Page 35 of Hot Summer

Though it might be an even bigger problem if Ada did feel the same way.

Because Ada was genuine. Looking for a connection with someone that transcended whatever time she was going to spend with them in the villa. Cas had no interest in anything lasting beyond the second she stepped out that front door.

Ada scraped her lip over her bottom teeth and locked eyes with Cas in the mirror. “What do you think about this?”

Cas thought far too many things about that little skirt. And only about three of them were possible to share at the moment.

“You should wear that,” Cas said. She grabbed her sponge off the table and started diffusing the blush across her cheeks. “You’ll look hot in it.”

“Do you think?”

“Yeah.” Cas grabbed an eyeshadow brush and a random palette. Started very casually doing her eyes.

The other girls, thankfully, started filing in over the next few minutes, the laughter and conversation the perfect distraction from everything going on in her head.

Cas had just finished putting the final touches on her lipstick—a bright, almost electric red that looked like poison against her lips—when Femi appeared in the doorway.

“You all are looking lovely.”

“Thank you,” Sienna said. She had just emerged from the wardrobe, a set of Barbie-pink separates in her hand. “You’re looking decent yourself.”

Femi was wearing a soft pastel striped shirt, but the lines were abstract, curving and waving around the top instead of forming straight lines. The pink, yellow, green, and blue popped beautifully against his dark brown skin and the faded black jeans he’d paired with them for the night. He’d left a few of the top buttons undone, and Cas watched Sienna’s eyes drift over the exposed planes of Femi’s chest.

Femi, though, was twisting his fingers together and staring at Cas. “Cas, have you got a second?”

Cas flashed him a smile, though the anxiety was swirling wildly in her gut now. “Of course.”

Her feet were remarkably steady as she stood, her fingers relaxed as she set her lipstick back in the tray on the vanity. No one spoke as she made her way to the balcony door, but Ada caught her hand as she passed, a quick squeeze and a glance that gave Cas the last bit of confidence she needed to walk outside.

The balcony was small, little more than a tiny two-seater bench, a few potted plants, and a string of fairy lights. It was a nice space, seemingly private, but the door into the change room and the fencing, both, were glass.

Cas sat very carefully on the bench, tugging the hem of her skirt down with so much force she might have ripped it in half.

Femi kept his eyes on hers. “Sorry I didn’t come find you earlier today. I was in the beach hut for... a while this afternoon.”

Ah. So, the producers made sure that Cas and Femi weren’t having this conversation until now.

“How are you feeling about tonight?” Femi asked.

Cas exhaled, the sound shaky and almost a laugh. “Honestly?”

His expression softened into a smile. “Honestly.”

“Horrible,” Cas admitted. “I feel like I should have spent the night packing my bags.”

“Really?”

She nodded. “Not because I think you’d— Not because of you. Just... I don’t know. I’m last. Why would anyone keep me round?”

Femi hummed absently. Didn’t contradict her. He leaned back against the glass, crossed one leg over the other. He wasn’t looking at her, was watching the girls as they finished putting their makeup on, though, Cas noticed his gaze catching on Sienna. Admiring her as she checked her outfit in the mirror, smiling, just a little, when she threw a cotton pad at Ada’s head. Exhaling gently as she laughed at something Tia said.

Finally, he drew in a deep breath. Turned back to Cas.

“You’re my best friend in here, you know,” Femi said quietly. He sounded almost awed, like he couldn’t quite believe it.

“Try not to sound so surprised.”

He nudged her lightly with his shoulder. “It’s just easy to talk to you. I like our little debriefs in bed at night.”

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