Andrew comes walking over and offers her some kind of smoothie. She takes it with a grateful smile as he leans down to place a kiss on her cheek. He takes a seat at her feet, and I can tell by the look on his face that even he’s still not feeling great. Goddamn, I don’t think I’ve ever gotten so fucked up so fast. Letalone stayed sick as hell. Whatever brands they were pouring, they weren’t for the weak.
“Probably for the best that none of us do. I doubt Angel can breathe out of her nose yet,” Courtney murmurs against my chest.
“Or Connor for that matter,” I add.
Not only did the booze fuck us all up, it was like all of our inhibitions were lowered instantly. Hence the fucking chaos that ensued.
“Hey, lovers! Did you miss me?” Alex shouts from the other side of the pool.
“Christ,” I grumble under my breath as Courtney whines against me.
“Nooo. What’s it going to take to never see this guy again?”
“Getting sent home?” Andrew offers.
Courtney shoots him a narrow-eyed look, and he shrugs in response.
“Come on, everyone over to the main patio,” one of the women says, gesturing for everyone to hurry up.
We all get up, not quickly by any means as we make our way to where production wants us. It’s one of the first times I’ve seen Angel since that night, and goddamn, Bella kicked the shit out of her. Her nose is black and blue, as is one of her eyes, and there are scratch marks down both her cheeks. Bella escaped more or less unscathed, but Connor’s nose is still swollen. When he tries to take a step closer to Bella, she takes a step away. Again and again until he finally gives up.
They line up to begin filming, then someone makes a hand gesture and several people pop out of the goddamn bushes, I swear, rushing to touch up Angel’s makeup and cover up Connor’s bruises. After a minute or two, they shake their heads, and the woman sighs.
“Fuck it, we’ll handle it in retouch. Let’s go.”
“It’s good to see you all,” Alex says, smiling. “Some of you definitely look a little worse for wear. Angel, how are you feeling?”
She tries to smile but winces when it grows too big. “I’m doing well, Alex.”
Alex nods like he doesn’t believe her. “And you, Mason? I know that was a hard night for you and Bella.”
Mason nods stiffly. “I’m fine.”
Alex and the camera focus in on Mason for just a little longer, waiting to see if he’ll break or something. He doesn’t, though. He stands there like a statue, and eventually they move on to Bella and Connor.
“Connor, that nose looks a little rough. Mind explaining from your side what happened?”
He shakes his head before giving a quick shrug. “I got fucked up and made a mistake.”
“So Angel was a mistake?” Alex pries.
“Absolutely,” Connor says without hesitation.
“Bella, how do you feel hearing that?” Alex says, turning to face her.
She shrugs like she couldn’t care less. “I think the only mistake here is that Mason and I picked the wrong fucking people. If we had the option, I think we’d definitely choose different.”
Mason nods in agreement, and Alex looks surprised as he glances between the two couples.
“So are you saying you’d switch partners if given the opportunity? Maybe with each other?”
Bella considers Mason before shrugging. “Why the hell not? He’s pretty to look at, and I know he can knock a bitch out,” she says, aiming a disgusted snarl at Connor.
Connor doesn’t react beyond lowering his head. Holy shit.The drama is too much. The viewers are probably eating this shit up, though.
“Well, you never know what this competition will bring. You just may get your wish,” Alex says. “For today’s challenge, we all know the quickest way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, right, ladies?”
The girls all nod—whether they believe it or not, it’s what’s expected of them.
