Page 8 of Hot Summer

Ada was gorgeous.

Cas had known she would be—everyone on this fucking show was stunning—but Ada... Ada was exactly Cas’s type of girl.

Her long red hair was shining with gold in the sun, the loose waves curling over her white, freckled shoulders and tickling the middle of her back. She was already smiling as she turned around, but it seemed genuine, not at all crafted for the cameras. Even at a distance, Cas could see the way the warmth reached her dark eyes. Her face was coated in freckles that Cas was sure would only darken as the summer progressed, and she had the softest dimple in her right cheek.

Automatically, Cas felt her gaze drag down over the rest of Ada’s body. She had full, round hips and the bright red, high-cut bikini she was wearing was a brilliant shock of color against her pale skin. Her top was strapless, the cups gathered at the center around a gold heart-shaped ring that held the top together. It was the perfect bikini to premiere for this show.

As per the show’s expectation, Ada was also wearing heels, though she seemed less comfortable in hers than Cas was. Ada had opted for a platform sandal-style heel in a soft cream that was just a shade lighter than her skin. The platform should have made them easier to walk in, but Ada’s foot slipped slightly as she took a step toward Cas, and her left hand immediately shot out to brace herself against the car.

Cas’s smile widened automatically and she took a few quick steps toward Ada.

“Hi,” Cas said, injecting her voice with as much bubblegum warmth as possible. She was Friday Cas on steroids. “I’m Cas! It’s so nice to meet you!” She almost said Welcome to Friday Date Night but caught herself at the last second.

Cas held out her arms as she approached, and Ada stepped into her embrace, rocking them both side to side.

“I’m Ada,” she said into Cas’s hair before she pulled away, her palms coming to rest on Cas’s elbows. “I’m so happy to meet you, too!”

This close, Cas could see that her eyes were molten brown with flecks of gold and forest green in the center.

Cas swallowed. “Ready to go inside?”

“Only if I can hold your hand.” Ada’s cheeks were red, though from embarrassment or the heat, Cas wasn’t sure. “I’m going to face-plant in this gravel otherwise.”

Her smile was bright, her eyes shining with amusement at her predicament and a genuine warmth that matched the tone in her voice. It was one moment, but there was something just... real about her, and Cas knew Ada was, in all likelihood, going to be a public favorite. One to beat if she was going to make the finals.

Cas laughed and immediately took Ada’s hand. “Of course. I need it, too, or I’m going to break an ankle in these.”

She lifted up her shoe, turning her foot to the side so Ada could see the four-inch stiletto she’d paired with her bikini.

Ada’s eyes went wide. “How the hell are you walking in those?”

Together, they started down the drive, the gravel crunching underfoot. Hand in hand with Ada, it was almost possible to ignore the camerapeople walking alongside them, Steadicams strapped to their chests.

Cas winked. “Lots and lots of practice.”

3

With all her “research” (i.e., watching Hot Summer every single summer for the last nine years like the incredibly well-adjusted person she was), Cas had thought she’d be prepared for the villa. Thought she’d known what to expect. Wouldn’t be surprised by the grandeur of it all.

But no amount of seeing these things on television compared to the feeling of walking up to an enormous mansion knowing that this was where she was going to spend most of her summer.

The modern design of the exterior continued inside: Every wall was a crisp white, and there was a thin metal railing that wound up the stairs to the upper floor. There was a single pendant light hanging from the high ceiling, though it was high enough that it probably wasn’t going to feature in any shots of the entry.

From the front door, Cas could see at least three neon signs, one of which read smooches in Hot Summer’s signature pink and bubbly script font. There were decals of mouths all over the walls—mouths licking lips, licking ice cream, sucking on lollipops—and every piece of furniture Cas could see was in an electric shade of either pink, green, blue, or yellow.

It shouldn’t have surprised her. This was the exact color scheme the producers went for every season. But seeing it in person...

“Holy hell.”

A shock of laughter rolled through Ada as she took in their surroundings, and it was only then that Cas realized she was still holding Ada’s hand. Cas felt her cheeks heat slightly and she loosened her grip. She’d meant to do it subtly, but Ada must have felt it because she instantly dropped Cas’s hand.

Cas cleared her throat. She was calm. Cool. Incredibly collected. “I feel like I blacked out and woke up in the middle of Amnesia or something.”

Ada’s brow furrowed and Cas hastened to clarify. “It’s a club in Ibiza.” She rolled her eyes. “Lots of neon.”

“Oh.” Ada nodded slowly as she took a step forward, leading them out of the entry and into the lounge room. When they made eye contact again, this time over Ada’s shoulder, there was something almost withdrawn about Ada’s expression, uncertain. Awkward. “Is that your usual scene, then?”

The lounge room was smaller than Cas had expected. There was a white L-shaped sofa covered in pillows in the corner and a television hanging on the wall opposite, though Cas couldn’t imagine why they’d bothered installing it. One of Hot Summer’s strictest rules was that the lovers be isolated from any and all contact with the outside world save for the very select times the producers allowed them access to public opinion. It was, apparently, a way to keep the contestants honest and prevent them from playing to the camera, but frankly, Cas thought they did it just to make everyone feel a little bit unhinged.

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