Drake attempts to help me back up, but I can’t seem to get my balance.
“I need to take the blindfold off. I think I’m going to puke,” I finally say, overwhelmed with dizziness.
The blindfold is ripped from my head, but I keep my eyes closed as I lurch to the side, my stomach expelling the coffee I had for breakfast. When I finally sit back up, there’s a bottle of water being handed to me and Jace is crouched down in front of me. He dabs at my mouth with a napkin as I take a sip of water.
My eyes don’t leave his as he slips my feet out of the heels and tosses them aside. Two strong hands wrap around me, lifting me off the ground. Once I’m on my feet and steady, I turn to find Drake behind me, Lennon next to him, and everyone else behind them.
Wow! I’ve made a fool of myself. Just great.
Ed’s standing off to the side shaking his head as if I did it on purpose. What an ass.
“Forfeit?” Drake asks, whispering in my ear. I nod my head once, and he hands me off to Lennon before walking over to talk to Ed.
“You gave us a scare, you know that?” Lennon asks, wrapping his arm around my waist protectively.
“Well, I just wanted to keep you on your toes, that’s all,” I attempt to joke, but as I look from him to Jace and back again, I can see they don’t find my comment humorous.
Once we’re all back together in the barn, Ed congratulates us on a job well done for the week. They’re hosting an Olympic-themed party tonight at the pool, where they are going to explain how things are going to work for our first official vote tomorrow.
Once we’re released for the afternoon, I start gathering my things when I realize I don’t have my heels. Jace is dangling them in front of me but when I try to take them, he pulls them back and grabs my hand instead.
“I think I’ll walk you back to your villa. Make sure you don’t fall over again,” he states, giving my hand a little squeeze.
“I can walk, you know. It’s just harder when I’m in two-inch heels and blindfolded on the grass. Not something I’ve practiced before.” I sound defensive when, I should be grateful he cares.
“Why are you trying to kill my excuse for getting you alone?”
Oh, that’s what he’s doing? My bad.
“Do you really need an excuse?” I tease.
“No, but I wanted to make sure I got to you before Lennon did. The bastard keeps stealing you away when I’m not looking.”
“And so, what... you wanted to one-up him? Is that what this is?” Raising an eyebrow at my comment, Jace doesn’t respond, he only smirks.
It’s not until we reach my door that he finally breaks the silence.
“If he wasn’t here, you would already be mine. I know that for a fact. I see the way you look at me. It’s the same way I look at you. But he is here, and that’s where things get tricky because you two are looking at each other too. It’s different, though. I think, sometimes, it’s more. The way you look at him. It makes me wonder if I even have a chance.”
Is it more? The way I look at Lennon? Or is Jace seeing things because he’s afraid of losing?
“A chance? Jace, you are amazing. Handsome, sweet, sexy. I’d be an idiot not to give you a chance, but that doesn’t mean I’m not giving someone else one as well.” I don’t have to say Lennon’s name for him to know exactly who I’m talking about. “I have no idea how this is going to go, but I won’t lie. If you stopped trying, I’d be disappointed.”
“Presley,” he says, grabbing my hips and pulling me close so his forehead rests against mine. “I’m a great many things, but the one thing I’m not is a quitter.”