“Regardless, though,” I say, “new people tend to bring drama with them, intentionally or otherwise.”
“Fair point,” she agrees.
Despite the lack of control there is in this environment, from now on, I will cling to the one thing I still can control: avoiding Scott Bennett while I still can.
“Actually,” Emily says slowly, like she’s turning something over in her head, “this might not be the worst thing to happen.”
I shoot her a look. “Do I even want to ask?”
Emily shrugs. “You’re on a dating show. New people showing up might…shift the energy.”
I stare at her. “You’re suggesting I—what?—distract myself with these new people? Not exactly helpful if they’re the same gender as us.”
“I’m suggesting that if it’s a man, and an attractive one at that, someone you think you could get along with, you could simply…divert your attention to them. Expand your options. Your world doesn’t have to revolve around Scott.”
Open myself up to someone else? Get to know them? Explore a different connection while Scott watches? The feeling in the pit of my stomach grows. Not out of guilt but nerves.
Let him see me move on. Let him watch me smile at someone else, laugh at someone else’s jokes.
“Wouldn’t that make him jealous? I’m already doing that…kind of.”
“Definitely, but I think you could use better options than what’s here. I heard you turned down Sean.”
I wince. “Let’s just say it wasn’t going to work out.”
“I don’t blame you. Neither would Valerie. She said he can come off a bit…strong.”
We both laugh.
But then I shake my head. “I don’t want to use someone else to provoke my ex. That wouldn’t be fair to them if they had feelings for me.”
“You wouldn’t be using anyone. If you like whoever catches your eye, you should explore that. You’d just be reminding Scott he doesn’t get automatic access anymore.”
My pulse skips.
What am I doing? This is crazy—and low-key a bad idea.
But I at least have to try.
“And if it helps… Yesterday, when you went to go change for dinner, Sean asked Scott if you guys were still serious, and he snapped a deck chair in half right in front of him. Scared the shit out of Sean.”
I gasp.
He did that?
“That’s insane.”
“Call it what you want, but that man looks at you like you’re oxygen.”
Heat curls and pulls tight, traveling low in my belly, and I suddenly feel hot all over.
No. Bad Lyla. A man breaking furniture isn’t sexy.
I shake my head, pushing whatever pull I feel down immediately.
As we head downstairs an hour later, I catch sight of Scott on the pool deck. He’s talking to Bradley and Nick, but his attention goes straight to me when I make it onto the terrace.
Does he have a mental radar specifically tuned to me or something?
