“What’s happening is that Theo Ganas is here and we’re doing this show together, over the next month, because he’s a prick and his hobby is ruining my life.” I started pacing again. It was like a swarm of bees chock-full of adrenaline were flying around inside me. It was either that or doing sprints around the building.

“Olympic Nips, that’s who we’re talking about, right?” José contributed as he pulled out his phone, which he tapped and showed me. “This person.” He had a photo of Theo in the Olympics as his home screen.

“Jesus, José,” I said, a surprised laugh escaping my throat. “You are so fucking thirsty, and stop calling him Olympic Nips.”

Our pint-sized friend pointed at the brown nipples in question, then looked back up at me. “You can’t tell me you don’t think those deserve a gold medal.”

“Let’s reserve this particular judging for later, José,” Julia said, her voice laced with humor, then turned to me. “That man is here for you, you have to know that, right?”

“No,” I said, shaking my head so hard I got dizzy. “No, he is here to fuck with me. To mess with me, because I said no to him.” That could be the only possibility, because anything else would be just...no.

“That’s what he said?” Julia asked with a very generous helping of suspicion.

“No, he claims he’s here because he thinks the show would be good PR.” I made air quotes on the PR and kept the fact that I’d been the one to give him the idea in the first place to myself.

“Albita, this would all be so much easier if you admitted you have the hots for that tall, gorgeous asshole,” Julia, my soon to be ex-bestie, declared in exasperation.

“Well, one.” I held up a finger. “You’re officially the worst best friend ever, and two.” Another finger went up. “Any regular person with seeing eyes would find that much ripped muscle at least somewhat enticing. That doesn’t mean I have the hots for him.”

“I have the hots for him,” José volunteered.

“You’re a thirsty ho,” I retorted, to which he responded with a shrug and toothy grin.

“Name-calling is not going to change the fact that you’re stuck with this man,” Julia quipped. “Because I assume you’re still doing it.”