Two people in costumes clearly raided from the Halloween box in the shed. A blow-up unicorn and a blow-up T. rex.
The unicorn balances two boxes of pizza with a half sack of beer stacked on top, and the T. rex holds a Deep and Delicious frozen chocolate cake and a bottle of wine.
“Special delivery!” they shout in unison, their filmy costumes fluttering as they jiggle their seven-foot frames.
“Jesus Christ.” Laughter shakes my shoulders.
“What?” Julia pushes to her feet and jogs over to the window. Her mouth pops open. “Is that—” Her giggle cuts her off.
“Parker and Evan? Yes. I believe it is.”
We open the door for the two animals, chuckling as they dance on the spot. “What the hell are you two doing?”
“Who, us?” Evan presses a hoof to his chest in mock offense. “We are simply putting on a show for the cameras.”
“If Dick Wad wants good TV, then we’re going to give it to him,” Parker adds before ramming her T. rex’s head into the unicorn’s neck, roaring like she’s mauling the mythical creature.
I don’t know if it’s exhaustion, adrenaline, the heavy emotions, or just that this is hilarious, but Julia and I burst out laughing.
They hand over the food, high-five their mismatched paws, and gallop down the driveway with a whinny and a roar.
“I love you, Emmett!” Parker bellows, loud enough for the cameras.
“No, I love you more, Emmett!” Evan volleys back before they dissolve into laughter and disappear into the dark.
“They’re officially the best,” Julia says as she watches them vanish with a wide grin on her face.
“They’re…” My head joggles. “Something. I’m lucky to have them.”
“And they’re lucky to have you.”
I smile softly at the warmth blooming in my chest before kicking the door shut and locking it behind me. Heading back to the island, I set our food up. But it isn’t long before my phone pings again. It’s Oma.
Oma
I heard those two yahoos just brought you booze and sugar and greasy junk food, so I’m coming over with a salad.
Julia shrugs as she reads my screen from over my shoulder. “I’d eat a salad.”
A text from Opa comes through.
Opa
You’re not going to want to see this.
I laugh and fire a text back.
Emmett
No way. After Parker and Evan’s shenanigans, I can’t wait to see what Oma comes up with.
Opa
Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
One slice of pizza and several minutes later, there’s a knock on the door that has Julia and me sprinting to answer it. When I tug the knob, I look down and see a bowl of salad covered in Saran Wrap on the doormat.
And when I look up, I see Oma’s bare ass. Sneakers, socks, and absolutely nothing else as she sprints down the driveway faster than a woman her age has any business doing.
“Fuck you, Dick Wad,” she yells, flipping double birds at one of the cameras along the fence line. She shakes her shoulders. “You want titties? You got ’em!”
“Oh. My. God.” Julia wheezes beside me, palm slapped over her mouth.
Farther down the driveway, Opa watches her with hearts in his eyes, one hand over his stomach as laughter rips out of him.
She’s the only woman who’s made him laugh like that. And he’s the only man in the world who could have truly handled her antics.
None of this surprises me all that much.
With a chuckle and a soft smile, I glance down at Julia. “Welcome to the Brandt family, Jules.”
OceanofPDF.com
OFFICIAL MEMO
To: Richard Wadsworth
From: Teri Baker
Subject: Production Shutdown
Submitting my final memo for the record to show that Romance Ranch filming has concluded.
The show did not run to completion.
Legal has directed us to destroy all the footage we have collected over the past five weeks.
Despite the less-than-ideal outcome, it has been a pleasure to work on this show with you.
Sincerely,
Teri Baker
Story Producer
OceanofPDF.com
OceanofPDF.com
CHAPTER 48
Julia
MY FILM CREW carefully positions themselves to capture every angle of this moment. Nothing’s set in stone, but my gut has never led me wrong when it comes to Emmett.
I stand at the corner of the arena listening to the latest episode of Catherine’s newly funded podcast, Murdery Things, just to distract myself from the nervous energy surging through my veins.
The season has been something of a dream. Richard’s reputation tanked, which forced him out of the business. Last I checked he was working at a men’s clothing store. Emmett and the Brandts got paid once the contract breach was presented to the studio, and the show will never see the light of day. The network folded like origami once Maxwell started peppering them with the laundry list of contractual and workplace standard violations.
I received a glowing recommendation from the network along with payment for the full season.
Even Evelyn made it out okay in the end. She’s currently sailing the Caribbean as a contestant on Close Quarters, the network’s top-rated reality show. Living the dream starting shit on the high seas, no doubt.
The cherry on top? Out of Romance Ranch’s ashes, a fresh opportunity rose and presented itself to me.
A documentary filmmaker reached out, offering me a chance to work on a season-long docuseries following the WBRF riders on the road. As an assistant director.
As Gabriel Silva’s daughter and Theo Silva’s sister, they felt I was uniquely qualified for the job. And I jumped at the opportunity.
It’s not Hollywood or where I want to end up in the long run, but there is something undeniably healing and sentimental about being a part of a show that is so dear to my heart. As driven as I am, I need to savor the journey of getting where I want to go.
And this journey has been unforgettable. Especially because Emmett and I have been inseparable for the past nine months. We’re joined at the hip.
We travel together. We work together, fall asleep together, wake up together. And miraculously, we just keep growing closer. What started as something that could’ve been mistaken for early obsession, or the pressures of the show, or the forbidden aspect of sneaking around has proven to be the seeds that have grown into the vines of a real relationship.
Vines that have grown wild and full, constricting and pulling us closer.
And now it’s the grand finale. This is the moment everyone has been waiting for. Theo’s final ride wasn’t his best. He didn’t last the full eight seconds, and as much as I love my brother, and would never admit it out loud, I was relieved. Theo’s stumble cleared the way for Emmett to win the whole thing.
Anything above ninety points will give him his first WBRF championship and let him retire on the highest of high notes. A career for the record books.
Theo can take it next year.
I watched my brother approach Emmett with a gruff but teasing, “I did that on purpose. Just to give you a shot. Consider it a welcome to the family.”
Emmett grinned at him. “Well, if you’re going to pretend it was on purpose, who am I to argue?” Then he shouldered him—good-natured this time. “As a member of the family or whatever.”
Seeing the two of them shit-talk lovingly warmed my heart, gave me a sense of peace. A sense of knowing.
Because this year is Emmett’s. I want it for him so badly I can taste it. I could barely sleep last night, and he’s been quiet today.
