Page 67 of The Cuffing Game
She shook her head as heat started rushing into her cheeks. She had to focus on the shooting day ahead.
In the early hours of the morning, Damien had texted her a revised production schedule for the rest of the show. Luckily, they’d had the foresight to schedule today as a travel day. When Kallie and Damien first suggested it, Mia had been hesitant to include the buffer, worried that it’d slow down the pace of the show. But now she was grateful for her friends’ wisdom. She always was.
Besides the catch-up work they had to film, edit, and upload yesterday’s episode onto the SPC YouTube channel,all they had to do was drive down to their beach house rental.
As they got out of the car, Mia sneaked a glance at Noah. From what she’d heard from both Celine and Noah, it didn’t look like that cuffle was going to survive past today. Celine would undoubtedly pair up with Kyle, but where would that leave Noah? For the first time, Mia worried he would be voted off the show. An uncomfortable feeling settled in her stomach.
They’d reached the front door when Mia heard it: the faint burbling of water.
Noah frowned, hearing it too.
“Is there a hot tub nearby?” he asked.
“There’s one in the backyard, but it’s been covered up all week,” Mia replied. “Unless...”
They glanced at each other with wide eyes before heading to the back of the lodge.
In the now very much uncovered hot tub, Carlos and Violet were making out, their bodies faintly illuminated by the tub’s lights. Thankfully, they were wearing swimsuits. But they might as well not have.
A small squeak escaped from Mia’s lips. The effect was immediate.
“What the—” Carlos whirled around, so quickly that he almost slipped. Violet screamed. Noah burst out laughing.
“Sorry! Sorry!” Mia exclaimed, waving her hands back and forth. “I promise we both just got here. We didn’t seeanything, I swear. Well, besides the kissing, but that can stay a secret if—”
“What in the world is going on?”
Damien came running out into the yard, followed closely by Alex and Kallie. Damien was in sweats, like he’d just been working out, while Alex and Kallie were still in their pajamas. Kallie was carrying a camera, obviously recording.
Noah laughed even harder, bending over with his hands on his knees. Mia could have sworn she saw a tear leak from the corner of his eye.
Carlos and Violet stood up in the hot tub, dripping wet.
“Noah, I can explain,” Violet started.
Noah straightened, finally growing serious. “No need. I’m completely fine with this. In fact, I’m happy for you guys. I’m the one who abandoned you first.”
Violet gave him a grateful smile. “Okay, thanks.”
Carlos looked directly at the camera.
“It feels so good!” he exclaimed with a big smile. “Finally being wanted by someone.”
“Weneedto talk to Carlos about not breaking the fourth wall,” Damien whispered to Mia.
She smiled as Violet said, “You can say that again. I can’t remember the last time someone liked me back!”
Mia resisted the urge to say “aw” out loud. She was genuinely happy for them.
“But also,” Carlos said, “I’mfreezing!”He sat back into the swirling hot water. “Maybe we should go back inside and shower.”
Kallie stopped recording and approached the two contestants as they got out of the tub.
“I started filming before I left the lodge, just in case,” she said. “But I wanted to double-check. Are you guys okay with this hot tub scene appearing in the episode?”
Carlos and Violet looked at each other and shrugged.
“Yeah,” Violet said. “It’s not like we did anything besides kiss. And by the time you came out, we weren’t even doing that. I’m surprised you guys didn’t come out earlier, since...”
