Page 84 of The Baking Games
“I don’t work on yachts with celebrities.”
She tilts her head slightly. “You lied about where you work? Why?”
“Because it’s embarrassing.”
“Rhett, I work in a grocery store bakery with a scary lady named Big Thelma. Not exactly a four-star restaurant. It’s not likely I would judge you.”
I take in a breath and blow it out. Why is this so hard to admit?
“I work on a cruise ship.”
“And?”
“I work in the kitchen of a cruise ship.”
“So?”
I can’t help but laugh at her response. All this time, I was afraid of admitting I didn’t work for some big celebrity on a yacht, and she did not react.
“I guess I just bragged a lot to make people think I was doing better than I was. My family also thinks I work on yachts.”
“Why lie?”
I sigh. “I thought it would impress them. Make them proud of me.”
“I’m so sorry that your family let you down today, but that’s on them, Rhett. Working on a cruise ship is amazing! You get to go to all those beautiful places and meet new people. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
“Why do you always make me feel better, Sunny?”
She smiles. “I guess we were meant to be friends instead of enemies.”
SAVANNAH
If I knew what Rhett’s mother and father looked like, I would hunt them down and smack them.
Who doesn’t show up for their kid? Who allows him to show up on TV and be embarrassed?
As addicted as my mother was, I still knew she loved me. She couldn’t do much but showed us love when she could. Her brain just loved drugs and alcohol more.
I can’t think about it much because tonight is another main challenge. Two more people are going home; it can’t be me and Rhett. This is week five. I just need to make it through this challenge to get to finals week. Then, I really have a chance at this money.
Rhett has been quiet after our bathroom meeting. I don’t know if I did too much. Maybe I shouldn’t have hugged him. Maybe that was too far. Not everybody likes physical touch.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Maggie sits down next to me on the outdoor sofa. There are so few of us here now. I remember when the courtyard was full of contestants.
“It’s been quite a day, Maggie.”
“I heard about Rhett.”
I snap my head sideways. “What? How?”
“One of the producers told me during my confessional.”
“No talking about production!” one of the producers says over the intercom. It’s still so unnerving to know they’re listening to our every word. It’s also irritating that they shared Rhett’s situation with another contestant.
Maggie rolls her eyes. “Anyway, I’m so sad for him. I like Rhett.”
I lean my head back and look up at the sky. “I’m sad for him, too. And if his family is listening, you’re a bunch of jerks!”