Page 41 of Lights, Camera, Love

Why had I taken so long to end it? Whateveritwas.

That was a good fucking question. I blamed the time pressure to couple up and my impulsivity. I’d just lost a whole week I could have been getting to know the other housemates.

We’d been arguing for three damned days. I’d tried, because Kayla deserved to hear my reasoning and understand why I did what I did. Well, she heard all right. Repeatedly. But she didn’t listen.

Part of me could understand and was sympathetic to her anger. This whole thing was being aired, and she felt I had made her look bad on camera. But what I had the most issue with was her complete unwillingness to see any justification in it. I’d give someone the shirt off my back if they asked, and I couldn’t be with someone whose primary focus was themselves one hundred percent of the time.

I opened my eyes, finding Sophie and Zander playing cards at one of the patio tables. They’d started in the kitchen, but when Kayla had dragged our conversation downstairs, they’d thrown their cards into a heap and headed outside to get away from the sheer volume Kayla’s shrieking had reached by that point.

“Gin,” Zander said smugly as he laid down his cards with a smirk.

“How are you so good at this game?” Sophie groused, marking a sheet with their scores.

The two of them had spent a lot of time together, not in the way she had with Diego and Oliver, but it was more companionable than anything else. Besides, during our morning workouts, Z had confessed to feeling something for Viv. Or maybe he had just said that because Oliver was there.

Nah, Zander wasn’t the type to pussyfoot around things. He’d throw his hat in the ring and make it known if he wanted Sophie.

I didn’t know what it was about her that drew men like moths to a flame. She was gorgeous, for sure. But so were all the women here. She was kind—again, not uncommon. But there was something about her that just put everyone at ease. Like coming home.

Either way, it wasn’t my business.

I stepped closer while Zander explained his strategy for gin rummy, needing to throw myself into their relaxed and playful orbit, as they sipped lemonade and spoke softly. The island serenity had gone out the window this past week, and I was eager to get it back.

“The team travels a lot, and there’s only so many times you can listen to your hype playlist and tune everyone out. Somewhere around mid-season, we start playing cards on the flights. It keeps us sane without pulling our focus away from the upcoming games.”

Z was a linebacker for The Wolverines, an NFL team who had not done as well as I’d hoped last year. But he was solid, and the more I got to know him, the more I liked him.

He’d told me his agent floated this dating show to him as an option to fill some of the downtime during the off-season, and he agreed, needing the vacation. If he won, he’d donate his share of the winnings to a charity that provided after-school sports for kids free of charge. He was good people.

“How’s it going with Viv?” Sophie asked nonchalantly, but I watched her peek at him when he wasn’t looking and examine his expression.

“She’s cool. Really down to earth and sweet.”

“Aww, does she give you butterflies?” she teased, shuffling the cards and dealing a new hand.

He scoffed. “I’m not sure about butterflies, but shedoesmake the blood rush in a certain direction.”

“Well, at least you’re not impotent, because that would be embarrassing to admit on national television,” Sophie said dryly.

I honestly thought Z and Viv could be great together if they tried. Just from watching them in a group setting, it was apparent he was holding back. Nothing in life was worth doing if you didn’t go all in.

“You asked,” he said with a shrug.

“I most definitely did not, but good to know anyway.” Sophie arranged her cards and propped her feet up on the other chair at the table. The chair I would absolutely steal because I needed the calm of a card game.

They looked so at ease, and here I was, leaning against the side of the house like a creeper, all dejected and full of anger, annoyance, frustration. And the distinct sting of rejection, though I hated to admit it.

I reached the table, picked up Sophie’s feet from the chair, sat, and put them on my lap. I propped my elbows on the table and sank my face into my waiting palms with a resigned exhale.

Zander and Sophie laid their cards down.

“You wanna talk about it, man?” Zander asked.

I groaned pitifully.

“You wanna play cards?” Sophie offered.

Another groan.

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