I just stared at him, because what was I supposed to say to that? Was he implying we should be partners? Surely not, right? He had no way of knowing if we’d be any better together than he and Sofia. Before I could think any more of it, the other girls formed a semi-circle around me and started strategizing.
“I am one hundred percent done with Danny,” Rachel said. “We can’t be partners again. It’s exhausting.”
“Grant and I were a mess,” Trace admitted.
Panic rose in my throat. “But you both got first and second place,” I said. “It couldn’t have been that bad.”
Trace bit her lip. “Grant is just so full of himself. I guess I can keep him as a partner if I have to, but I really don’t want to deal with his ego again.”
“Well, you both better back off of Eli,” Sofia snapped. “He’s mine.”
“Big words coming from the last-place finisher,” Rachel said.
Sofia rolled her shoulders back. “He wouldn’t want either of you, anyway. You’ll regret it if you come between us. Eli and I could really have something.”
Sofia was really reaching here, but I wasn’t about to call her out on it. They had known each other for all of five minutes. And Eli didn’t seem all that excited about keeping Sofia as a partner, if his parting words to me meant anything.
“I think Arnie and I are working well together,” I said weakly. “I know we got third, but I really don’t want to switch.”
Sympathy shone in Trace’s eyes. “Of course. I won’t steal him from you if it’s going well.”
Saliva formed thick in my mouth as I tried to swallow it down. Her words should have been reassuring, but all I could think about was the intent behind them. She didn’t want to ruffle my feathers. Not after what I had revealed to everyone at breakfast—about Michael. They pitied me. Everyone always pitied me.
“What if we just switch?” Rachel asked, turning to Trace. “I can handle Grant’s ego. He’s a hell of a lot quieter than Danny.”
“I don’t know. Do you think Danny will be okay with that?” Trace asked. “He seems intense. I’m not sure I’m his cup of tea.”
Rachel swatted away her comment. “Please. Danny needs someone like you. Your rainbows-and-sunshine attitude will soften his harsh edge.”
Trace still looked unsure. But after glancing at Sofia and me, she probably realized her options were limited. Pick Eli, and face the wrath of Sofia. Pick Arnie, and upset the poor, wounded girl with the dead fiancé.
“Alright,” she finally said. “It’s worth a shot.”
Chapter Six
“How didyou feel you and Arnie performed in the first challenge?” Brady sat next to a camera operator across from me. He had his legs crossed and leaned forward as if every word I said was absolutely captivating, not just a play-by-play of how my day had gone.
“I think we did well,” I said. It was hard to be myself in these interviews when I was constantly worrying about how I’d be perceived. It was one thing when I’d agreed to come on a show all about writing. That, I could handle. But this? Being probed and prodded about my love life? It was hell on earth. Now I had to sit here and balance saying just enough to avoid being portrayed as cold, while also ensuring I didn’t divulge too much about myself for the general public to pick me apart.
“And how do you feel about Arnie?” Brady asked. “Is there a romantic connection there?”
His false sincerity made me want to choke with laughter. I guess I should have been grateful Shay wasn’t the one interviewing me.
“I think we’ve formed a friendship, for sure. I mean, what more can you ask for after only twenty-four hours, right?”
“Hmm, so you don’t believe in instant attraction?”
I thought of the white-hot feeling that had jolted through my entire body at that simple touch from Eli during the challenge. “In my experience, feelings usually come first and attraction is secondary.”
“Interesting. What about the other guys? Feeling any potential attraction there?”
I did my best to maintain a poker face. “Not really. I mean, we just got here.”
“What about Eli?” Brady asked bluntly.
Heat rose to my cheeks and I knew from decades of experience that they had turned a rosy pink. “He seems nice. Different than what I expected.” There. That was a simple enough answer. Couldn’t read anything into that.
“Different, how?” Brady prodded.
