5. Alice

ALICE

H e’s touching me.

Michael Kesso is touching me. Holding my hand. And it feels as sensual as if his hand was down my panties.

“I’m Mike.” He introduces himself, as though I don’t have his photo next to my bed and his entire bio memorized.

“Hi.” I breathe the word.

“Hi.” His simple reply goes straight to my core.

Hi.

I’m going to hear his voice in my sleep.

I don’t know what I thought would happen when we met, but… touching him? Direct eye contact? I didn’t prepare for this.

So, I do the only thing I can do when my crush is standing in front of me, holding my hand. I smile.

Then I stumble forward.

I bump into my workstation, slapping my free hand down on the countertop to catch my balance.

Michael lets go of my hand, and the people around us startle at my flailing.

And that’s how I die.

Embarrassment manifests as a Lake Placid–sized crocodile, and it swallows me down whole. I disappear. The crocodile eats the cameras. And no one ever witnesses The Stumble That Ended Alice’s Life.

With burning cheeks, I drop my eyes, and I do my best to ignore the other contestants’ snickering.

“Alrighty then.” Joey claps his hands together. “Let’s get this show on the road!”

Keeping my head tipped down, I nod.

That’s a great idea! Let’s add high-stakes competition to the garbage fire of emotions already blazing in my stomach.

I watch the trio walk to the front of the room, and as Joey explains the first challenge, I glance down at my empty hands. Because I could’ve sworn that Michael pulled me toward him.