember last season’s couples watching a movie or two. I’m thinking a horror movie might be in order, at least one night, so it forces the automatic cuddling rule. The common area is open and leads into the kitchen. We have a dining room table and also an island with bar stools. Aside from being outside earlier, we haven’t been in the backyard. If they keep with the theme from last season, there’s a pool, weights, a lounge area, and a pool table.
    Thoughts of teaching Joey to play pool enter my mind. Having her bent over the table while I sidle up behind her …
    My arm is suddenly yanked and voices become louder. Joey and I are in the middle of a conversation with Millie, and I haven’t a clue as to what we’re talking about.
    “I just can’t believe they let a movie star come on the show.” That’s Millie. Her voice is dreamlike, but has an edge to it. I have a feeling she’s a lawyer or teaches high school students. You need major cojones to teach teenagers.
    Joey looks at me, and I shrug. I’m sort of lost on the conversation and having a hard time focusing and keeping up. My shoulder is slapped and a bottle of beer makes it into my eyesight.
    “Thanks, man.” Taking the bottle into one hand, I extend my other to shake Cole’s.
    “Wow, this is all surreal,” he says as he runs his hand through his hair, ruining the coif he had earlier.
    “I know what you mean.”
    “I bet. You could have anyone, and yet you went on a dating show.”
    When Joey looks down at the ground and her shoulders slump, I smirk and call him an asshole in my head.
    “It’s not like that. I’m using this as an opportunity to raise awareness about the foundation I support. With the economy still in ruins and only beginning to rebuild, people forget about the smaller, less fortunate non-profits that lost funding. Everyone is focused on rebuilding big businesses and don’t realize that most of our youth programs are still suffering. If Joey and I win, I’m giving my share to the foundation. Help them kick start their rebuilding efforts.” They don’t need to know that my mouth wrote a check that I can’t cash and that I was drunk when I signed a contract to appear.
    “Oh, you’re so noble.” A hand is placed on my forearm and it doesn’t take a genius to see that it’s attached to Amanda. She bats her eyelashes at me when we make eye contact, and I quickly look away. I also place my arm around Joey for good measure. Joey doesn’t immediately relax into me, but we’ll get there.
    “So, Cole, what do you do for work?”
    He moves to sit down, but Millie doesn’t follow. She stands in front of us, making things a little too awkward for me. In this house, I want to be treated like any other newlywed, not the actor they’ve seen in the movies. That’s not me. This is me, the real me. I’m not playing some part right now.
    I add a little pressure to Joey’s shoulder and