“No,” Calvin defends.
Luna nails him with a look that has him shaking his head and setting the food down on a nearby table. He takes a seat beside her before yanking her into his lap. He tries to whisper something into her neck, but his deep voice trebles too loud, and I hear every word.
“You were supposed to wait for me to make you breakfast. Then I was going to roll over here all romantic and shit.”
She shrugs like she couldn’t care less, but her shit-eating grin tells me she’s lapping this attention up.
“You expect me, a strong independent woman, to sit around and wait for a man to feed me? I think not.”
Calvin laughs, burying his head into her neck once more. It’s not whispering he’s doing this time. Luna’s eyes flutter closed, and she lets out a breathy little moan.
“Jesus, take all of that somewhere else,” I say and toss a piece of bread at them.
They break apart, smiling, and Calvin looks at me. “You’re right. Maybe the showers?”
My mouth drops open as I look up to see Noah barely holding back his laughter. I smack his leg before shaking my head.
“Fuck you all,” I humph as I push my plate of food away and settle back into my seat.
Everyone falls apart into laughter, then the back gate of the yard opens, and several cameramen come filtering through before Alex.
He grins. “Hey, everyone. How’s your morning going?”
“Oh shit!” someone hollers from across the lawn.
“If I could have everyone over here, we’ll go over what surprises are in store for today!” Alex smiles in a way that’s not at all comforting.
All of us gather in a semicircle, directed by Daryll, before Alex stands in front of us and begins.
“I know you’ve all been getting to know each other, some better than others,” he says with a smirk and a wink directed straight at me and Noah.
Embarrassment hits me, and I duck my head as Noah smirks.
“But… with the locked-in ceremony coming very soon, we thought it would be good to make sure all connections are being explored. You never know who you’llclickwith.” Alex laughs.
A few people fake chuckles or smiles, and I probably should have too, but sometimes my RBF can’t be overcome with fakeness.
“We’ve set up a little speed-dating area on the upper deck if you all want to come check it out!”
With that, the cameras cut and Daryll directs us all to head upstairs. Alex walks ahead of us, straightening his suit and tie. Yeah, the guy is wearing a suit and tie in the heat of… wherever the hell we are. Definitely somewhere tropical. The frizz in my hair is the first indicator that it’s too fucking hot to be wearing a suit.
Once we’re all upstairs, everyone is directed to take a seat at the long table set up. Girls on one side, guys on the other. Each couple gets one minute, and we have to go through the prompted questions on the cards to see if there are any “sparks” as they said. Once that minute is up, the guys stand and move on to the next girl.
I take a seat at the end, and Luna sits beside me. We both laugh as Noah and Shane sprint to sit in front of us first. I shake my head in amusement as Noah gives me an almost embarrassed grin and a shrug as the cameramen signal they’re ready, one camera on each couple as they set the time.
“Alright, first up,” Noah says as he reads one of the note cards. “If you could only eat one thing every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?”
I don’t even have to think. “Shrimp. I could literally eat it breakfast, lunch and dinner.”
He laughs. “Really?”
“Don’t judge me. What’s your favorite, something basic?”
“Pizza,” he answers confidently.
I can’t help but laugh. “Typical.”
Noah’s mouth drops in what looks like mock offense. “You mean an international delicacy enjoyed worldwide? While you chose the roaches of the sea.”
