Tense energy thrums in the space between the seven of us as assistants hand us props and adjust our positions. Blake steps back behind the line of cameras.
“Beck. Can you ask Seyoon and Dean how they got together?”
She falls into character like a flip being switched. It’s extremely apparent how much being on another reality show and having two former contestants as parents give her an advantage.
“So,” Beck starts, voice airy. “You two looked cozy on the lake today. When did”—she wags her finger between us—“thisstart?”
Blake nods, impressed. Before I have time to think of something, Seyoon hops in.
“After the first challenge,” she says. She scoots impossibly closer—our thighs fully pressed against each other now—and lays a hand on my knee. I jerk on reflex, and she squeezes, digging her nails into myskin.Act normal.“There’s so much history here, you know, with our parents being in the same season. We connected instantly.”
“Dive deeper into that, Seyoon,” Blake prompts. “What drew you to him?”
Her fingers twitch on my knee. “Um, well…”
She swallows visibly, gnawing on her bottom lip as she thinks. Some part of me preens. Seyoon can bluff as much as she wants, but she also has no experience in this department.
Maybe Icanthrow her off her game, despite what she’d like to think.
Ignoring the anxiety screaming in the back of my mind, I lean back and snake my arm around Seyoon’s waist. She jolts.
“I was first drawn to Seyoon because of herhumility,” I say, managing not to laugh. “I thought the way she handled losing that first challenge after saying she was going to beat me was really admirable. It takes a lot of courage to keep your head up high after that.”
Somebody snorts in the corner. I wipe my mouth to keep it from turning up. She must catch the mirth in my expression anyway, and I see the exact moment she figures out what I’m doing. Her nails dig in deeper around my patella. It’s worth it. After everything she’s put me through, I’ll admit it. It feels a little good to get Seyoon as flustered as she always makes me, for once.
Alright. It feelsreallygood.
But I shouldn’t have underestimated her desire to come out on top.
Seyoon twists toward me and flashes an alluring smile, eyes half-lidded like she’s charmed. “That’ssosweet. But not as sweet as when you wrote me a poem comparing my eyes to the night sky.”
Is she out of her mind? Don’t answer that. I already know.
“I didn’t—”
Seyoon lifts her brow, a silent provocation.You ready to yield so soon?
Like hell I’m going to let her win somethingIstarted. “I didn’t have anything better to compare them to,” I say. “Your beauty outshines anything in the world. The closest thing would be… the heavens.”
Whatever tiny shred of dignity I might’ve had walking into this room just shriveled up and died. Hopefully, I will too.
The camera closest to us walks over, probably to capture the way both our faces are on fire. Seyoon’s mouth falls. For the first time, she’s speechless. Something about being the one to elicit that kind of reaction from her makes electricity tingle along my spine.
“Wow,” she laughs. “You’re quite the romantic, huh?”
“I mean,” I force myself to say without cracking. I’m suddenly grateful for all those cliché romance books we read in book club. “Nothing comes close to you whittling my face into a tree. It’s reallyyouwho’s the sentimental one.”
Adin gasps and puts his hands over his heart, then seems to remember where he is and settles back down.
CONFESSION TAPE—Adin Zavary, Contestant
Alright, I’m secretly a huge romantic at heart. There, I said it, you happy? I love sappy rom-coms and soap operas and all of it. But don’t tell anyone, okay? Especially not Sidd.
Blake leans over the back of the adjacent sofa, a nearly maniacal grin on her face. The glint in her eye—hungry, almost—is very familiar. That’s not the prim, calm director we were introduced to on thefirst day on set.That’sthe host from the old days ofForest Feud. The one who had a reputation for personally contriving drama between her contestants.
I figured she must have mellowed out in the two decades that have passed since then. But maybe not, given the way she’s rapidly tapping her fingers on the sofa back, attention laser-focused on us and us alone. She certainly looks entertained by our performance. Hopefully entertained enough to give us the incentive.
Blake pokes Beck. “Ask Dean when he first realized he was in love.”
