Day 39
My mind is still reelingafter my date with Lennon last night. His words have been on replay since I brushed all my clothes off my bed, into a pile on the floor, and crawled under the covers.
My heart chose Jace.
I had no say in the matter.
Thinking back, it happened slowly. The first time we met, I was intrigued by him. His good looks. The mystery that surrounded him. I wanted to know more. Everything about him. I was fascinated by every fact I learned, which only fed into wanting to know even more. We formed a friendship.
Sure, we kissed. He held my hand and flirted with me.
But it was more than that. I respected him. Trusted him. Confided in him.
Then I started to catch feelings. So did he. I wanted to spend all my time with him and only him.
In my eyes, he was amazing. The way he treated me was beyond expectations. The way he treated everyone as if they mattered. Even Teegan and Courtney when they didn’t deserve it. He treated them with the respect they demanded but didn’t deserve.
I admired that about him.
It’s part of why I fell in love with him. Part of why the fire between us burned so brightly. Because of the person he is.
Caring, kind, considerate. To all those around him.
And when that fire sparked, nothing was going to stop us from burning the entire ranch down.
Looking around the room as I drink my coffee, I take in all the beautiful roses that surround me and am reminded of their meanings. Mystery, fascination, friendship, admiration, and passion.
The story of our relationship. Of its growth.
Our very own love story.
There may not be a bouquet of red roses anywhere in this room, but there doesn’t need to be. The flowers as a whole represent our love, the path we traversed to get to where we are right now.
We may not be together at the moment, but we will be when this is all over. I don’t doubt that in the slightest.
And I hope he knows that.
But just to be sure...
Pulling out my phone, I shoot Jace a text that I know will go unanswered.
ME: Thank you for the flowers. We wrote a beautiful love story, and I can’t wait to see where this journey takes us next.
After we returned to the ranch last night, Lennon and I curled up in the game room and turned on the latest John Wick movie. He held me close and spoke in hushed tones about what he found in the contracts we signed. The majority of our conversation over dinner was about Jace, even though I tried to change the subject on multiple occasions.
The contract won’t allow for any contact with contestants after you’ve been eliminated. That’s why none of us have heard from Jace. Even if he could contact us, he wouldn’t be allowed to divulge why he was eliminated.
When I asked him how Jace was able to send me flowers, he just smiled and changed the subject.
It was obvious Lennon knew more than he was willing to share with me. Information that would probably get him in a bit of trouble. But, knowing him, he is within the confines of his contract. He found a loophole. One he’s probably opening wider and wider with every move he makes.
I only hope it doesn’t backfire on him. That he’s as good of a lawyer as he seems to be.
Because I couldn’t see any holes in the contract. And I read through it multiple times looking for them after Jace didn’t return.
Milo is standingin my kitchen, arms crossed over his chest, pouting like a child. Rain is pounding against the roof of the villa and has been for the last two hours. His plans for our date tonight are on hold until it stops.
Or so he says.