The air conditioner purred softly, but the tent felt hot despite it. She leaned back and grabbed the remote she’d chucked on the bed earlier. She was just about to lower the temperature to freezing when three sharp knocks sounded on the front door.
Sienna perked up immediately.
Finally, this was it. This was what she’d been waiting for. The whole reason she’d sent MarieandBrooke home. To show Vivian that she was serious. To make it crystal clear.
Sienna leaped off the bed, ran her fingers through her hair, and checked that the mini bar was still stocked with thebottle of rosé she’d swiped from the lodge after the ceremony—she’d asked permission, technically—and was just about to check the status of the wine glasses when another knock sounded.
“Coming!” she called.
A heartbeat later, she yanked the door open and immediately felt the air hiss out of her like a popped balloon. Elise was standing on the welcome mat, tapping her tiny foot impatiently.
“Hi,” Sienna said, unable to hide her disappointment. From a distance, anyone watching might have called it the perfect subversion of expectation.
Elise didn’t bother with pleasantries. She pushed past Sienna into the tent and turned around to face her. “What the hell was that?” she snapped, throwing her right arm out so hard that Sienna worried it might dislocate from her shoulder.
“What do you mean?” Sienna asked sweetly. People like Elise, who were always five seconds away from exploding, had to be treated extra carefully.
Elise didn’t even blink. “The rose ceremony. You sent Brooke home.”
If there was a question in there, Sienna had missed it. “I did,” she said.
“Why?”
“Because there wasn’t a connection,” she lied. Even someone who had never seen a connection between anyone before would have picked up on it. But as great as it was, it couldn’t even begin to compare to what she felt for Vivian. Sienna didn’t even understand it herself. She could put it down to that first touch when Vivian placed her fingers on her chin. But giving it a name or a logical explanation felt impossible, like trying to catch smoke with her bare hands.
Life was mysterious.
“You didn’t like her? Because I thought you liked her. We all did,” Elise said, frowning.
“I do like her,” Sienna said. “Brooke is smart and funny, and beautiful. She’s got this way of seeing the world that most people would never understand.” She wasn’t exactly doing a great job at convincing Elise that there wasn’t a connection. “I loved spending time with her. But I needed to be honest with myself. She’s not the right fit for me.”
Elise stared at her with a look that very clearly said I don’t believe you. Which was why Sienna felt the need to defend herself when keeping quiet would probably be the safest defense. “Look, I can’t settle for anything less than what I’m really feeling. Isn’t that what this show is all about? Being honest? Finding something real?” she said.
Elise exhaled hard through her nose. Sienna assumed that in the eyes of the executive producer, the show was less about one woman falling in love with another and more about the ratings. “You sent home one of our strongest storylines,” she said. “Brooke was good television.”
Sienna wanted this conversation to end. It was ruining her mood. She wondered if Vivian had made the trip to her tent, heard Elise talking, and decided to turn back. She folded her arms crossly over her chest. “Well, I’m sorry for ruining your storyline. But I didn’t come here to play a part.”
Elise laughed. It was completely hollow. “Honey, that’s exactly what you came here for. To play a part. I’m not saying don’t fall in love. But at least have some direction and follow the script.” She walked toward the door and stopped short. Her hand hovered halfway to the knob as she turned her head. “Pick someone and show the viewers what they tuned in for. Give them a story they want.”
Then she left.
For a beat, Sienna simply stood there, wondering if this conversation had even happened or if she had actually dozed off while waiting for Vivian to come knocking on her door. Finally, she grabbed the bottle of rosé from the mini-fridge, popped the cork herself, and poured a glass.
“I’ve already picked someone,” she said to the empty room, and then she tipped the glass back and let the rosé slide down in one long, satisfying swallow.
Chapter Nineteen
Vivian only ever took baths when she was stressed or tired—or both—which basically meant she took baths as often as she showered. Tonight was no exception. The tub was full. The water was maybe too hot, given just how warm the day had been. The bubbles curled lovingly around her, while steam fogged the mirrors, and the scent of lavender from the bath oil hung in the air. Her mind was empty. Almost. Except for a giant-sized image of Sienna bouncing around her brain like a ping-pong ball. Sienna in that slip dress. Sienna calling out Nisha-the-snake-hater’s name instead of Brooke-the-sexy-artist.
Vivian exhaled slowly and let the water lap against her skin. She let herself imagine a quiet, desolate beach with waves lapping on the shore, the blue water shimmering so bright her eyes hurt, and sand so white it looked like snow. The place she was imagining was where Sienna simply didn’t exist.
But that wasn’t just hard; it was impossible. Mostly because she didn’t just want Sienna in her mind. She wanted her here. In this bath. In her bed. In the quiet, half-lit mornings when the world hadn’t fully woken up, in the less than frantic evenings after work…
A sharp rap echoed against the door.
Vivian shot both hands out to either side of the bath and gripped the edges tight. Her heart gave an unnecessary little flip. It was late. Almost midnight, or maybe even later. She hadn’t checked the time in ages. Her phone sat on a small, three-legged stool next to a lit candle and a folded cream washcloth. She reached over to check, but just as she did, Sienna’s voice barreled through the slit beneath the door, filling up every inch of the villa. “Vivian, will you open up, please?”
In any other situation, Vivian would’ve stayed perfectly still and taken her time to consider what she should do next. She would consider if she evenwantedto open up. But there was no time to think. Or maybe she didn’t need to. Maybe she’d been hoping Sienna would show up, and she was ready for the moment she did.
