What happens when your best friend tricks you into unwittingly submitting a successful audition tape for hot new reality dating show 'Enlisted'? For Mia Benson, the answer is contemplate friend-icide, at least until she catches wind of the $10,000-p...
Right now, Max and I are sitting inside an actual, real-life lighthouse, chowing down on appetizers I can't pronounce. They're delectable, but I feel awful. Because Max and I are back to our usual banter, and I realize just how much I missed him.
I'm trying to force Elijah and our cuddle session into my mind, along with the image of Adriana upstairs looking for Max, but I can't. All I want to do is apologize and explain and then maybe have some lighthouse sex.
"Got plans with Elijah after our date?"
I shove a forkful of risotto into my mouth rather forcefully. "Nope. No plans." Against my better judgment I add, "You have any with Adriana?"
Max shrugs. "Depends on what you're doing tonight, but seeing as you don't have plans and you can't resist me, I'd say no."
"You're making me want to prove that I can resist hanging out with you. Your overconfidence is going to backfire one of these days, Vaughn."
"Possibly, but that day isn't today. My room or yours?"
There's no point declining the invitation when I'm inevitably going to accept anyway. "Beach."
"I like the way you think, Benson."
"I know."
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The first thing Max and I do on the beach is, surprisingly, not make out. No, we check for cameras instead. We have a lot of talking to do, and I'm not all that keen on Enlisted's dedicated fanbase hearing our conversation. Sorry, guys. The book is better, promise.
When we're semi-confident in our privacy, we set up the beach chairs Max somehow snagged—he's the most resourceful person I've ever met—on the shoreline. Gentle waves spill onto our toes while we gear up for what's going to be an intense heart-to-heart.
"Why did you sleep with Elijah?"
Wow. Max really cuts to the chase. "What makes you think I slept with Elijah?"
"I'm not stupid, Mia, and you're not exactly quiet in the bedroom."
I glare at him. "Were you eavesdropping outside the cabin?" I demand.
He scoffs. "No. I went on a walk and heard you from a couple hundred yards away."
"Fuck," I grumble. I really need to work on volume control.
"Why?"
"I like him, Max," I sigh.
"Why?"
"Do you really want me to answer that question?"
"I wouldn't have asked if I didn't."
Touché. "He's funny. He makes me laugh, and—"
"Yes, that's usually what funny entails."
"Do you want me to answer or not?" I snap.
"Oh, there's more?"
"Yes. He's sweet and caring. We have good conversations, and he's really, really smart."
