I can’t lie any more. I can’t. I will come clean. ‘Three minutes.’
I’ve cracked under virtually no pressure.
Cam blinks slowly, letting out a calm sigh. He gets up from his seat and disappears into the villa in one long, fluid movement. He’s so incredibly easy on the eye, and as attractive from the front as he is from the back. Almost as though he was dreamt into the world to make it prettier. I hear the faint bleeps of the safe being opened.
What will I say? What excuse do I have?
Cam returns moments later and plonks my phone down on the table. ‘Show me the photos. Please.’
I pick up the phone and scroll to me and Lois saying the world’s longest goodbye at the airport. Tyrone took lots of pictures and a lovely video of us, so she’ll be able to look at them while I’m in isolation without my phone.
I press play and turn it around for Cam to see. He watches our teary goodbye. He listens to me telling Lois how much I love her and how much I’m going to miss her. He listens to Lois mothering me and making sure I have everything. He listens to her ask once again if I’m positive I’m flying to Mexico for the right reasons. Cam briefly flicks his eyes to mine and back to the screen. He listens to Lois tell me how proud of me she is. How she knows these past few years have been really hard for me. Losing our mother. Losing my home. Losing my sense of purpose.
Cam pauses the video.
My eyes fill with tears as suppressed memories flood back. ‘I gave up work to care for her while she was sick. There’s only ever been the three of us. It kind of killed my career, but I’d do it again in a heartbeat.’
Cam’s face slackens and we share a real look of understanding. The kind of empathy that comes when you’ve lived through the horror of losing a loved one. He slides the phone back towards me.
‘I’m sorry,’ he says. ‘Sounds like you’ve had it tough. She did well raising twins on her own.’
I nod.
‘So, you’re identical, huh?’ he says, trying to lighten the mood.
‘I’m sorry,’ is all I can manage. ‘I should have been honest with you last week on the phone. Lois is engaged to a great guy, Tyrone, so she couldn’t come on the show after all. I’d just got out of that… erm, situationship, and I thought maybe it would be a good idea to come here.’
I wonder if he is going to be angry at the deception, but he surprises me by not seeming that blown away.
‘So now you’ve come clean about your sister, do you want to tell me about this relationship you just got out of?’ Cam asks.
‘Honestly, not much to tell. I thought I was in love with him but really, we never did anything together to create any sparks. I was boring. I worked all the time. I suppose in a way I’m not surprised he dumped me. I’m just upset that he did it by text.’
‘Ouch. That’s harsh. What a dick.’
‘Yeah, right?’ And before I know what I’m saying I admit the truth as to why I’m here. ‘I wanted to take Lois’s place on the show to get back at him. To make him see I’m not just a frumpy old maid. To make him regret dumping me.’
It sounds very childish.
‘That’s a lot of effort and a long way to come just to make him jealous. You must really want him back.’
I shake my head. ‘No. I thought I did, but I guess I just felt rejected and insecure.’And then I met you. We lock eyes.
‘I get it. But listen, Libby, you’ve put me in an awkward spot here. I’m going to have to tell the executive director that you’re not the original hire. You and your sister have two completely different personalities. She will have passed the psychometric tests and you… probably wouldn’t have. What if we put you on the show and you crack under the pressure? It wouldn’t be fair to you.’
‘I won’t crack, I promise. I’m sorry to put you in this situation. I was desperate at the time, and then you rang, and we spoke and…’
…and I fancied you from the moment I saw you and decided to throw caution to the wind and kill two birds with one stone.
Cam looks at me thoughtfully. ‘We all do stupid things for love.’
I’m taken by surprise. ‘Now look at who’s rolling out the clichés.’
He smiles and leans back in his chair.
‘Do you want to tell me how your ex ended up with your best friend? I’m quite the expert on trust issues.’
Cam hesitates. ‘You know what? Women never ask me about it. They just want to know if I’m single.’
