The new couples took their seats next to Oliver and Eavie. Darcy looked back at the three boys still standing. Jack shifted from one foot to the other, and Niall kept glancing at the gate as if he’d be able to catch a glimpse of Stella. Only Declan watched Darcy. She had a malicious glint in her eye that made his stomach drop.
‘Now let’s see about your girls,’ she said. ‘Stella, would you come in?’
The gate opened to reveal Stella, standing alone, a look of terror on her face that faded to relief as she ran into Niall’s arms. He picked her up and spun her around, kissing her softly.
‘I knew it,’ she said over and over again as he pulled her to their seats.
‘How adorable,’ Darcy said, cloyingly sweet. ‘Maeve, darling, do join us.’
Maeve walked out, her jaw hanging slightly open in shock when she saw Jack standing alone. She and Jack stared at each other for a moment before he enveloped her in a tight hug. ‘Oh, thank God,’ Maeve said. ‘I thought I was about to make a fool of myself.’
‘We’re fools together, love,’ Jack said, kissing her. They left Declan alone, the last man standing.
‘Declan,’ Darcy said, ‘you’ve decided to remain faithful to Zoë after being coupled up with her for nearly four weeks. Let’s see if she feels the same. Zoë, come on out.’
Zoë stepped out with a tall man on her arm, and bile rose in Declan’s throat as he recognised him: James Rowe, Georgia’s ex-boyfriend.
Chapter 15
Oliver
Neil Steel: Looks like everybody’s favourite boy-toy boxer is getting a blast from his past… in the form of Alex Turner wannabe James Rowe!
James Rowe: ‘I don’t think my old pal Declan will be too pleased with me… but I couldn’t pass on a girl like Zoë. She’s a knockout.’
Neil Steel: Well, at least Declan found himself a new girl of his own, right?
Declan King: ‘Zoë and I were rock solid when she left. She’ll come back to me… She’s all I want.’
Neil Steel: Uh… that was painful to watch. Looks like Declan might finally find his fighting spirit again. James, if I were you, I’d run – as for me, I’ll be hiding in the corner.
Oliver watched Declan tense as a man entered the patio with Zoë’s. He was taller than Oliver, with slicked-back dark hair, an earring in one ear and an expression of disdain.
‘Is this the competition, babe?’ he asked, shooting a bored look around the garden, eyes coming to rest on Declan. ‘We’ve got it in the fucking bag.’
‘Fuck,’ Declan said, barely audible above the commotion surrounding them.
‘What—’ Oliver started.
He was drowned out by Darcy, who looked delighted. ‘Language, James!’
‘What the—’ Declan started to say, louder, seemingly oblivious to Darcy’s command.
‘Sorry,’ the man – James – said, without a hint of apology in his tone. ‘Do we have to reshoot, Darce?’
She shook her head and signalled to keep rolling. The nearest camera panned over to Declan, whose mouth was moving without making a sound. Oliver instinctively stood, though he wasn’t sure how he could possibly help things.
‘Declan, mate, how’s it going?’ James said, with a wide smile. ‘Nice to see a friendly face in these parts.’
Zoë frowned at James. ‘You two know each other?’
‘We have mutual friends in London,’ James said smoothly. ‘I was looking forward to catching up.’
Declan found his voice. ‘Mutualfriend,’ he spat out, turning to Zoë. ‘What’s all this then, Zo?’
To her credit, Zoë looked apologetic as she opened her mouth to reply.
‘Well,’ James cut in, ‘clearly she wasn’t satisfied with you. What can I say? I please her much better than you did.’ He winked.
