‘All right,’ Brian called out, ‘those still standing, please go into the villa while the rest deliberate.’
‘Oh yeah, it shouldn’t be a hard decision at all.’ Oliver’s tone was surprisingly spiteful.
‘It’s okay, boyo,’ Niall said.
Darcy sat next to Zoë and James at the edge of the couch, folding her legs and smiling brightly.
Declan let the others talk through all the options before adding his two cents: ‘Neither Niall nor Stella would want to stay without the other.’
‘All right,’ Maeve said, looking around. ‘So, we’ve decided?’ They all nodded.
‘Send them back in,’ Darcy called, standing.
The couples returned to stand in front of the firepit.
‘One of you has been saved tonight by your fellow Lovers,’ Darcy said. ‘The rest of you will be going home.’ She gave her longest pause yet. ‘Your fellow Lovers have chosen to save… Holly!’
Chapter 21
Oliver
Neil Steel: Hold on to your helmets, laddies, the villa’s in for another bombshell.
Darcy Meadows: ‘Two couples will be leaving tonight.’
Jack Obiaka: ‘Well, this sucks.’
Neil Steel: You’ve got that right!
The contestants filed into the villa, Niall and Stella holding hands as though they might be forcibly separated at any moment. Oliver enveloped them in a hug as soon as they were inside, unable to say anything with the weight of emotion pressing against his chest. Losing Niall right after losing Declan felt like the end of something.
Holly ripped herself away from Owen to join their embrace, her normally tough exterior cracked by the tears falling down her face. ‘It shouldn’t be me staying, it should be you.’
Stella shook her head vigorously, and Oliver noticed that she was also crying. ‘You need to stay, it’s not your time yet.’
Niall tucked Holly under his arm. It would have been comical, with Niall being about twice her size, if both of them weren’t choked up. ‘We’ve had a good run; we’re ready to take on the real world.’
Holly glanced back at Owen. ‘Maybe it’s my time, too.’
‘Absolutely not,’ Oliver said, surprising himself. ‘No one else is leaving, all right? No more talk of giving up.’ Stella gave Oliver a watery smile. ‘I’m going to miss you both so much,’ Oliver continued, since he couldn’t bear silence.
‘We’ll see you on the other side,’ Jack said, saluting Niall before wrapping his arms around him.
As they said their goodbyes, Oliver’s eyes drifted to Declan. He remained at the edge of the group, studying the floor with an expression Oliver recognised as carefully smoothed-over. He was seized with the desire to reach out, to comfort him, before remembering they weren’t speaking.
Niall must have noticed his panicked expression, gently prying him away. ‘Everything okay?’ he asked in a low voice.
‘It’s going to be weird without you here,’ Oliver said, pushing Declan to the back of his mind.
Niall sighed. ‘I hate to say it, but I’m relieved. I was tired of being told that a healthy relationship with Stella wasn’t enough drama. But I’m obviously sad to leave you all.’
The lump in Oliver’s throat grew. ‘I’m gonna miss you.’
‘I’ll miss you too,’ Niall said, pulling Oliver into his famous bear hug. ‘And Oliver,’ he said, a serious look on his face, ‘if you have real feelings for someone, don’t let them go, no matter what the producers throw at you. They couldn’t shake me and Stella because we refused to play their game.’
‘Right,’ Oliver said, his eyes involuntarily flitting back to Declan. He was watching Stella and Maeve’s tearful embrace expressionlessly, and Oliver’s chest tightened. He looked back at Niall. ‘Don’t worry about me, Eavie and I are solid.’
Niall’s eyebrows drew together. ‘Think about it, okay?’
