‘Holly, Niall and Stella,’ Darcy said slowly, ‘you have been saved from elimination by our audience.’ Stella kissed a stunned Niall on the cheek before pulling him down to the couch.
‘That means Owen, you’ve been dumped from the villa.’
After they had wrapped filming the elimination, Oliver found himself sitting with the others outside, waiting on the producers. As a special treat, Brian had announced that they had an outing planned that night for the Mallorcan holiday Nit de Foc.
‘Do you think he’ll make it out of there alive?’ Stella asked, glancing towards the villa, where Jack had disappeared with Imogen and Paige. ‘It would be a shame if he missed the fireworks.’
‘Jack will be fine,’ Oliver said with false confidence, glancing at Maeve.
‘And you and Imogen can finally share your love with the world,’ Declan teased.
Oliver rolled his eyes. ‘Watch it, King.’
Maeve glanced over her shoulder. ‘Should I be doing something to—’ She was cut off by distant shouting.
‘That’s about the measure of it, I suppose,’ Niall said.
‘No wonder she got votes,’ Holly said glumly. ‘She’s much more dramatic than Owen.’
Declan slung an arm around her shoulders, tucking her into his side. ‘Come on, Holls, don’t pout. You’ll meet someone else, I’m sure of it.’
At that, Jack emerged from the villa, hands in his pockets and looking unusually sombre. When he reached the table, they all looked at him expectantly.
‘It didn’t go great,’ he said.
Stella shrugged, standing and glancing at Niall. ‘Are you coming with me?’
‘To the ends of the earth,’ Niall said, and Holly made a retching noise.
‘Come on,’ Maeve said to Jack. ‘Can’t leave these two alone, can we?’
‘Coming?’ Holly asked Declan.
He shook his head. ‘Give us a bit.’ His eyes were on the villa, and he looked pensive.
Holly frowned. ‘Guess I’ll fifth-wheel, then. You two have fun. Use protection!’
Declan huffed as she walked off with the others. ‘She thinks she’s funny.’
The two of them sat in silence for a moment. The swimming pool shimmered below them and the stars were bright in the sky above. It was muggy out, the oppressive heat only occasionally interrupted by a breeze through the grass.
‘It’s nice out here,’ Oliver said softly.
‘Mhm,’ Declan muttered, distracted.
‘All right?’
Declan shrugged, glancing sideways at a stray cameraman focused on the two of them. ‘I’m nervous about something, but I’m a bit embarrassed to tell you.’
‘Yeah?’ Oliver could tell by the slight shifting of Declan’s eyes that he was getting a performance. That, and he couldn’t imagine Declan had ever been embarrassed in his life, or at least willingly ready to admit it. ‘The great Declan King, nervous?’
Declan bit his lower lip, and Oliver’s eyes moved to his mouth. ‘I haven’t kissed Zoë yet,’ he said. ‘I mean, not properly.’
‘Um,’ Oliver said, momentarily distracted by the way Declan’s eyelashes cast shadows on his cheekbones in the dim light of the patio. ‘What are you waiting for?’
Declan glanced towards the villa again, and Oliver followed his gaze. Paige had emerged, talking into her headset at a distance.
‘Not sure how to go about it, you know?’ Declan said, with his perfect smile.
