They spent most of the morning like that, with other contestants stopping by periodically to chat with Imogen. Declan couldn’t have been more appreciative of her; save for a small squeeze of his leg, she hadn’t acknowledged his foul mood at all. In fact, she was doing a great job of distracting anyone who tried to talk to him, regaling Jack and Holly with some of her wild club stories, listening intently to Maeve and Stella discuss politics and adding her own colourful commentary.
Imogen reminded him of Georgia in how nonchalantly she’d accepted his sexuality, but they could help each other in a way he and Georgia no longer could. Georgia had never needed Declan, for his fame or his money. With Imogen, it could be transactional – he’d show her off as his girlfriend, and she’d use him to grow her following. He’d train for his upcoming fight; she’d finish her fashion line. They both had something to gain, and Declan wouldn’t have to feel guilty about any of it.
He didn’t see Oliver all morning, having strategically picked the daybed with the worst view of the garden. He’d begun to think he could avoid him all day when he heard the chime from the PA system.
Imogen must have sensed Declan’s nerves, because she clasped her hand in his and gave him an encouraging smile as they made their way over. Declan didn’t particularly want to play any of the producers’ games; he was still recovering from the previous day’s.
Before he and Imogen had reached the group, Darcy’s voice rang out. ‘Lovers, all week long the audience has been voting for their favourite couples. Tonight, the two couples with the fewest votes will be dumped from the villa. Please get ready and gather around the firepit.’
Declan stopped dead in his tracks. Imogen tugged his hand, but when he looked at her he was struck by the unfamiliar anxiety in her eyes. Two couples. Four contestants. Declan should have seen it coming – there was no way the producers would keep them in such cramped quarters forever.
Imogen pulled him along until they finally made it to the others. All the skittish glances, clearly trying to work out who was going home, reminded Declan of the first elimination.
‘Well,’ Jack said, ‘this sucks.’
Niall cracked a smile and the tension eased minutely. Declan was pointedly looking anywhere but Oliver, finding some solace in his confidence that Oliver and Eavie would be safe. Declan’s position with Imogen, however, he wasn’t so sure about.
They got ready in silence. The energy in the bedroom was tense, and even Jack’s attempts at wisecracks fell flat. He must have realised that he was in a more secure position than the rest of them, because he shut up after a few minutes. Declan and Oliver danced around each other, Declan exerting a considerable amount of effort not to look at him in the tight space. In avoidingOliver, his eyes fell on James and Paige talking in the corner. Declan didn’t like that sight one bit, and he got out of the room as fast as he could, watching the crew set up from the kitchen.
The other contestants filed out to stand by the firepit, but Declan waited until Imogen came out to join them. Declan manoeuvred Imogen to a spot near Oliver and Eavie, but not directly next to them. That way he wouldn’t have to look Oliver in the eye.
The contestants sat in silence, the tension palpable. Imogen laid her head on Declan’s shoulder and he wrapped his arms around her.
‘Don’t worry,’ he whispered. ‘It’ll be fine.’ She nodded against his neck, and the two sat there like that for a few minutes before Darcy finally made her appearance.
She had styled her new fringe with a pair of severe black cat-eye glasses and a peacock-blue double-breasted suit, completing the bizarre ensemble with a pair of white patent-leather platform boots.
‘Hello, Lovers.’
The cameras followed her as she walked towards the firepit, stopping in front of the six couples and taking a moment to consider each of them in turn. Declan tried his best to look impassive, and the squint she gave him made him think he’d succeeded in not giving her the reaction she wanted.
‘Tonight,’ she said, raising her voice and enunciating carefully, ‘is a sad night. Two couples will be going home. We will miss them dearly, but as we draw closer to the end of the summer, only one couple can be victorious. Are you ready to find out which couples will be staying and which will be leaving?’
Darcy paused so the cameramen could get shots of each couple to build suspense. Imogen grabbed Declan’s hand, squeezing hard.
‘We’re good,’ called Brian.
‘Um, cut,’ Darcy said suddenly. ‘Why are you talking to me? Where the hell is Paige?’
‘Here!’ Paige called, emerging from the villa looking harried, pulling her curls back into her usual bun. ‘Was just running through some old footage and got distracted.’
Darcy took a deep breath before turning to the camera and proceeding solemnly, ‘Lovers, please stand.’ They shuffled to their feet and she gave another dramatic pause.
‘James and Zoë… Oliver and Eavie… Jack and Maeve…’ Her eyes bored into each contestant as she called their name. Declan allowed himself to look over at Jack and Maeve. Jack’s face was eerily blank, and Maeve gripped him tightly by the arm.
‘You all are safe,’ Darcy said finally. Declan heard Eavie’s sigh of relief to his left. ‘Please sit down.’ She waited a moment for the couples to settle before sizing up the remaining contestants. A shiver made its way through Declan’s body – the odds were no longer in his favour. He looked around at the others standing and his heart sank. No matter who went home tonight, it was going to hurt. Imogen squeezed his hand again, but this time he couldn’t manage to offer her a comforting smile.
‘Only one couple standing before me,’ Darcy said, ‘will be staying. The rest will pack their bags and leave immediately.’
Declan took a deep breath. Despite what he’d told Paige, winning didn’t matter to him any more. If he got sent home tonight, he’d leave with only one regret.
‘Declan and Imogen,’ Darcy said, holding eye contact with Declan, her face completely unreadable. Imogen’s grip on his hand turned painful and Declan glanced at her, but she wasn’t looking at him. He followed her gaze and saw Darcy’s lips twitch. ‘You are safe. Please sit.’ Suddenly, Imogen was in his arms and they were falling onto the couch.
‘Thank God,’ she whispered before pulling away.
‘Niall and Stella,’ Darcy said, ‘and Owen and Holly. You’ve received the fewest votes and will be leaving the villa tonight.’ The cameramen pushed in to capture the eliminated couples’ reactions, but Declan couldn’t bear to watch.
‘But there’s one twist,’ Darcy said, and Declan’s head shot up. ‘Your fellow Lovers have the opportunity to save just one of you. Let’s see who they choose, shall we?’
