‘Well, I never thought they made sense together,’ Declan found himself saying. ‘I think Zoë needs a certain kind of man, and Oliver isn’t it.’
Paige gave him a thumbs-up, and he relaxed slightly. ‘And you are? That kind of man?’
Declan laughed. He wasn’t the right man for Zoë either, but no one needed to know that. ‘Yeah, I suppose I could be. Iampretty great.’
Paige smiled, glancing at her clipboard again. ‘What kind of guy is Oliver?’
Declan considered the question for a moment, wishing he knew the answer. ‘I’m not sure he really fits in. He’s a bit awkward and shy, I guess.’ He paused before adding without thinking: ‘But he’s charming when he doesn’t mean to be.’
Paige gave a nod of approval and turned the camera off.
Declan leaned his head along the edge of the pool, listening to Lara and Holly chat about their preferred mascaras, trying to drum up the courage to ask Lara to speak privately. He was interrupted by a chime.
Declan pulled himself out of the pool and made his way over to where the contestants were huddling up.
‘Lovers, how was your first week in paradise?’ Darcy’s voice asked over the loudspeaker. ‘Hope you’re not getting too comfortable. Tonight there will be a recoupling, and the last single girl standing will be sent home.’
Declan’s heart sank. He had thought he’d have more time, but now it seemed like he would have to act sooner than expected. Glancing at Lara, who was already heading into the villa to change, he realised he’d missed his opportunity to talk to her about Zoë.
The boys got ready together and had been gathered by the firepit for several minutes when Darcy finally came through the gate. Paige was at her side, furiously writing notes on her clipboard as Darcy muttered out of the corner of her mouth. The girls filed out to stand before the fire, looking tense.
‘All right,’ Paige said, looking at the boys. ‘You’ll each give a quick speech about why you’re picking your girl, saying her name last. On my mark.’ She ducked behind the camera.
‘Action!’
Darcy looked at the camera and smiled. ‘We’re coming to the close of our first week here onSummer of Love. Tonight, it’s time for the boys to pick the girl they’d like to couple up with… and the last girl standing will be going home. Gentlemen, are you ready?’
The men nodded.
‘Niall?’
Niall picked Stella, obviously. The crew did a few takes of his speech, directing the contestants to act shocked each time he called Stella’s name, until finally Darcy decided they could move on.
‘Declan, your turn.’
Declan stood, facing the girls. ‘As soon as this girl walked into the villa, I knew she was someone I had to keep my eye on. She’s gorgeous, and I can’t wait to see what the two of us can do together. The girl I would like to couple up with is—’
‘Cut!’ Paige called. ‘Just a sec, Declan.’
Declan waited impatiently as a cameraman moved to get shots of the girls doing their best to look nervous. It would have been funny if not for his very real anxiety.
‘Okay, great!’ Paige said. ‘Declan, do that last line again.’
Declan nodded, turning back to the girls. ‘So,’ he said, ‘the girl I’d like to couple up with is Zoë.’
Zoë beamed, walking over and pulling him into a hug, but Declan found himself glancing at Oliver over her shoulder. He looked stunned, his face frozen. It wasn’t until he locked eyes with Declan that he frowned.
Jack and Callum’s picks were less surprising: Jack chose to remain with Holly and Callum picked Poppy. Declan felt a brief pang of regret as he made eye contact with Lara for the first time that night.
‘Maeve, Lara,’ Darcy said, glancing between the two women. ‘Whoever Oliver doesn’t pick will pack her bags and leave the villa immediately.’
Oliver looked distraught, brushing the curls out of his face and inadvertently making them stick up on one side. Paige paused shooting so he could fix it, but he still seemed unsteady.
‘Oliver,’ Darcy said, regarding him gravely, ‘which girl do you choose?’
Oliver took a deep breath. ‘Well, this is difficult. The girl I’d like to couple up with is, um, a bit intimidating…’ He trailed off. Declan could tell he was pulling the words out of thin air. ‘I’ve only got to know her a little in this short week here, but I’m excited to see where things could go. The girl I choose is… Maeve.’
Chapter 6
