First Date by Krista McGee Read Free Book Online Page A

normal.
    “All right, ladies. Let’s hurry and do this. I was out in LA yesterday. Just flew back last night. I am tired and cranky, and I want to walk through this as quickly as possible so I can go back to my hotel and sleep. Okay?”
    Addy was amazed at how self-important Hank could make himself sound in just thirty seconds.
    “One of you will be Jonathon Jackson’s prom date,” he announced as the girls jumped and yelled. Hank motioned for them to be silent with a wave of his beverage. “But as you know, this isn’t your average reality TV dating show. Being pretty and charming isn’t enough. Jonathon’s date must be a well-rounded young woman. Beautiful, yes, but also smart, athletic, talented. He is the president’s son, after all. So you will be tested in several areas. We will have different competitions every week for the next five weeks. The night after each competition has been aired, Jonathon will choose five girls to leave.”
    A collective groan came from the crowd. “Until the final week, when we are left with the Top Five. Believe me, you want to make it that far. That’s the week you get to go on a date with Jonathon Jackson. So work hard and listen to everything we have to say. This is a great opportunity for you girls. Take advantage of it. Also, from now on, each morning will begin with boot camp with Lacy.” He grinned. A beautiful and incredibly fit woman appeared at his side. “This doesn’t replace your schoolwork. It comes before it. You will be out here at 6:00 a.m. ready to work out. That will be your first activity tomorrow morning.”
    More groans.
    Hank silenced the girls with a glare as Lacy jogged away. He reached into a leather satchel and pulled out a three-ring binder with the show’s logo on the front. He took his time flipping through to find the right page. Addy looked around and noted that all twenty-nine girls were quiet, too scared of Hank’s wrath to make another sound.
    “The focus for this week will be the arts. Each of you will have a sixty-minute meeting with either a voice, piano, dance, or acting instructor. You choose whichever of those to which you are most inclined. The instructor will help you get started on a presentation, and you will give that presentation Thursday evening—on camera, in a theater downtown. Any questions?” Several girls raised their hands, and Hank took out his cell phone and pointed to one of the assistant directors standing nearby. Obviously, he was too busy to talk to any of the girls personally.
    Addy bent over, head in her hands, fingers kneading her temples.
    As if I don’t already feel ridiculously out of place—now I’m supposed to perform? What is he thinking? What kind of idiotic beauty pageant is this? And why am I stuck in it when I could be home, lying in my comfy bed, reading a book? In silence .
    “Addy.” Kara broke into Addy’s mental tantrum, grabbing her arm and pulling her toward The Mansion. “Come on, let’s go. We’ve got work to do. Music books, CDs, monologues . . . any of this getting through? We’re performing onstage at the end of the week. Let’s pick our pieces so we can work on them today and be ready for our lessons tomorrow.”
    Addy glared at Kara, then stalked off, shaking her head and muttering to herself.
    Kara was right behind her, though. She grabbed Addy by the shoulders, forcing her to stop. “Addy, you know what I’ve noticed about you?”
    Addy groaned. “No. What, Dr. Kara?”
    “I’ve noticed”—Kara arched one eyebrow in a “watch it, sister” slant—“that you get angry when you’re uncomfortable. You don’t want to admit you’re scared or nervous, so you get angry to cover it up.”
    Addy turned and walked away, too upset to even speak. After a few days’ acquaintance, Kara thinks she can analyze me? Please . Addy power-walked her way toward the trailers.
    She rounded the corner of the massive front porch just as Jonathon came from the other side. Addy narrowly