I snort at her dramatics. It’s like she is taking lessons from Chad. “Why?”
“Because it’s clear I’m not here for them.” She watches thecameramen that always seem to be filming when she’s with me. She pitches her voice low and adds, “It must be the forbidden aspect, but that beta on camera three is sin walking. I could probably go my whole life without a knot if I had him to wake up to everyday.”
“Willow! You didn’t! Did you?” I say, letting her drama pull me out of mine.
She tucks her lip between her teeth, biting it softly. “I might have. A few times.” An inhale raises her chest, and she ducks her head. “We just have a lot of free time here.”
“Is that the excuse you’ve made for yourself?” I grin over at her, before adding, “At least you had your date already.” And there goes my thoughts, circling right back around to the three alphas I can’t get out of my head.
Her lips twist. “Do you know how hard it is to go on a date with three guys you aren’t remotely attracted to in front of one you are?” She sighs heavily again, before answering her own question. “It’s torture.”
“I know something about torture,” I say drily. This whole week has been a sort of torture.
She gives me her full attention. A soft smile pulls at her lips. “With your connection to the guys, I’m surprised the whole show hasn’t been called off.”
Her words aren’t the comfort she thinks they are. Especially with Hailey still in the mix. I went from certain she was here for the publicity to unsure if I was ever right about that assumption. Because since we’ve been traveling, she’s made it clear at every possible moment that she’s in love with Rafe.
It’s out of place compared to her behavior all along. Unless she just realized we were right and she is the villain of the season.
“With the contract they made us all sign, I’m sure that isn’t even possible.” A sigh falls from my lips, and I stand up.
“Don’t give up hope, Lilah.”
I can’t answer. Giving her a tight smile, I smooth my hands over my jeans for something to do. “I’m going to go to that local cafe’, did you want to come?”
“Nah, I’m good here.” Her gaze travels to the guy behind the camera again, and I shake my head ruefully. If production picks up on that, they will send her home.
“Have fun.”
CHAPTER 36
Lilah
Chad percheson the edge of the huge tub, watching me put on my eye make-up. His date was last night, but he hasn’t said much about it like he normally would. And I’d be lying if I didn’t say I’m curious.
“What did you do on your date last night?” I ask, adding eyeshadow to my eyelid and avoiding looking directly at him.
“It was fun,” he says simply, and I meet his steady gaze in the mirror.
“What does that mean?” My stomach sinks as his lips turn up in a pouty smirk. I’m not sure exactly how a smirk can be pouty, but on him, it works. He’s mastered it.
“Just what I said, fun.”
“Chad,” I groan.
He laughs loudly, throwing his head back. “I think you need those lessons I promised. Confidence, Lilah. I’ve seen sparks of it come out. But you need to grab onto that confidence and wear it like armor.”
“Armor?” I choke out. “This isn’t war.”
His eyebrow lifts lazily. “Isn’t it?”
He pushes to his feet and crosses the space, standing behind me. He tugs on one of my soft curls, before laying his palm on my shoulder. Meeting my eyes again, he twists his lips into a contemplating expression that makes me squirm.
“A fake show, maybe, but not war,” I say more firmly, even though his direct judgment makes me want to run from the room.
His hand glides up my throat, and he tilts my chin higher. “Then you haven’t been looking at it correctly at all. Do you want to be the last omega standing?”
“I thought you wanted to be the one they chose.”
