Not that we could have left any earlier. I needed a glass of wine beforehand to calm my nerves.
“You ladies look lovely,” Milo says from behind us.
When I turn, I find him and Lennon coming up the path to join us.
“We thought we’d escort you if you don’t mind,” Milo continues.
He looks great in his three-piece suit. So does Lennon, whose eyes are currently locked on Bella.
“You look gorgeous,” he says to her, taking her in from head to toe.
Bella ducks her head in embarrassment as she thanks him, accepting his outstretched hand. Milo offers me his elbow, and I slide my arm through.
We walk in silence down the path, but as soon as we turn the corner, we all stop dead in our tracks. There is a huge stage erected in the middle of the lawn. Twinkle lights are strewn everywhere. There are at least twice as many cameras as normal strategically placed around the stage and people buzzing around.
Including Claudia who is stomping toward us, the click of her heels against the pavement perfectly in-sync with my heartbeat, growing louder the closer she gets.
“It’s about time,” she states firmly, glancing at her watch. “You have ten minutes before we need you on stage. There’s no time for interviews. Bella and Presley, you need to come with me to make your votes. Milo and Lennon need to go see Ed.”
Pointing across the way, Ed is currently leaning against a table, his face bright red as if he’s been yelling.
Breaking apart from our escorts, Bella and I join hands as we follow Claudia toward a tented area on the far side of the lawn. We’re each handed a black permanent marker and a piece of thick poster board roughly twice the size of standard paper and asked to write our choice in large letters.
“Make the letters big enough the cameras can see it. Once you’ve made your selection, fold it in half and keep it with you,” she explains as she hands us a list.
“What’s this?” Bella asks as I stare at the list of names I know well.
All twelve contestants.
“You can choose anyone. It doesn’t have to be Milo or Lennon. Keep in mind that in order to win the grand prize, there has to be a match.”
She walks away before we can inquire further, but I’m not done with her. I have questions, and she’s the one holding all the answers. I’m only a few feet behind her when she slips in the barn, the door closing behind her. When I attempt to open it, I find it locked.
“You’re not allowed in there, miss.”
When I turn, one of the cameramen is hurrying toward me, a security vest on instead of his usual camera propped on his shoulder.
“Why not? I have to ask Claudia a question.”
He produces a walkie-talkie and explains to whoever is on the other end that I’d like to talk to Claudia. She appears minutes later, looking irritated before I can even speak.
“What, Presley?”
“What happens if I choose Jace?”
“You can’t win. He’s not in the final two.”
“But I can pick him. There has to be a reason for that.”
“There’s a reason for everything. I need you on stage in two minutes. Get going.” She shoos me away with the flick of her wrist before disappearing back into the barn.
“Welcometo the finale of Love or Lust,” Ed says dramatically. Everyone claps, including the four of us standing on the stage. We each have the white paper in our hands, and I’m anxiously waiting to reveal to the world my choice.
Jace.
Because it almost feels like I’m winning even if I’m not. I get to announce to everyone that I choose him. He’ll know I choose him. My declaration will be out there and as scary as that is, it’s also freeing.
“Tonight is going to be a night you will never forget, but before we get to the big reveal, let’s take a look back at how we got here.” Ed motions to the big screen we’re standing in front of. The four of us turn and watch as clips from the last six weeks play. They highlight each participant in order of their departure, the clips growing longer as the weeks pass.