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“Don’t men usually pay for everything on dates? Aren’t we breaking some sort of archaic rule?” I asked, raising an eyebrow and feeling accomplished as I watched her mouth tick up in a small smile.
“Well, we’re definitely not usual, are we?” Sadie answered wryly, raising an eyebrow.
Amelia announced loudly that the cameras were now rolling, and everyone sat up straight on the couch, fixing their clothes and plastering on their smiles. Sadie pulled off the beanie she was wearing and smoothed down her hair quickly, leaning against the arm of the couch. From the sweaty hands she swiped over her jeans, I could tell she had most likely never been on camera before. I wondered how she was going to fare with camera crews following us around. I made a silent vow to myself to give her a few pointers. With my father’s wealth came the unavoidable interviews and family segments that were just the two of us sitting uncomfortably in the studio while my father answered predictable questions. I was instantly bored by the camera and I sat back on the couch, already ready to leave the studio and go back home. Many names were called, the same as they were yesterday, and Sadie tapped her foot very quickly on the tiled floor, waiting nervously as the host continued down the list of names. I had no idea why she was so apprehensive. It wasn’t as if it were the first time we were meeting. Though I wondered if it was the camera and the thought of being on television that seemed to scare her, and quickly decided that I was right when she tensed as the camera panned over to us.
“Last, but certainly not least in the lineup of would-be winners, Connor Lennox and Sadie Harlow!” Rick exclaimed brightly, pointing at us where we sat awkwardly on the couch.
Sadie jumped a little at the sound of her name and without really even thinking about it, I squeezed her fingers where the cameras couldn't see our hands intertwined. She relaxed slowly after a moment without even looking at me, and I released her fingers then, taking a deep breath to steady myself. I squeezed my fingers into my palm afterward, wondering why I had even touched her hand at all. I touched her like we knew one another, and we didn’t. Once the segment was over for all of us on the contestant’s couch, Amelia rushed over to the staging area again, holding her clipboard. “Alrighty. Now then, each of the selected couples will be assigned their very own cameraman to document their experiences in their faux relationships and the happenings within them. Each of the selected cameramen will report back to the producers, and we’ll do weekly meetings at the studio where couples will be cut and eventually Games of Love is completed,” Amelia told us all brightly. I sighed in boredom as she continued to talk in her chirpy voice. “If you choose to live in your current homes during this process, you’re certainly free to move in together whenever you choose, though if any of the couples wish to live in the studio’s apartment complex to be closer to the show’s headquarters, the move-in date has been pushed to three days from now due to electrical issues inside of the individual apartments. Filming in the studio again will begin on that same day. And that’s it for today I think, you guys. Thanks so much for joining us here. Have a wonderful rest of your day and stay safe!”
Amelia flounced happily away to speak to one of the producers and I shook my head. Three days from now would be the move-in date? That wouldn’t do. I had told my father, stupidly, that he would be able to meet Sadie tomorrow. Everything was going to come crashing down around me if I didn’t do something about it, and quickly. My father would for sure be able to see right through the cracks in our fake relationship and realize that I was lying to him about everything else. It wouldn’t be a good look for me, especially since my father had never believed in me in the first place. I wasn’t sure what exactly I should do about it though. I had assumed we would be living in the studio’s little apartment and my mind was whirring with the thought of my father’s disappointment. I hadn’t come this far in this little ruse and fought completely against my better judgment just to have it all be for nothing.
I decided right then and there, looking over at Sadie where she was slowly tugging her hat back down over her fragile-looking ears. She glanced over at me with her eyebrows pulled together and I hesitated for a moment. I knew that if I wanted my father to truly believe that we were actually together, I would have to make certain sacrifices in my own personal life. Sadie raised her eyebrows at me in question, obviously waiting for me to say something to her, and I cleared my throat and willed my next words to be strong.
