Contents
Chapter 11: Emmett
Overview
Emmett finds Julia limping back from Prickle Point, bloodied and prickled, and insists she clean up at his cottage to avoid Richard’s wrath. Their banter softens into mutual concern and attraction. Julia references a past night he “saved” her, and Emmett accidentally reveals his real last name, hinting at hidden identity issues.
Summary
Emmett steels himself for another day on the dating show, dreading Richard’s plan to parade contestants through farm chores. As he leaves, he encounters Julia limping toward him, scraped, dirty, and full of cactus spines from tumbling down Prickle Point.
Alarmed, Emmett guides Julia toward his cottage despite her teasing feint of not recognizing her own name. Their banter returns to a serious note when Julia alludes to a past night he “saved” her; Emmett counters that he only respected her wishes, and she cuts the topic short. Emmett persuades her to clean up at his place so Richard won’t explode at the sight.
Unable to focus on set, Emmett rushes back home and finds Julia extracting spines while unleashing a creative string of curses. He keeps his distance, both amused and concerned, offering help she refuses as they trade flirtatious jabs.
During the exchange, Julia calls him “Bush,” and Emmett corrects her—“it’s Brandt, not Bush”—then deflects when she presses for an explanation, hinting that the show has saddled him with a false persona. The moment underscores a growing intimacy: Julia acknowledges his past help, and Emmett recognizes she isn’t judging him as he feared.
Who Appears
- Emmett BrandtFinds injured Julia, brings her to his cottage, flirts while helping, and inadvertently reveals his true last name.
- Julia SilvaReturns from Prickle Point bloodied and prickled, banters with Emmett, recalls his past rescue, and presses about his identity.
- Richard (Dick Wad)Producer whose potential reaction prompts Emmett to hide Julia’s condition and clean her up off-set.