‘Congratulations, Dylan,’ Lily said coolly. ‘The Romeo wants you to do menial labour for him. How sweet.’
‘Menial labourwithhim,’ Naya said. ‘There’s a difference.’
‘Maybe you’ll have a sexy food fight,’ Jess D said.
I thought of Dylan in an apron with flour smeared along a cheekbone. I would have had to sit down, if I wasn’t already sitting down.
‘Ew,’ Lily said. ‘If someone got food in my hair, I would literally kill them.’
‘Well, it’s lucky you’re not going on this date, then,’ Dylan snapped.
‘Please. I would be offended to be on this date. This girl does not belong in the kitchen.’
Lily and Dylan started to snipe at each other again.What do you mean you don’t belong in the kitchen, Lily?a braver version of me would have said.I saw you set up that cheeseboard the other night.
I didn’t, though. I wasn’t tough like Dylan. Whether Lily was a producer plant or not, the last place I wanted to be was in her crosshairs.
‘Have a good day, Mandie,’ Dylan said, hugging me before she left for her date. ‘If we make anything edible, I’ll try to smuggle some back for you.’
I almost asked her to put in a good word for me with Romeo-Dylan. I might not be in Lily’s crosshairs, but given I hadn’t seen him since the last Necklace Ceremony, I was beginning to worry I was in his.
The fact that he hadn’t invited me on any of the dates for this episode stung, if I was being honest. I’d started off so strong, getting the first necklace. Sure, being with Dylan on the photo shoot date probably hadn’t helped my cause – who wouldn’t be comprehensively outshone by her? – but I hadn’t expected to fall off his radarquiteso fast.
… then again, I was easy to let go of. Jac had proven that.
But I didn’t want him to let me go. I was steadfastly ignoring the main reason why – acknowledging it would not serve me or either of the Dylans – but it was still a fact, and that meant I had to do something about it.
‘I need to look really hot tonight,’ I told the wardrobe lady before the next Last Chance Party. ‘Like, really hot. Can you help me?’
‘Of course, doll,’ she said, patting me on the shoulder. ‘I’ve got you.’
Dylan was nearly finished with make-up by the time it was my turn to go in. She let out a low whistle when I satdown next to her. ‘Excuse me, babe alert!’ she said. ‘Fuck, Mandie. You’re a total smokeshow.’
‘So are you,’ I said.
It was the absolute truth. She was in a burgundy dress, slit high on one side, with a plunging neckline. The half-heart pendant of Romeo-Dylan’s necklace (of course Dylan got a necklace on her single date, as if that was ever in doubt) sparkled gold in her cleavage.
‘Yeah, yeah, whatever, I look fine, but you lookincredible,’ she said. ‘Don’t get me wrong, you look super cute in those pastels they keep putting you in, but you should wear black more often. It suits you. Like, itreallysuits you.’
The make-up artist had already started on my face, but even underneath the first layer of make-up, I could see my cheeks turn bright red in the mirror.
‘Well, I haven’t seen Romeo-Dylan for days,’ I said. ‘I’ve got to make an impression tonight, or I’m on the chopping block for sure.’
Dylan snorted. ‘Please. You’re not going anywhere.’
‘I might be,’ I said. ‘My personality obviously hasn’t been doing much for him, so all I’ve got left is pretty.’
‘Mandie!’
‘What?’
‘Don’t talk shit about yourself like that,’ she said. ‘You’ve got so much more to offer than pretty.’
I shrugged.
‘That man out there would be lucky to be with you,’ she said. ‘Any man in the world would be lucky to be with you.’
I did not let the wordsWhat about any woman?come out of my mouth, which felt like an enormous achievement. Big enough to go on the list, even.10) I can restrain my impulses if I really try.
