Page 78 of The Cuffing Game
Jesus,he thought.I’m such a mess when I don’t edit myself.
What was amazing about the cameras was how they picked up on little details that he’d missed, even when he’d actually been there at Big Bear himself. Like how Shirin and Tianadefinitelyliked each other as more than friends. And how, like Thad had said, Mia keptstaringat him, especially in moments when Noah was looking away from her.
And apparently, he and Thad weren’t the only ones who noticed.
Can we talk about how the host is always either looking at Noah or looking at everyonebuthim? I’m obsessed.
HELLO, does Mia like Noah?? Are they secretly dating or what??
Just me on my nonexistent pipe dream Mia and Noah cuffle ship!
The comments weren’t all over the place. In fact, only a handful of people even mentioned Mia compared to the countless viewers who talked about Noah, Celine, or the other contestants. But Noah felt hopeful just seeing they were there.
Fully spent after his emotional roller coaster of a day, Noah had finally gotten into bed when he noticed he’d received a DM request from a@chismetias.
After sounding out the name in his head a couple of times, Noah opened the message.
chismetias:HEY IT’S MATÍAS. FROM THE CUFFING GAME.
Noah grinned. Somehow, Matías texted exactly how he talked. Since the message had been from a couple hours ago, Noah replied immediately.
noahdjang:hey, how are you? thanks for remembering to reach out.
chismetias:GOOD. AND YEAH, OF COURSE!!! WE SHOULD HANG OUT AFTER BREAK. I DON’T KNOW IFYOU HEARD BUT THERE’S A LITTLE SITUATION WITH THE SHOW. I WAS AT THE BEACH HOUSE EARLIER TODAY.
Noah had so many questions. Why was Matías at the beach house? And what was the situation? He responded with the best way he could summarize his thoughts.
noahdjang:?
chismetias:CELINE IS MISSING. AND SO IS KYLE. WE THINK THEY’RE IN VEGAS BUT WE’RE NOT SURE. EVERYONE IS REALLY WORRIED. MIA CRIED. THOUGHT I SHOULD LET YOU KNOW. I WATCHED THE SHOW AND YOU SEEM TO LIKE HER. AND MAYBE ALSO CELINE???
Noah made a face at his phone. So many things were said in that one message that he didn’t know where to start. But most importantly...
Mia cried.
After thanking Matías and promising to hang out with him after break, Noah called Thad.
Thad answered on the first ring, like he always did. “Hello?”
“Hey,” he said. “Can you tell me Kyle’s phone number? And maybe also his address? Don’t tell anyone, but Celine is missing, and we think she’s in Vegas with Kyle. You have his information on file somewhere, right? Since you were his Big.”
“Oh man,” Thad said. “He did mention he has some relatives in Vegas, although his parents are in LA. But I don’t think I’m allowed to share anything else beyond—”
“I graduate in a few months, so I don’t care,” Noah replied, matter-of-factly. “I’ll take full responsibility if we get into trouble.”
Thad chuckled nervously. “All right then! We’re really doing this, huh? But if anyone asks...”
“We never had this conversation.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Mia
At 2 a.m., on the morning of the finale ofThe Cuffing Game,Mia sank into her bed. This wasn’t how she’d expected to start the last day of her show, but here she was.
In the end, Mia and the other crew members had decided to do a vote. She’d abstained, and everyone else had unanimously chosen to keep filming.
“We only have the finale left,” Kallie had said. “And they’re both adults. For all we know, Celine could be making out with Kyle at an EDM show right now. I just don’t think it’s fair for everyone else to stop production now.”
