I let myself hug him back, knowing it’d be the last time I’d ever get to touch him. When we pulled away the rest of our cast was there, patting our backs and congratulating us. Suddenly it felt like I couldn’t breathe—like I was gasping for air.
“Cut!” Someone yelled loudly.
It was all over. And I needed to get out of there. I brushed past Rachel and Trace, whose expressions had turned to ones of concern.
“I’m not feeling well,” I said. “I need to get out of here.”
Brady was at my side then, just as he’d promised. While his word didn’t mean much to me, I appreciated that he was at least following through on this.
“Alright, Calla. You’re looking a little faint. Let’s get you out of this dress.”
The rest of the cast looked confused at my sudden departure, but they allowed me to walk away with whispers of “Feel better.” My heart hurt that I couldn’t say a proper goodbye, but I just didn’t have it in me right now.
We were barely through the door before Eli was there at my elbow. “Are you okay?” His voice was full of concern. “You look like you’re about to pass out.”
I ripped my arm away from him. “Get away from me,” I said weakly. I didn’t want to fight. I didn’t want to have some epic blowout. I just wanted to leave. But Eli’s set jaw and his look of determination made it clear a quiet exit wasn’t going to be possible.
“Get away from me?What the hell are you talking about?” he demanded.
“Okay,” Brady said lightly. “I think Calla is just feeling sick. Why don’t you give her some space so I can get her to her room.”
Shay was there in the lounge too. “Wait. Before you leavethere’s some paperwork I need you to sign.” She eyed Eli wearily, clearly not wanting to say the word ‘NDA’ in his presence.
Eli whipped his head around, staring at all of us in confusion. “Leave?” he asked incredulously. “Our flight isn’t until later.”
I could see the skin tighten around Brady’s mouth as we all stood in a standoff. “Slight change of plans,” he offered. “Why don’t you just let Calla get changed.”
Shay placed a hand over her forehead as if she was recovering from a migraine. I just stood there, not taking my eyes off of Eli.
“Like hell I’m letting you take her anywhere without telling me what’s going on.” He looked angry now. “Calla, talk to me,” he begged.
With all the strength I could muster, I stepped away from Brady, lifted my head high, and glared at Eli. “I know everything.”
Eli cocked his head slightly. “Know what?”
“Everything,” I repeated.
“If you’re going to have this conversation, at least do it at the other end of the room so the other contestants can’t eavesdrop,” Shay seethed, pointing to the window where everyone else now stood peering at us through the glass.
Eli was still processing my words. I wasn’t sure if it was confusion I saw in his face, or disbelief. Instead of waiting to find out, I stalked away from them and toward the hallway that would lead me to my room for the last time. My packed suitcase and a change of clothes already awaited me.
I made it to the entrance of the hall before Eli touched my arm and I spun around, glaring at him.
“Leave me alone!” I exclaimed. “Don’t you have everything you want now? You won the show. Your reputation isfixed. Go back to your real life. Make your screenplay. Just leave me out of it.”
Eli stood there in disbelief as he processed my words. “Shit,” he hissed. “How did you—you know I don’t?—”
“I overheard you talking to your dad last night,” I said, proud of myself for keeping the tears at bay. Although judging from the heat behind my face, they weren’t going to stay concealed forever. “I know I was hand-selected to be the perfect little innocent girl-next-door to improve your image.”
Eli raked a hand through his hair. “Fuck me. That wasn’t how I wanted you to find out.”
I scoffed. “Yeah, I’m sure it wasn’t. I’m sure your perfect plan included stringing me along for a couple weeks before you broke it off for some bullshit reason...like our lifestyles are too different.”
“What? No.” Eli shook his head. “I was never going to break it off with you.”
I laughed bitterly. “What, now you’re going to tell me it’s all been real?”
Eli’s nostrils flared, his eyes wild as he studied my face. “Of courseit was all real. My dad had this dumb-ass plan for me to do this show. I didn’t want to, but he dangled the offer to make my movie over my head. Yes, that might have been the original reason I agreed, but everything that happened between us was real.”
