Turning on my heel, I come face-to-face with Carmen. She shakes her head disapprovingly.
Fuck her. Fuck this whole fucking game. I’ll find another way to take down the Resistance. Anger rolls through my veins again, burning away the disappointment and pain engulfing my heart.
"I don't want him here," I spit through gritted teeth. My voice cracks, just like my heart.
She folds her arms over her chest, tapping her finger against her bicep. I swear I am going to severe that finger by the time I get through the rest of this game.
A soft touch on my arm diverts my attention. I look down at my shoulder. Liam caresses my exposed skin with his thumb. My anger simmers. I hate that his touch can soothe all the boiling emotions that run through my veins. I move my chin up just a fraction and feel his breath against my cheek.
"It matters because you matter to me. I don't want to lose you, Jessica. I know there are so many things about me, my life, that you don’t know. That's on me. It’s why I'm here. I want to fix that." His voice is low, almost a whisper.
My skin prickles as his hand runs down my arm. He places an object, hard and cool, in my palm. I close my fingers over it instinctively.
"It's my turn to fight for you, fight for us. I'm not leaving until I win you back." He caresses my cheek and leans in until his lips brush my ear. "I plan to fight to the death because no life is worth living without you in it." His breath shudders.
My chin begins to quiver. I clench my teeth and squeeze my eyes shut. I will not cry, not for him, not anymore. I force myself to harden my heart before opening my eyes.
His hand drops away from my face. The warmth of his body retreats. He clears his throat. "You promised me forever, Jessica. I will take that with me to the grave." His heavy footfalls descend when I open my eyes and spin around to face him.
He's gone. I stare at the empty space of the corridor. His scent lingers in the air. My hand still clutches the solid object in my hand. Opening my palm, I glance down at a jade medallion.
The tears I so desperately tried to hold back fall again.
Chapter 80
The Final Contestant
JESSICA
Numbly, I stare at my reflection in the mirror.One more to go, I tell myself and smooth the bodice of my evening gown.One more contestant, the meet-and-greet, the first eliminations, and the day is over.You can do this. I release a long audible breath and take one final look at my appearance.
I remind myself of my plan. Discover who leads the Resistance, take them down, and find a mate. Stick to the plan. With shaky hands, I fix my hair.
The door to the hair and makeup room softly opens, and Sixes pokes her head in. “The last limo is here.”
My mother meets me in the hall. “Last contestant. You ready?”
I look to Christian, who rests his camera on his shoulder, and the sound man holds the boom mic overhead. Carmen set this up to ensure I don’t mess up again.
My mother pulls me in for a hug. When she leans back, her eyes shine with unshed tears.
“Oh, no. Why are you crying?” I ask her. Did I make her upset? Did something happen? The twins aren’t here. Even Sixes disappeared.
My mother sniffs back the tears and gently waves her hand in front of her. “It’s a mother thing. You look so beautiful, so grown up. That’s all.” She offers a small smile of reassurance.
My brows furrow. I’m not buying it. I’m wearing the exact same gown, hair, and makeup from when we started this section of filming. “Is that the only reason?” I study her face for any telltale signs of a lie.
She briskly nods and reaches for my shoulders to turn me toward the entrance. “Let’s not keep them waiting.”
She totally avoids my question. Gently, she guides me to the front entrance to meet the final contestant. Waiting for us, my father and Anders have a slightly animated yet hushed discussion. Both Anders and my father’s faces are flushed. The twins are not here, either. Anders sees us returning and backhands my father in the chest to stop him from talking. I leave my mother to stand at the marker. Joe nods in my direction and turns toward the limo. An uncomfortable silence settles over everyone. I see Odyssey across the driveway, with a crooked smile on his face.
Everyone is acting so weird. I suspect it has to do with the last contestant in this car.
The limo driver slowly opens the passenger door. Jeremy steps out first, flashing me a goofy grin, answering all of my unanswered questions. Justin and Charlie get out next, followed by Chris. Just when I think the entourage of escorts all came out, the last escort to exit the limo is Duck, Chris’s father. Oh, my Goddess, he brought Duck. He knows how much I adore this man, how much I hate disappointing him.
I force myself to take a few deep breaths. My parents watch me intensely, waiting for my reaction. A worried expression sitson my mother’s face. Is she worried about Luke? Or me? Maybe both. My father wears a mask of indifference, but his green eyes also reflect concern. Anders simply stares back at me, almost willing me to make the right decision.
What is the right decision? I don't want him here, any more than I want Liam here.
