‘I’m all right, actually.’ Declan hadn’t spoken to Zoë since her return with James, but he had suspected the producers would eventually make them rehash the whole sordid affair for the cameras. He did not, however, have to make it easy for them.
Paige crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing.
‘Oh, come on,’ Imogen said, nudging his side. ‘It won’t be that bad.’ Ultimately, it was Oliver’s supportive look that gave Declan the fortitude to get up.
‘Lead the way.’
Zoë was waiting for him on the couch swing, and the smile she gave him as he sat next to her was flat with nervousness. Neither spoke while Paige directed the cameraman into a position with a favourable angle.
‘Right,’ Zoë said, as soon as Paige signalled for them to begin. ‘I wanted to say that I’m sorry for how things turned out between us.’
Declan couldn’t tell if she was being honest, choosing to stare at the wall behind her instead of her face.
‘Okay,’ he said.
Paige sighed, and Zoë glanced her way before continuing. ‘I wanted to explain my side of things.’
‘Okay,’ Declan said again, not managing to change his inflection.
‘It’s just,’ Zoë said, wringing her hands together, ‘I never believed you liked me.’ Declan couldn’t suppress a snort, and Zoë tensed. ‘That’s funny to you?’ she asked coolly.
‘No, it’s not funny,’ he managed, finally looking at her. ‘How could you do that to me? And withhim?’
‘That’s exactly what I mean,’ Zoë said, voice rising. ‘You only care aboutwhoI left you for, not that I left you.’
‘Clearly I care that you left me,’ Declan said. ‘I thought—’
‘Is it clear?’ Zoë cut him off. Declan couldn’t understand what had shifted between them; when Zoë had picked him all those weeks ago he thought it was because they had the same goal: winning.
‘I thought we were in this together,’ Declan said. ‘So why did you do it?’
‘For love,’ Zoë said, as though it was obvious. ‘I love him. And I know you and everyone else here hates him, but I can’t help it, I can’t control it. I love him.’ Declan had nothing to say to that, watching as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. ‘Sure, he’s not perfect.’ Her voice went quiet. ‘But he’s surprisingly sweet, and he loves me, I think, better than anyone else I’ve ever met.’
Declan, who had plenty of experience bad-mouthing James to Georgia, still found himself speechless. He hadn’t expected her feelings for James to be genuine, but he couldn’t find any familiar signs of performance on her face.
‘He’s going to hurt you,’ he said finally. ‘And I don’t want to see you get hurt.’
Zoë cocked her head at him. ‘What do you mean?’
‘He dated my friend, back in London. And he cheated on her, repeatedly.’
Zoë frowned. ‘That’s not how he tells it.’
‘Yeah, well, he’s a liar,’ Declan said.
‘That’s rich coming from you, King,’ James said, stalking towards them, a cameraman on his heels. With one glance at Paige’s guilty face, Declan knew the scene had been orchestrated. ‘A liar and a cheater? Pot, meet kettle.’
Declan was on his feet before he was even aware he’d moved. James towered over him, but Declan didn’t give an inch, glaring up at him.
‘C’mon,’ Zoë said, tugging at James’s arm. ‘Drop it, James.’
‘As I’ve said countless times before,’ Declan gritted out. ‘Nothing happened between me and Georgia.’
The other contestants had gathered around as their voices rose. Declan was keenly aware of Oliver’s eyes on him.
‘Right,’ James said slowly. ‘I know you think I’m thick, but I’m not that thick.’
‘Yes, you are,’ Declan said. ‘And the worst part is that you made her feel like it was her fault you couldn’t be faithful. Making her feel like a terrible girlfriend for daring to go out with her mates while you were God knows where drugged up and unresponsive partying with your band. You gaslighting piece of shit.’
