“It doesn’t mean anything,” I say, attempting to reassure him. Or prove to myself that it didn’t. Lust isn’t love, no matter what Miles thinks.
“Pft,” he says with a wave of his hand. “I know how this show works. And I’m sure at least three of us will be getting more than what you did in that library on our single dates.”
My stomach clenches at the idea of two other omegas experiencing even a fraction of what I did earlier. Jealousy erupts inside of me, and I shift in my seat attempting to contain it. And for once, Chad seems to be oblivious.
“If I’m here for those,” I say. I hate the words the second they leave my mouth. Saying they should send me home and actually wanting them to do it are two different things.
“Girl, you will be here for them. Stop with the self doubt.” He turns his focus on Blair and Hailey lounging on some pool chairs on the other side of the large infinity pool. “Let’s hope neither one of those omegas are left at the final three.”
“I think you meant fame hungry bitches,” I say dryly. Ashlyn talks about their type, the omegas who are so beautiful that their beauty alone should give them whatever they want, but their personalities are in the toilet. Those two are fame and clout chasers.
Chad laughs, throwing his head back and drawing all the attention. “I think I’m rubbing off on you, Lilah. That was mean. I love it. Maybe you don’t need those lessons after all. You learn by watching.”
Snorting, I smack him with a pillow from the couch. “Shut up.”
He grins, flashing his straight white teeth at me. “At least I’ve gotten something real out of this experience.”
“Yeah? What’s that?”
“A friendship with you. You’re the lucky one, though, I don’t give my friendship away freely.”
I return his grin. “Who says I want to be friends with you?”
“Like you have a choice,” he replies.
CHAPTER 26
Rafe
Thomas pacesin front of us as if we are in trouble and in the principal's office or some shit. We’ve beendiscussingour choices for the night. We will be left with eight. Yet, there’s only one I really want.
Ironic really that I came on this show dead set against finding anyone, and Lilah just wiggled her way past my walls. It doesn’t stop the fear, though. And having Hailey here is a constant reminder of what opening myself up means.
“We are sending her home,” Elliott says for the fifth time in half as many minutes.
“You are keeping her. The ratings are through the roof. You have to keep both Hailey and Blair. Send anyone else home. Well, not anyone, keep Lilah too. America has to have their sweetheart. Oh, and keep Chad, viewers love to hate him too.”
I grit my teeth, my jaw aching from it. “It should be our choice,” I bite out.
Miles crosses his arms, glaring openly at the director. “Maybe we should just cancel the whole thing.”
It’s Thomas’ turn to look annoyed. “You have a contract.”
“We have money,” I counter. Not that money can fix everything, but it can fix most things.
“Does the omega you will run away with? Does she have money too? Because they have contracts too.”
“She would have our money,” Miles says.
He throws up his hands and turns back to the wall of pictures. “Fine, cancel the whole thing. Let the tabloids eat your omega alive. Going from America’s sweetheart to the girl that canceledOmega in Paradisefor millions of fans won’t be pleasant, but I’m sure Lilah will get over it. Not to mention the legally binding stuff…”
I suck in a breath, scrubbing my palm over my face. Of course he knows. It’s his job to know.
He turns back toward us. “Or you can let this play out. Keep Hailey and Blair for good TV and still walk away with the omega of your choice at the end.”
Elliott swears under his breath and meets my gaze. He shakes his head, defeat shining in the depths of his eyes. We both feel it, and I know Miles does, too, even without looking at him. We have to continue on, and we have to play Thomas’ stupid games. For Lilah.
“Fine, have it your way. But they go home at five.” Elliott crosses his arms as we all face Thomas.
