Chapter 1

Chapter One

“What a bunch of bullshit,” Lacey Fellows muttered at her TV.

Usually, she wasn’t one for watching television, especially the cesspool of engineered conflict so embroiled in reality TV, but her partner of six years insisted she’d be fascinated by the study of human behavior. Besides, it was about couples struggling with commitment. Well, at least one-half of the couples were grappling with commitment. Unfortunately, the show’s premise struck far too close to home for Lacey. She squirmed on the couch as she watched the show’s glitzy opening.

A sultry voice announced the opening statement. “In the dazzling realm of reality television, where love and drama entwine in a complicated dance as old as time, emerges a groundbreaking series that transcends the ordinary. The Love Demand is not your typical reality show—it’s a celebration of love, resilience, and the vibrant spectrum of human connections. Against the backdrop of a high-stakes demand, emotions are laid bare. This avant-garde drama promises an uncharted journey through passion, purpose, and the unwavering power of authenticity. Welcome to a world where hearts are both the battlefield and the prize, and the journey to love is as captivating as the destination itself.”

Muriel bounced into the room and exclaimed, “Oh, good, you’re watching the show. Crazy, huh? I could totally see us there. We should send in a video, if for no other reason than a well-earned, all-expenses-paid vacation. Next year they’re filming in the Cook Islands and doing their very first queer version!”

Lacey scowled. “You can’t be serious. It’s totally fake. You know that, right?”

“You never want to do anything fun anymore,” Muriel complained. “And you wonder why I don’t want to get hitched. It’s like we’ve already evolved into a boring married couple that has lost all their sparkle. I’d suggest polyamory to get our juices flowing again, but I already know how you feel about that. Why do you have to be so traditional? We’re in our twenties, not sixties.”

Lacey frowned. “I didn’t think you were serious about finding a third. Are you?”

Muriel shrugged. “I was, but I’m open to other ideas on how to spice things up.”

“I didn’t think our sex life needed spicing up.” Lacey’s body tensed, waiting for Muriel to respond.

“Well, I am still having orgasms, so I guess that’s something. I’m talking about that heart-pounding feeling when we first got together. It was like I couldn’t breathe when we were apart. I miss that.”

“I don’t think it’s realistic to stay in that honeymoon phase for the entire duration of a relationship. Besides, part of that was coming to terms with our sexuality. We were so young when we got together, and it was the first time either of us considered being with a woman. That had to contribute to the excitement. New experiences have always enthralled you,” Lacey reasoned.

“Exactly! What’s so wrong about trying to keep things fresh and exciting? Don’t you want that for the rest of your life?”

“Not really,” Lacey mumbled. “I don’t think I could survive that. New relationships are like that pair of leather boots you can’t live without, so you buy them, and they’re all sparkly and exhilarating to wear but uncomfortable at the same time. I prefer old boots after I’ve broken them in, and they feel like a pair of comfortable slippers.”

Muriel wrinkled her nose and pursed her lips. “Fuck, Lacey, it almost sounds like you see me as some kind of wild horse that needs to be broken.”

Lacey laughed. “I guess you are kind of like a wild mustang. That’s not a bad thing. The fact that I never know what to expect from you keeps me on my toes. You’re like a human wildfire, which, if I’m not careful, will result in you torching me and leaving a crispy shell behind.”

“Oh, don’t be so dramatic. Come on, please just think about trying to get on The Love Demand. For me.” Muriel batted her lashes and grinned at Lacey.

“Is it that important to you?”

Lacey watched as Muriel sent her a triumphant smile. It was no big surprise to anyone that whenever Muriel wanted anything, Lacey would move heaven and earth to make it happen, except for allowing a third person into the middle of their relationship. That was a bridge too far for Lacey. She just wasn’t built for polyamory. She’d assumed that suggestion was a fleeting idea that would disappear in time, but now she wasn’t so sure about that. It wasn’t an optimal alternative to put herself out there for millions of people to view as some sick form of entertainment, but if it ended in marriage to Muriel, she’d make that sacrifice.

She clapped her hands in excitement. “Oh, Lacey, it’s going to be such an adventure. I promise you won’t regret it.”

“Fine, you’re in charge of the video. You need to be realistic, Muri. They probably get thousands of entries. What makes you think they’ll choose us?”

“Psht.” Muriel pointed to Lacey, then ran her hand over the front of her body. “Just look at us. We’re primo eye candy. Of course they’ll pick us. I have an idea of what to do in the video to make us stand out. You’ll see, they won’t have a single doubt about our candidacy for the show,” she stated with confidence.

†

Lacey stared at the winding path to the luxury resort where she’d agreed to spend the next two months of her rapidly spiraling out-of-control life. What the hell was I thinking? Her hand felt clammy as she gripped Muriel’s hand in an effort to settle her nerves. She was definitely out of her comfort zone, but if this was what it took to get an answer, she’d gladly endure whatever humiliation lay ahead on the slim chance it would be a yes. Was she desperate? Probably. Pathetic? Absolutely. But Lacey was no quitter. If nothing else, they could put on her tombstone that she had perseverance.

“Aw, come on, this could be just what we need. Get us over this hump we’re in. Maybe by the time the show ends, we’ll march happily down the aisle. Isn’t that worth it to you?”

Lacey wasn’t sure anymore that this would be worth it. Muriel hadn’t budged from her position on marriage. Why would the show make any difference? Lacey hadn’t expected the television producers to call, so she hadn’t prepared for the possibility.

Her employer had not been too happy about her request for time off. It was one thing to ask for a two-week vacation and quite another to expect two months. Fortunately, Lacey had used her vacation time sparingly, a bone of contention with Muriel, but now a lifesaver since she had plenty of accumulated paid time off.

Muriel hadn’t needed to worry about getting time off because she changed jobs more often than the weather changed in the Pacific Northwest, which was nearly a daily event. At the time of the notification, Muriel was unemployed. She hadn’t needed to finagle an inordinate amount of time off. Although, thanks to Lacey’s connections, she planned on starting a new job at the hospital. Muriel had used every bit of charm and talked her way into a revised start date for the new position.

She never admitted this to Muriel, but Lacey had almost wished her employer had denied her vacation request. Maybe the ridiculous notion would float away, even if ultimately Muriel might come up with a crazy new idea for them to pursue. Unfortunately, the hospital reluctantly agreed to a personal leave of absence because of the acute shortage of physical therapists and sports medicine professionals. Lacey often received offers from competing clinics or hospitals, and they knew it. Her promise to return had secured the leave despite the fact that her rural hospital would be short-staffed while she was away, and they would need to employ an expensive traveler to fill her shifts.

“Of course it’s worth it. That is the only reason I agreed to this.” Lacey squeezed Muriel’s hand to emphasize her commitment to the process.

“Isn’t this amazing?” Muriel enthused, as her head swiveled around. She seemed to focus on two women emerging from another vehicle.

“Um, yeah. The resort is nice,” Lacey answered as she watched Muriel scope out the women who began their trek on the path.

“I told you they’d pick hot women. Damn, look at those two. I wonder which of them wants to get married and who is more of a free spirit like me?”

Lacey frowned. Sure, they were attractive, but the most unsettling part of the show was the requirement to live with a stranger for three weeks as a potential new partner. Lacey was almost positive there was no way she would fall in love with someone else in three weeks. She wasn’t so sure about Muriel. Was it possible that Lacey could actually lose Muriel to one of these hot women? She would have to power through those three weeks and find a way to follow the rules without hurting the other woman’s feelings. At least she wasn’t required to have sex with someone else. Roommates. They would be roommates for three weeks. And roommates rarely had sex with one another. Lacey and Muriel were the exception to that rule because that was how they’d gotten together. Muriel had made the first move, but Lacey had been an eager participant in their changing relationship two short weeks after they’d met for the first time. She thought she’d hit the lottery when she walked into the dorm room and saw Muriel’s smiling face. Their fast friendship quickly evolved into something more, and they’d been together ever since that first kiss that Muriel had initiated after Lacey confessed she thought she might be a lesbian.