Page 105 of Overdue I Love You's
There’s that scent again.
I’m not Austin’s biggest fan which is why I won’t point a finger at him. There’s two crew members with him. One is Lois, the other one stays behind the camera then dips. It could be anyone.
“Thanks for getting down here on such short notice,” Austin scratches a finger between his brow, “Love? Check! will now be revealing which pair the world wants to see go on a date.”
“This’ll be fun,” Hina leans forward. Her eyes gleam. It’s kind of scary.
“Each pair will be together for challenge number two, Finding Love or Breaking Apart.” Austin positions himself in front of the camera.
I need to have a chat with whoever came up with these names.
Austin gives himself a pat on the back. “If you’re wondering what genius came up with the name, he’s standing right in front of you.”
Of course it was.
“The rules of the game are simple. You’ll be paired up with a partner and be given an envelope that looks like this,” he shows us the pink cardstock. “Inside, there is a riddle that you have to solve in order to get to your date. The date can be a bucket list item from the girls’ or the boys’ lists, so it won’t be easy. You’ve known each other for five weeks now. This is meant to test your ability to work together and navigate complex situations.”
A vein bulges on Austin’s forehead. “The first couple to solve the riddle for their date will get to spend a night at an all-exclusive five-star hotel.”
“Fuck yes,” Hina exclaims. “I’ve been dying to get a foot massage.”
“You want me to call them and ask if they do one for ego’s too?”Katarina bats her eyelashes with mockery.
“Shut the fuck up.”
Hina acts like she hates Katarina, but she hesitates before responding, averts her eyes like looking at Kat is painful.
Is this the love Dean talked about? Rooted, grown, about to wither away if they don’t take care of it?
Austin clears his throat. “I’ll announce the pairs now.”
I sit in anticipation. Please don’t be Shaan or Rhys.
Seeing Rhys again has been great, but I don’t enjoy talking to him the way I do with Dean. Plus, Dean is the guy I want to get to know.
Irene tried pairing Rhys and I together, but anyone behind a screen can tell him and I have the same chemistry Johnny Depp had with Angelina Jolie.
“Shaan and Rhys, I’m sorry to say that you will be sitting this challenge out as the public has voted you incompatible with the other contestants.”
Shaan’s face goes red. Whether it’s anger or humiliation—he abruptly stands and walks out. Anger, it is.
“The two pairs that will be heading out for this challenge are: Hina and Katarina. Dean and Nova.”
I’m pretty sure my blood pressure is on a seesaw. “Did he say…” I look at Rhys, who nods. I’m not looking at his kind eyes, no. My attention swerves at Dean.
For the first time since we’ve been here, Dean smiles in front of the cameras.
“Oh hell to the fucking no,” Hina stands up. “I’m not going with her.”
Austin shrugs. “Not my choice.”
“She’s the last person I want to go with,” she says. “Someone switch with me—Shaan, where are you?”
Austin stands in her way. “Rules are rules, Hina.”
Every bone in her body bulges out. Her face goes hard, “Fine. Whatever.”
Dean and I share a concerned look. I stand up to follow her when sharp pain digs its nails in my head. I lose my balance.
