Darcy entered through the garden gate, strutting towards the firepit in heels so high Oliver had a hard time comprehending how she could physically walk in them.
‘Lovers,’ Darcy said, her mouth pulling into a pout, ‘I have some bad news. All week, the viewers have been voting for their favourite couples. We’ve tallied the results, and the couple with the fewest votes will be dropped from the villa immediately.’ Oliver only had a few seconds to feel anxious, adrenaline pumping hard in his veins. Maeve grasped his hand, squeezing it tightly as Darcy continued, ‘I’m sorry, Callum and Poppy, please pack your bags and leave.’
‘What?’ Callum’s scowl was more pronounced than Oliver had ever seen it. ‘That can’t be right.’
A tear-stained Poppy dragged him back to the villa, as he cursed the lot of them, promising an exposé on male-discrimination on reality television in his next episode.
‘Well then,’ Darcy said, surveying the group hawkishly. ‘Nice and easy recoupling from here on out. Make it pensive, make it dramatic, and for the love of God,make it quick.’
As the cameras rolled, Darcy asked Stella to choose one of the men in front of them. Stella gave a speech that ended with the predictable choice: ‘Niall.’ He walked over to give her a kissbefore sliding his hand into hers and pulling her to the couch. Oliver gave them a thumbs-up.
Paige directed the cameraman closer. ‘Oliver, do that again, on my count. Niall, give Oliver that gorgeous smile of yours. You two are mates.’ Theyweremates, so it was weird she felt the need to tell them that. They repeated the moment until Oliver’s cheeks were sore from smiling supportively.
‘I think we have it,’ Darcy said tightly. Paige signalled for the cameramen to reset. ‘Zoë?’ Darcy prompted, barely pausing to take a breath. ‘Which Lover will you couple up with this week?’
Oliver glanced at Niall, who mimed taking a deep breath. He smiled gratefully.
‘Close up on Zoë, Oliver and Declan,’ Darcy ordered. ‘Zoë, take it away.’
Zoë looked between him and Declan, uncertainty etched on her face. ‘This week, I had a hard choice to make. I got to know two incredible guys, but I only get to choose one. This man has made me feel so comfortable here, I feel like he understands where I’m coming from and we can talk about anything. So this week, I’ve chosen to couple up with… Declan.’
Oliver was almost relieved when Zoë didn’t call out his name. He knew it was coming – whatever potential they might have had quickly fizzled out after their date – but he did his best to look heartbroken for the cameras. He thought he caught an approving look from Declan as he strode over to Zoë.
‘Perfect!’ Darcy said, turning back to the remaining girls. ‘Maeve?’
Maeve met Oliver’s eye with an encouraging smile, and he let out a breath.
‘Right, well, this boy has been rather good to me, which can’t be said of all the men here, and he makes me laugh, which is hard to do with my rotten sense of humour. I’d like to see where things go. I pick Oliver.’
‘Thank God,’ he jokingly whispered in Maeve’s ear when he reached her, under the guise of giving her a kiss on the cheek. They only had to repeat this exchange two times, since Darcy was so pleased with the result.
Holly swapped Jack for Owen, leaving him for an appreciative Imogen to scoop up. When all of the couples stood on the right side of the firepit, Oliver braced himself for what would come next. He may be safe for the night, but if Poppy and Callum’s fate had proven anything it was that being in a couple wasn’t enough to win – the audience had to root for your love. He glanced at Declan and Zoë, feeling like maybe he should’ve fought harder for her, and then back to Maeve, recommitting himself to making this work.
Chapter 8
Declan
Six Weeks Until Finale
Neil Steel: Well, well, looks like our budding love triangle might be losing a side. Which would make it a love…? I don’t know, I was rubbish at geometry.
Zoë Park: ‘I’ve been torn between them. I mean, Oliver is so sweet, but I think Declan and I have a more genuine connection.’
Neil Steel: What’s the line? You miss 100 per cent of the shots you don’t take? There’s too much maths in this intro. Well, better luck next time, boyo!
Saturday had become Declan’s favourite day of the week. It was their day off, so he let himself sleep until the designated wake-up time, and it also meant no cameras, no microphones and no drama. This week, the producers were driving them to a private beach while the villa got a much-needed deep cleaning.
Even the glaring lights of the villa flickering on mercilessly in the morning couldn’t dampen Declan’s good mood. He got up quickly, grabbing his swim trunks and sunglasses as Zoë yawned and stretched on the other side of the bed.
He was lucky to have found her so early in the game. Encouraging Oliver to try to win her back and fabricating a love triangle between the three of them had been a brilliant move onher part. Not only had it got them all more screen time, but it had given Declan an excuse to interact with Oliver.
‘Ready?’ Declan asked Zoë, and she nodded, following him out to the vans. He watched Oliver mumble something to Maeve as they climbed in, still seemingly half-asleep.
Avoidance was Declan’s usual plan when it came to men he found attractive, but with Oliver it was harder than it had ever been before. He was always exactly where Declan didn’t want him, slumped drowsily in the kitchen when Declan went for his morning swims, lying shirtless by the pool while Declan worked out, running his hands through his ridiculous hair whenever Declan happened to be close. Finally talking to him had been a relief, even if it was only to trade insults.
Declan hadn’t thought Oliver would have had it in him to pick petty fights for the cameras, but he had been amazing, parrying Declan’s barbs with his own sharp wit. Something about the look in his eyes, when he finally realised the game, had given Declan a twisted thrill.
When they arrived at the beach, Declan immediately ran down to the surf, diving head-first into the crystal-blue water. After so many mornings spent in a tiny pool, he revelled in the expanse of the ocean, swimming out as far as he could. Jack shouted behind him, and Declan turned to watch him flip himself forwards and land face-first in the wake of a wave.
