More than Fashion

38

When the challenge ended, I was in the top three, and it was so obvious my look should win—yet they gave the prize to Jeff. Jeff. Even though all of the judges loved my look the most—except Lola, who inexplicably hated it, of course. Gavin was in the bottom for the first time ever, since his look was sloppy and barely finished, but he was safe. The only good news was that Derrick was out. The Jeff Jayson Fan Club was starting to break apart.

I trudged back into the backstage lounge, where the designers in the middle waited, and then kept on walking out into the hallway. That superhero challenge should have been mine, dammit. I’d worked so hard on it, and I knew with every fiber of my being that my look was better than Jeff’s. Seriously, what superhero would run around in a skimpy miniskirt that would only ride up her ass while she was fighting? I was so mad I wanted to punch something.

I leaned against the wall, burying my face in my hands, enjoying a second of solitude. I was nearly in tears, which was silly because I’d been in the top. The pressure of the show must have been getting to me. The long hours, the lack of alone time, being completely cut off from the world, plus all the design room drama…it was too much. I was starting to c***k.

The door to the lounge opened. Gavin. He must have followed me out. “Are you all right, love?”

After his attitude today, I had zero desire to talk to him. “Go away.”

“I want to apologize for earlier.” He moved close, taking my hands in his. “I’m sorry for being so rude to you.”

“It’s fine, whatever,” I said, keeping my eyes fixed on the floor. I wished he would leave me alone to sulk by myself.

“No, it’s not fine. My behavior was unforgivable.” He drew in a long breath. “I have a hard time accepting help from others. I suppose I…prefer to do things on my own. With my own hands. But that is no excuse for the way I treated you.”

He sounded sincere, and when I looked in his eyes, I believed he was genuinely sorry. I tightened my hands around his. “It’s okay. I think we’re all having a rough day. I’m sorry you were in the bottom.”

“I deserved to be there.” He traced patterns on my skin with his thumbs. “Are you upset about something other than my very ungentlemanly behavior?”

That got a little smile out of me. “It’s…it’s stupid.”

“I doubt that.”

“I came in second, but I should have won. If it weren’t for Lola and her vendetta against me…but no, I shouldn’t complain. I was still in the top. Just ignore me.”

“Lola does seem to have it out for you. Maybe you should talk to someone?”

“Who?”

“I don’t know. Kelsey? One of the producers? Maybe even Giselle Roberts?”

“Why would they listen to me over her?” I sighed. “No, I’m going to be sent home soon. I can feel it.”

He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into his chest and his warm embrace. “We’re not going to let that happen.”

I buried my face in his shoulder, breathing in the scent of him, digging my fingers in his black shirt. “How?”

“By making sure they won’t dare send you home.”

A small laugh escaped me, and I raised my eyes to his. “What’s in it for you?” I asked, repeating his question from last night.

“This,” he said and pressed his mouth to mine. Unlike last night’s fervent kisses, this one was slower, softer, a gentle teasing at my lips, a light flick of his tongue. He eased me into it, slowly bringing me out of the darkness, making me forget why I was upset at all. I clung to him, gradually opening up and kissing him back with more and more passion. It was the first time I’d kissed him without wanting anything from him other than his comfort and the sheer pleasure of being close to him.

“But what about this exactly?” I asked, my voice breathy.

“The longer you stay, the more I get to kiss you,” he said against my lips.

“The longer I stay, the higher the chance of you going home.”

“I’m willing to risk it.”

Then we were kissing again, and I moved my hands up to weave my fingers in his beautiful hair. God, I loved his hair—short on the side, long on top, and soft all over. I loved the way it felt like silk against my skin and that I could grab a good chunk of it and tug. I loved that he put an effort into making it look good, like he did with every aspect of his appearance.

Someone whooped, and we pulled apart. “It’s about time you two finally hooked up,” Trina said behind us.

She stood there with all the other designers, each of them openly ogling us. Molly clapped her hands together, like she was delighted with this turn of events. Dawn wore a big smile, while Nika glared at me so hard I thought she might burn holes into my clothes. Jeff just looked bored by it all.

I snapped back into reality, where Gavin and I were competitors, on camera, and only pretending to be together. Of course he hadn’t meant what he’d said. It had all been an act for the camera recording everything. I’d let myself forget, as I always did with him. When he kissed me, it was far too easy to lose myself, to give in to his soft lips and hard body. To forget that, no matter how good a kisser he was, this was still pretend.

The others went back inside the lounge, leaving us alone to make out some more, I presumed. But the moment was over.