Unscripted Hearts

"I, Makenzie Barnes, swore I'd be a moron if I crashed at a guy's place."

Outside my childhood friend's house, I jabbed a finger at the sky and yelled.

No real reason, just that I got drunk, let desire take over, and slept with my childhood friend.

Damn, was an actor's allure really that irresistible?

1

Summer air hung heavy but carried a fresh edge.

I parked my scooter and threw a scornful look at the flower shops nearby, all hustling for customers.

After setting out the flowers for sale, I sank into a rocking chair and shut my eyes, relishing the calm.

"Trouble with your boyfriend?" A smooth voice cut through.

In my head, it turned into an intimate murmur.

My eyes flew open.

There stood the guy I'd dodged for two months.

"God, this sun's brutal. It's blinding me. I need to head home to rest."

I moved to dart away.

A hand caught my arm.

"Makenzie, stop running from me. I know you got caught up, couldn't resist, and pinning me down wasn't planned."

His voice carried, pulling curious glances from passersby.

I shot him a look.

I prayed tomorrow's trending headline wouldn't read "Top Actor Weeps Over Abandonment at A Flower Shop".

I glared, twisted my wrist, grabbed his hand, and pulled him inside, slamming the door.

"Andrew, what's your deal? Don't you know who you are? You're shouting at my shop?"

He looked wounded. "Makenzie, don't snap at me."

His clear eyes sent a jolt through me.

Andrew had a thing for white shirts, always dressed like some innocent college kid.

He was obviously tempting me.

I glanced at him, his gaze searing, and stumbled over my words. "Why... why are you here?"

He pressed his lips together, hesitant.

"My agent booked me for a reality show. I need an opposite-sex friend to act as a couple for a week."

"A couple?"

Seeing my shock, he added, "Makenzie, you're my only girlfriend. If you say no, I'll look ridiculous."

I widened my eyes and stepped back three feet. "Girlfriend?"

Andrew looked at me, "Oh sorry, Makenzie, my mistake. Female friend. I didn't mean it. Your admirers won't care, right?"

Admirers?

Puzzled, I looked behind me.

"It's just us here. What are you staring at?"

Andrew stayed quiet, just watched me with hope and a touch of pleading.

I, a lifelong sucker for good looks, felt like the guilty one when a guy gave me that look.

"Alright, fine."

2

I slumped at the counter, ignoring customers.

"Hello, I'd like to have a bunch of baby's breath!" "Hello?

Excuse me?"

Frustration churned inside me.

I wanted to smack myself.

How did I cave just because he fluttered his lashes and played the victim?

Two months back, when my shop opened, Andrew came to celebrate and suggested drinks.

With our twenty-year friendship, I thought I could cut loose at his place.

I did-too much. Woke up with my clothes scattered.

My mind flashed with vivid, adult-only memories.

"Makenzie, stop. Let me go, please?"

"Makenzie, spare me, I'm begging..."

I squeezed my eyes shut, refusing to open them.

I even tied his hands. Total weirdo move.

My mom and Andrew's mom, Beth Carter, were friends for forty years.

As a kid, Andrew was a total crybaby, always coming to me when picked on.

Over time, we built an unshakable bond.

Until I, the idiot, wrecked it.

Lust was a sharp blade.

I sighed and dialed my friend Clare Anderson.

She answered fast.

"Hey, Makenzie? Perfect timing. I was about to ask you to hit the gym!"

I felt flat. "You free in a couple days?"

"Nah, what's up? You sound weird."

Her offhand tone nearly broke me. I spilled everything, and Clare got curious.

"No way! What's the show? I gotta see your awkward face, haha! So you're asking me to mind the shop?"

I nodded fiercely, though she couldn't see. "Yeah, Clare, my head was full of Andrew's face. I didn't catch the show's name!"

Clare clicked her tongue. "You're totally hung up on him."

I hung up.

What was she even saying?

Over the next few days, Andrew kept stopping by, filling me in on the show's setup.

It was a fan-demanded reality show, putting work-obsessed celebrities in a week-long romance experiment. A 24/7 livestream.

I raised an eyebrow at Andrew, sitting all proper. "Work-obsessed?"

He muttered, "It's my image."

Yeah, Andrew had plenty of images-gruff hero, stone-faced actor, even escape-room champ-all pushed by his sketchy company.

When he vented to me, I wanted to storm their office.

Clare swung by a few times, smirking at Andrew, making my face burn.

I sat in the show's van, staring at the camera practically shoved in my face.

A twinge of nerves hit me.

Andrew noticed and spoke up to reassure me. "Makenzie, the camera's not even on."

I froze, then punched his arm. "You think I don't know that?"

The cameraman in the front passenger seat turned and gave me a knowing smile.

Truth was, I had no clue.

Every move we made was already streaming live.

3

"Did I click the wrong stream? Is this the tough-guy actor?"

"This frail look is him?"

"All the fans are speechless."

The west suburb had stunning views, and the show clearly knew it, renting a villa out here.

As soon as we stepped out of the van, the crew gave me looks I couldn't read.

I leaned toward Andrew, thinking I was subtle. "Why do they all look so weird?"

"It's nothing. They're stressed from work and don't see people much."

I nodded, suddenly getting it, my gaze softening with pity.

Out of my sight, Andrew scanned the crew with a warning in his eyes.

Inside the villa, voices overlapped in a lively buzz.

I took a deep breath to steady myself.

"Don't lose it, stay classy, blend into the background, and don't embarrass Andrew."

With those rules in mind, I followed him in.

"Andrew, man, it's been a while." A guy stepped up to chat.

I mentally reviewed the guest info Andrew had shared, sizing him up.

This was Phillip Burton, a top idol, with his manager Tatiana Fowler by his side. Her delicate features and cute vibe hid her ruthless streak completely.

"Pleasure to meet you, Andrew." A couple approached, arm in arm.

I recognized them instantly-actress Daniela Morgan and model Jed Foster, the only all-celebrity pair.

Andrew took my hand to introduce me, his warmth spreading to my palm. For some reason, I didn't want to let go.

I glanced out the window at the clear blue sky.

Must be the chill.

"This is my childhood friend, Makenzie Barnes. Just call her Makenzie."

I smiled and nodded politely.

We settled on the couch, and Andrew handed me a plate of snacks, angling himself to block the camera so I could eat in peace.

"Andrew, my idol! I finally get to meet you!" A sweet, soft voice rang out. I looked over.

The last pair had arrived- rising star Maia Barnes and her personal stylist Clint Hopkins.

Twin ponytails, pleated skirt, and dimples.

My eyes sparkled.

A total cutie!

Andrew, who'd planned to keep his distance, narrowed his eyes and changed his mind.

He stood and walked over to greet her.

Maia's face lit up with surprise, clearly unprepared for the attention.

"Oh no..."

When I snapped out of it, Andrew was on the floor, pale as a ghost.

Maia stood in front of him, looking lost.

I rushed over. "What happened? Did you twist your ankle?"

Andrew kept his head down.

When he looked up, tears shimmered in his eyes.

"Makenzie, she pushed me." His usually calm voice quivered, like he was rattled.

"No way, am I blind?"

"What's up with the actor?"

"Am I the only one who finds Makenzie's vibe adorable? She's all cool and tough, but her eyes sparkled at the cutie."

"So what even happened? A prank? They were, like, feet apart!"

Under everyone's stunned stares, I scooped Andrew up and set him on the couch.

Yes, a full-on princess carry.

I pulled off his shoes and socks, holding a first-aid kit but feeling clueless.

His ankle showed no sign of injury.

Hesitant, I asked, "Where... does it hurt?"

Shock, disbelief, and disappointment flashed across Andrew's face.

He shook his head.

"It's fine. The pain doesn't matter. Even if she pushed me, I won't blame her. I'll accept anything you like."

Everyone thought, "That's some serious drama."

4

In the end, I sprayed Andrew's ankle with some medicine for show.

Any fondness I'd felt for Maia vanished.

I carried him to our room. As we left, he tugged my sleeve.

"Makenzie, I'm okay. If you want to befriend her, I'll forgive her."

I stiffened, my expression shifting.

"What do you take me for? Would I throw away our twenty years of friendship for some cute girl?"

Andrew's face filled with quiet resentment. "Then why did you, after we slept-mmph..."

I sensed trouble and clamped a hand over his mouth.

Guiltily, I glanced at the camera behind us. "Andrew, be good. No nonsense, okay?"

Before he could reply, I bolted.

"This is supposed to be a fake-couple show, right? Why do they seem more real than gold?"

"No, no, no, can't you see it's all Andrew pouring his heart out?"

"Makenzie's gorgeous. It'd be weird if he didn't like her!"

"Did I hear that right? Slept together??"

"My gut says these two have a story."

The next morning, I rose early.

If I had to pick the best part of the villa, it was the sprawling yard.

Empty and perfect for morning workouts.

A three-mile run and an hour of sparring had been my routine for ten years.

I never skipped a day.

The three rules I'd set for myself? Long forgotten.

I didn't even remember this was a 24/7 livestream.