Page 48 of Insta Bride

“Fuck, Elena. I’ve never done a relationship before.”

“Sorry to still be here the next morning, I can change that.”

“No,” I said, wrapping my fingers around her wrist. “I don’t want you to leave. I don’t want us to leave. I want a fucking chance.”

The amber warning light indicated the cameras would start recording again in five minutes.

“There’s going to be an elimination tomorrow,” I reminded her.

“I think you’re safe. Clint and—”

“I don’t want to be safe because of another couple. I want us to be safe because you want to give us another chance. You’ve seen what the producers do. They’re gonna play up the whole you and Seb love triangle.”

One tear fell down her cheek, glistening in the moonlight. I wanted to kiss it away. I wanted to forgive her.

“I need to know,” I added.

“What?”

“If you had to write one name on a piece of paper right now, whose name would you write?”

The green camera light came on and Elena didn’t say a word, which I assumed was her answer.

As expected, the elimination was first up. We’d barely eaten breakfast when we were summoned back to the pool marshalling area.

“We have an exciting challenge planned for you today, but first of all, we need to vote. Each of you must individually vote for the couple you believe is least likely to maintain their love off Lovers Island.”

Everyone seemed to be looking between Clint and me. I held Elena’s hand tight and pressed her knuckles to my lips. We hadn’t ended last night on a high, but at least she still stood by my side, and I hadn’t caught her throwing glances Seb’s way. If anything, he also seemed to be regretting yesterday’s decision.

“In the event that there’s a tie, it will come down to the couples. Will either of our lovebirds want to fly the nest, or will they be willing to battle it out?”

I kissed Elena’s hand once more for luck and she melted my resolve with a smile. “Babe, whatever happens, I want to give this a go. Here or back home, yeah?”

In between being invited down to the diary tent to be interviewed, cast our vote, and come back, we lazed around on the sun loungers. Clint held Darnelia between his legs. They were as loved up as we’d seen them, only Elena and I knew the truth. They were milking every second before heading home.

Tony and Staci had tried to move their sun lounger near us, but Elena asked for privacy. “Can we just have a moment?”

I’d leaned against the back of the lounge, inviting her to lie against my chest like Darnelia and Clint were doing. With little more than half a second’s hesitation, she crawled along me, and settled down. Hugging me as if yesterday’s shit storm hadn’t happened.

I stroked her hair and counted her breaths. After last night, we were all talked out. The other couples would decide our fate, and the only decision we had to make was whether to catch up back in Sydney.

My vote would be a solid, yes.

Two hours later we were ready to hear the verdict. Two hours of waiting for each of us to be called, walk down to the diary tent, be interviewed, vote, and then return. I’m sure there should have been quicker ways, and I even offered to introduce Bree to time-motion studies. She thought I’d been joking.

The midday sun was at its peak, and even in the shade, all the girls had their hair pulled up high and the guys had lost their shirts. The producers had turned on the beer tap, with flavored vodka for the others.

I’d stuck to water.

So did Elena, except, she drank water out of wine glasses like she had at the mixer and Matching Ceremony. Smart girl. To the outside world, it looked like wine, but Elena liked staying clear-headed when we were with the others. Alone, and she could match me drink for drink.

Clint had knocked back more than his share of beers. Darnelia had convinced the producers to bring out a bottle of their best champagne.They laid back, drinking, kissing and generally having fun.

“You okay?” Elena murmured as we watched them.

“Yeah, they might be ready to leave, but I’m not.”

We were given half an hour to redo hair and makeup before gathering around for the votes.

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