It was such a perfectlyLilygesture, that inquisitive elbow. She could nudge me just once and I would know exactly what she meant, as clearly as if she were whispering in my ear.Is that camera angle right? Should we ask him to elaborate on that? Do you think they’ve got those pastries we like at craft services?
She nudged me again and raised an eyebrow, just like the partner I’d lost a year ago would, the one I’d been hoping so desperately would come back to me.Is the Romeo Chris Gregory? He was one of our contenders.
‘It’s not Chris Gregory,’ I said gruffly.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. ‘Here’s what’s going to happen. Listen up. That means you, Lily.’
‘What is it that makes you think I’m not listening?’ She rested her chin on my shoulder and batted her eyelashes at me. ‘I’m starting to think you don’t like me.’
I had a sudden, vivid flashback to the last time her face had been this close to mine.
The night of the funeral. My fingers pressed tight to the back of her head as I held her against me, trying to hold her together while she was falling apart.
Her lipstick, all over my shirt.
‘In about five minutes, we’re going to pull up in the driveway.’ I swallowed hard again and found my producer voice, the one most people obeyed without thinking. ‘You’ll stay in the limo until I say you can get out. Say what you needto say to the Romeo, but make it quick. We have to film this whole thing – all the entrances, the First Night Party, and the Necklace Ceremony – while it’s still dark, so we don’t have time for you to take forever.’
‘Isn’t the First Night Party usually filmed over a couple of nights?’ Juliet-Dylan asked.
‘Usually, yes. But we can’t take you back out of the Juliet Villa once we put you in because of the bubble, so this year we have to get it all in one. Get in, get out, be memorable. The Romeo’s meeting fifteen girls tonight, so if he can’t remember your name, he’s probably going to cut you.’
A look of concern crossed Amanda’s face. Juliet-Dylan squeezed her hand and then whispered something in her ear. Amanda coloured slightly.
I’m going to have to keep an eye on that,I thought, at the same time as Lily’s elbow brushed against mine again.You’re keeping an eye on that, right?
‘How many is he cutting tonight?’ Heather asked.
‘Z will tell you that before the Necklace Ceremony,’ I said. ‘Remember: when Z comes back into the First Night Party, the party ends. Because we have to film everything tonight, the party is going to be much shorter than it would normally be, so take your chances. If you haven’t taken the Romeo aside by the time the party ends, chances are you’ll get cut because he won’t remember you.’
‘Do you really think someone could forget me, Murray?’ Lily said.
I made the mistake of looking at her.
She was batting her eyelashes again, an obvious Lily Fireball affectation, but that mischievous look in her eyes – thatwas pure, distilled Lily Ong, a look that hadn’t changed in thirteen years.
‘Yes,’ I lied. ‘Some of the Romeos we’ve had have been pretty dense.’
‘You’ve been working on this show for a few seasons, right, Murray?’ Amanda asked. ‘Do you have any tips? Apart from making him remember us?’
I reached for the easiest, most obvious things. ‘Just don’t get too drunk. And try not to fall in the pool with your mic pack on. They’re expensive.’
My radio emitted a burst of static, and I tapped my earpiece, grateful for the distraction. ‘Your limo is just pulling into the property, Murray,’ said Keira, one of our assistant directors, her voice slightly distorted over the connection. ‘We’re all good to go here. The Romeo is in position, and the cameras are waiting for the girls to enter.’
‘Right, we’re approaching the property,’ I said to the five women. ‘One of our guys is going to open the door. Dylan G, you’re out first.’
‘Right,’ Juliet-Dylan said.
My earpiece activated again. It was Carrie this time. ‘Murray, problem,’ she said. ‘All limos are now en route, so we’re going to get into the bubble okay, but new government pandemic restrictions have just come in. They’re going to have a major impact on us.’
‘Shit,’ I said. ‘Really?’
‘Wherever you spend the night tonight is where you have to stay for the next six weeks. So we can all get into the bubble – but no one will be able to get out again.’
My mind started racing.
That wouldn’t be a problem for most of us. Our shoot was six weeks. All the crew had to be on set for that long anyway. Same with Romeo-Dylan.
But the Juliets?
