I’d geared myself up that I would be sending her home tonight, but now two other women would be leaving instead. The reality was she could be taking the place of someone who would’ve been my perfect temporary mate.
No wonder Jada was ticked off at me.
I glanced over to where Daphne stood with her teammates. Smashed against Mia’s chest, she was smiling awkwardly and giving Sarah a high-five. The other teams gathered around the three women to congratulate them.
When the camera focused on me again, I gave a thumb’s up, then took another bite…and another. These ribs really were delicious.
Although it made no sense, none whatsoever in the scheme of things, I was secretly relieved. This woman intrigued me on so many levels. And it wasn’t just because her barbeque sauce was the shit.
No, I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Daphne yet. Even though a part of me knew I should.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Daphne
After we got back to the hotel, we had little time to change and meet back down at the Moonlight Lounge for the cocktail party and charm ceremony. Jada had us on a tight turnaround since yesterday’s schedule had been cut short when Kiana got hurt.
“You know what the bad thing is about winning immunity?” Mia asked, adjusting her bodice.
“Not getting the chance to be eliminated?” I said, only half joking.
Although the Ranch Challenge had been a lot more fun than I’d been expecting, I just wanted the competition to be over. Dressing up and parading in front of cameras, vying for a man’s attention, really wasn’t my thing. As I’d prepared the barbeque sauce, the weight of Travis’s gaze had been unsettling, but I refused to let it rattle my concentration.
Mia wrinkled up her nose as if she smelled something foul. “Very funny, Daphne. No, it’s because Travis will be spending his time with the other girls to help him decide who to sendhome. That’s what’s wrong with it.” She grabbed her phone. “Come on, ladies. Group selfie.”
Sarah and I obliged and gathered around Mia. She took a few snaps, changing the angle of her phone each time, then proceeded to post her favorites to social media. It should’ve ticked me off she had cell coverage on the island and I didn’t, but I was enjoying my digital detox. It made me feel insulated from whatever was happening back home.
“See? Look.” Mia pointed.
I followed her gaze and saw Travis leading Samantha, a water nymph from Minnesota, to a cabana on the beach. Sheer fabric was draped over the canopy and billowed gently in the ocean breeze. A tray with two glasses of champagne sat in the middle of the mattress. It looked cozy—andveryromantic. Well, except for the cameras.
Mia slumped in her chair. “That definitely won’t be any of us in a windswept tête-à-tête tonight. Heavy sigh.”
I bit back a laugh. I’d never met anyone who verbalized their visceral reactions.
Watching Travis and Samantha getting comfortable in the cabana, I felt a twinge of something in the middle of my chest. But it wasn’t jealousy or envy. It was just that it looked really…comfortable. That’s all. It would be nice to be sitting there, sipping on a glass of champagne and listening to the ocean surf.
With Travis.
No, no! Not with Travis. Just in general.
Sarah clinked the ice cubes in her drink. “How many contestants is he sending home tonight?”
Mia took a long sip of her Bloody Mario through a thick straw and held up two fingers. Hopefully, the drink was in name only.
Nodding, Sarah turned to me. “Where do you think we’re going on our group date tomorrow?”
“I have no idea,” I replied a little sheepishly. “To be honest, I kind of forgot about it.”
“Why am Inotsurprised?” Mia wasn’t even trying to hide her exasperated tone anymore. “I hope he’s taking us on his private plane. He’s a pilot, you know.”
I didn’t know where Mia got all her information, but she sure seemed well informed.
“If that’s the case,” I told them, “I won’t be able to go.”
“Why not?” Sarah sounded truly disappointed.
“I don’t have a memory stone, so I can’t cross through the island’s charm.” At her confused expression, I added, “I’m human, remember? I’m not a supernatural creature.” I’d told them the truth yesterday at the Ranch Challenge. It was too draining to lie all the time.
