Shit. What show was Chris Gregory on?
‘It’s not Chris Gregory,’ Murray said.
Thank God.
‘Here’s what’s going to happen,’ Murray said. ‘Listen up. That means you, Lily.’
‘What is it that makes you think I’m not listening?’ Lily said, batting her eyelashes and leaning her chin on his shoulder. ‘I’m starting to think you don’t like me.’
Yep, I was definitely staying away from her. Everyone who’d watched any season ofMarry Me, Julietknew that getting into shit with the villain was the quickest way to get eliminated.
Murray ignored her. ‘In about five minutes, we’re going to pull up in the driveway,’ he said. ‘You’ll stay in the limo until I say you can get out. Say what you need to say to the Romeo, but make it quick. We have to film this whole thing – all the entrances, the First Night Party and the Necklace Ceremony – while it’s still dark, so we don’t have time for you to take forever.’
‘Isn’t the First Night Party usually filmed over a couple of nights?’ the tall Polynesian woman on the other side of Amanda asked. She’d been introduced as Dylan G, so there was clearly another Dylan somewhere in one of the other limos.
‘Usually, yes,’ Murray said. ‘But we can’t take you back out of the Juliet Villa once we put you in because of the bubble, so this year we have to get it all in one. Get in, get out, be memorable. The Romeo’s meeting fifteen girls tonight, so if he can’t remember your name, he’s probably going to cut you.’
‘How many is he cutting tonight?’ Heather asked.
‘Z will tell you that before the Necklace Ceremony,’ Murray said. ‘Remember: when Z comes back into the First Night Party, the party ends. Because we have to film everythingtonight, the party is going to be much shorter than it would normally be, so take your chances. If you haven’t taken the Romeo aside by the time the party ends, chances are you’ll get cut because he won’t remember you.’
‘Do you really think someone could forget me, Murray?’ Lily said.
‘Yes,’ Murray said. ‘Some of the Romeos we’ve had have been pretty dense.’
Ouch.
‘You’ve been working on this show for a few seasons, right, Murray?’ Amanda asked. ‘Do you have any tips? Apart from making him remember us?’
‘Just don’t get too drunk,’ Murray said. ‘And try not to fall in the pool with your mic pack on. They’re expensive.’
The radio on his belt made a squawking noise, and he touched his finger to his headset. ‘Right. We’re approaching the property. One of our guys is going to open the door. Dylan G, you’re out first.’
Dylan G nodded. ‘Right.’
The radio squawked again. A furrow appeared between Murray’s brows. ‘Shit, really?’
‘Really what?’ I asked.
‘Brief Z,’ Murray said, not hearing – or choosing not to hear – me. ‘Give me half an hour to get my girls through intros, and I’ll come and troubleshoot.’
‘Brief Z about what?’ I asked.
Gravel crunched under the car tyres as we pulled to a stop. ‘We’re here,’ Murray said. ‘Get ready, Dylan.’
‘I’m ready,’ she replied. ‘And it’s “women”.’
‘What?’
‘You called us “girls”,’ Dylan G said, gesturing to his radio. ‘It’s women. We’re all adult women.’
I expected him to roll his eyes, or shake his head, or be like,Whatever, just shut up and do what I say, but Murray just nodded. ‘You’re right. Sorry about that. Bad habit. You good to go?’
Dylan G squared her shoulders. ‘Yes.’
‘Open the door,’ he said into his headset.
The door opened. The skirt of Dylan G’s green sequinned dress got caught on something, but Amanda unhooked it before it could rip. The car door slammed behind her.
