Suck it, Dolly.
I want to rub it in her face. Your fake relationship only camethird. Not as convincing as you guys think you are, clearly.
It feels so good to be right. I knew I could be better than her, and the public just proved it. Patrick and I are the real deal, and theWedded Blissaudience can see that too.
I wonder what people like about us. We’re quite silly, a little giggly. Maybe that’s it? Our chemistry. And I know now that we look good together too.
It’s perhaps a little vain to say, but the validation that thepublic think we’re a good couple makes me even more excited to see him today.
Sure, it’s not quite the same as winning, but at least a couple who are in love are in first place. It would have been nice to win a date out of the warehouse, but I’ve already got a grand prize waiting for me today – Patrick.
Today, I get to kiss him. If he wants that, of course. I hope he wants to kiss me one day.
Karina and Lucas are whisked away quickly along with the camera team, and only Reb hangs back. ‘You good?’ she asks me.
I nod. ‘Great. Thank you so much for your help this morning.’
Bridget slings an arm around my neck. ‘Don’t worry, babes. I’ll look after her.’
Reb gives me a tight smile. ‘Make sure to have some breakfast. You’ve got less than an hour to get ready, or thereabouts.’ And with that, she excuses herself.
It’s so funny that they speak in time we have no way to read. Maybe neurotypical people can naturally sense it better than I can.
I’m already dressed and have absolutely no stomach for eating so I’m relieved when Bridget whisks me into our new shared room for help doing her hair.
‘I want to curl it for the special occasion,’ she giggles excitedly. ‘But I’m awful at doing the back. Will you give me a hand?’
Before I can agree, she sits down at her makeup table with her back to me, and hands me her styler. She has one of those fancy Airwrap things that always terrify me a little because I always think about your hair getting sucked inside it and having to chop it off at the roots. But Bridget’s a hairdresser, so she knows better than I do.
Luckily, I’ve had a lifetime of doing my sisters’ hair.
I start sectioning off her long caramel locks. In the mirror, I catch Bridget looking on approvingly, which gives me a little thrill that I’m doing it right.
‘You’re a star, babe. I can never get my arms akimbo enough to do that bit so it’s always flat as a pancake from behind, and if they’re filming from that angle when we kiss it’ll look dreadful.’
‘Oh… yeah,’ I agree, having not thought about that at all. My hair is still pulled up into a severe bun.
Reading my mind, Bridget says, ‘Babe. Are you going to keep your hair like that today?’
I glance in the mirror and the bun is so tight that it’s given me a startled look from the unnatural tilt of my eyebrows. ‘I shouldn’t.’
‘I’ll do you after, don’t worry.’ Bridget squeals and I almost drop the expensive hair whooshing contraption. ‘Oh God. I hope he’s a good kisser. He islush.’
I realise I’m not sure who she means. I know she’s been dating a few men – Jackson, Zack, Billy too, I think – but I have no idea who she’s seeing now. She kept her cards close to her chest about who she liked most, and I’ve been too self-involved to pay attention.
That’s another thing I’ve not liked about the last few days. With all this Dolly mess, I haven’t been a good friend. I want these friendships to last, and while Dolly’s turned out not to be the person I thought she was, I think Bridget and Lina could be long term if I put the effort in.
‘Zack?’ I guess.
‘Well, yes, but I was thinking of Jackson. I’m seeing both of them today.’
‘And Zack’s not lush?’
‘Heis.’
‘But not totally your type on paper.’
‘Exactly, babes.’
