Page 87 of Hot Summer

What you don’t know about the lovers!

@isobelleking: I thought she said she was a party planner???

@ciarap1246: did you read the article? She works for Friday. It was on her Instagram bio, but she took it out when she went on the show. There were a few people talking about it a few weeks ago

@isobelleking: okay but like... how does her being there for her company make any difference?

@anjalimarx: well it’s weird that she lied about it either way. everyone else shared their actual jobs

@isobelleking: no I get that part, but like... why would she lie?

@anjalimarx: fuckin weird right

@caracoven: are there any internet sleuths out here who can investigate???

@nowenthings: what are we looking for

@beannnews: evidence that something weird is going on probably

@somehowl:... what about confirmation that there’s a contract AND an NDA involved?

@milianarogers: I’m a reporter with the Daily Post—can I DM you to talk about this?

29

Their seventh Monday in the villa started like every other week.

Femi and Freddie brought around coffee and smoothies as the girls got out of bed. The five of them lay in a beanbag circle on the grass—Femi, Sienna, Ada, Cas, and Freddie—their feet in the center as they played yet another game Freddie had invented that was allegedly football-adjacent but, really, just ended with them all having bruised shins and ankles. Ada slathered on coat after coat of sun cream and still, somehow, ended up a little pink across the bridge of her nose.

It had been a while since someone had gotten an afternoon text, so Cas wasn’t necessarily surprised when Tia’s phone beeped from across the garden. She was sure the public was getting desperately bored, watching them messing about all day, and the producers needed to do something to keep the viewers engaged. She wasn’t thrilled at the idea of having to get up, though, or do anything other than lie here until it was time to get ready for the party that evening.

“ ‘Lovers!’ ” Tia’s voice was so full of glee that it was almost impossible to understand her. “ ‘Today, you’re going to play the headline game!’ ”

“Oh my god!” Lucy’s shout was probably heard across the whole of Cyprus. “I’ve been waiting for this!”

She was jumping up and down. Literally jumping. Hands clutched to her chest and everything, like someone just told her she’d won the lottery.

Cas didn’t have the slightest idea why Lucy was excited. Every time the show ran this challenge, they always picked the worst possible headlines. You might get a hint at public opinion based on whatever gossip magazine they pulled from, but most often, the headlines focused on tiny tidbits about the relationships from “third-party” sources. Random second cousins or grade school neighbors had intimate insight, and then suddenly every relationship in the villa was tested. Secrets were revealed and bonds between partners—and, in some cases, even friends—were shattered all in a matter of minutes. A few years ago, an entire cheating scandal had been revealed in the middle of this exact challenge and it ended in one girl deciding to leave the villa entirely. People still quoted her exit speech online.

Cas would bet almost anything that they were going to have a surprise partnership ceremony tonight, too. Really cap off the evening in style.

“ ‘Remember,’ ” Tia said, her tone extra provocative, “ ‘whenever we read the headlines... things are not always as they seem. #TellTheTruth #WhosOnTop?’ ”

After a quick get-ready session in the bathroom, everyone ran down to the competition ring, the stones kicking up and scratching at the back of Cas’s calves as they jogged over. There wasn’t much set up there today—just a few podiums and a board with something on it that, from a distance, Cas couldn’t quite make out. It was better than seeing a rotating array of obstacle courses, but also a little more nerve-wracking when Cas considered the fact that there were cards up there with some (probably) very harsh and very public opinions.

“ ‘Lovers—the boys will be competing against the girls in today’s challenge, Fishing for the Goss. You will choose an envelope out of a fishbowl.’ ” Leo held up the fishbowl and gave it a shake, and the sound of the envelopes scratching against the glass was strangely menacing. “ ‘Read out the headline inside the envelope and then kiss the person that you think the headline is about. If you’re right, your team gets a point. The team with the most points at the end of the competition wins a seventies disco!’ ”

Everyone cheered, some of them genuinely, and Leo flashed a bright grin.

“Everyone ready to play?”

They all cheered louder, this time more excitedly, and after a short pause, Lucy’s phone beeped, signaling that she should go first. She bounded forward and shoved her entire arm into the fishbowl.

“ ‘Hot Summer’s blank had real feelings for one of the bombshells—they should have partnered up!’ ”

“Oh huh.” Lucy twirled the card between her fingers as she walked over to the boys. She studied each of them as she moved down the line, swooping in on Femi and Leo like she was going to kiss them before turning on her heel and grabbing Freddie’s face.

“Whoa!” Reece swerved, barely avoiding getting knocked into as Freddie stumbled backward. It didn’t make sense—Freddie was one of the bombshells—but maybe Lucy had just been looking for an excuse to get a kiss in?

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