‘Oh, I…’
‘Go on,’ he says again. ‘It doesn’t feel like you’ll expect it to…’
I can feel the cameras on us – I swear I just heard one move, to get a better angle of the action. The producers are probably foaming at the mouth back on the yacht. If Simon is in there he’ll be screaming at me to do it, to touch Ozzy’s abs.
My hand is on the way before my brain can have a real say in it.
My fingers brush his warm skin, skimming his scar, running back and forth over it while he watches me.
I suddenly realise how close we’re sitting. How intimate this must look. The air feels thicker now. My heart is pounding – I hope the mic can’t pick up on it.
This is exactly the kind of moment we live for on the show, the start of what looks like something, a moment…
And that’s when a voice behind us says: ‘Good morning.’
I yank my hand away like I’ve just accidentally touched the fire. I hear the cameras moving, trying to find their new angle, waiting to see what happens next.
I turn around and see Lockie standing there, one arm behind his head as he stretches. His hair is a sleepy mess but in a way where he’s totally pulling it off. His expression is neutral, but I catch a flicker of something… I’m not sure what. It turns into a smirk soon enough.
Somewhere, a gull screams overhead – sort of mirroring the screaming in my head, but rather than it being an act of solidarity, I think it probably just wants my pineapple.
I open my mouth to say something – anything – but I’m saved by the bell.
Literally. A bell sounds before someone speaks to us over the intercom.
‘Islanders! Please gather at the firepit.’
It grabs everyone’s attention. Honey runs over, squealing, joining the rest of us. Camilla isn’t far behind her. It’s Tony who appears last in a pair of skintight budgie smugglers. I feel my eyes widen – there’s no way he doesn’t have a coconut or something stuffed down there.
‘It’s time for your first challenge,’ the voice of the island tells us. ‘A team challenge, so get into pairs.’
Ozzy’s eyes light up.
‘Yes, finally!’ He looks at me. ‘Wanna team up?’
‘Me?’ I blurt.
‘Yeah!’
I hesitate. The plan – if you can even call it that – is for me to stick with Lockie. We’ll blend into the game together, couple off, and then bow out gracefully when the real cast arrive.
But Ozzy is smiling at me, and the cameras are rolling – they’re fixed on us right now. If I refuse him, I don’t know, won’t it seem fake?
So I nod.
‘Yeah, sounds great,’ I reply.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Lockie’s face. There’s a flicker of surprise, maybe even disappointment? Probably just because I’m not sticking to the plan.
Before anyone can say another word, Honey sidles up to Lockie, twirling a strand of hair.
‘We could be partners?’ she says, batting her eyes. ‘I’m, like, really bad at, like, building things. Or… most things. But I’ll try?’
Surely no one could say no to that smile, even if she sounds like she’ll be more of a hindrance than a help.
Lockie wraps an arm around her to reassure her.
‘Don’t worry. You’ll do great,’ he says.
