Love or Lust (LOL): Part 1

“Care to share what has you distracted? My guess would be either Jace or Lennon since you were staring at the two of them. You didn’t even blink when they waved.”

Was I? And I got caught? Oops.

“I wasn’t actually staring at anyone. I was inside my own head, thinking. It can be dangerous from time to time,” I joke, turning so he can see my smile.

“Hmmm. Sounds legit but I also know those two have a thing for you, and I feel like it’s reciprocated.”

“Do you?” I ask, raising an eyebrow at him in challenge.

“Let me give you a view from the outside while we wait,” he begins, reaching behind him to grab a bean bag, then tossing it up in the air as he talks. “Milo and Natasha are already banging. They think it’s a secret, but I’m fairly certain everyone knows except the producers. Gage is always pissed off because whichever one he wants doesn’t return the feelings. Drake would take any one of you girls to bed, or all of you if it was an option, though I think he has a thing for Kyra but is afraid to scare her.”

“Really?” I interrupt, excited for Kyra.

“Pay attention, Presley. You learn more about people by watching their actions than listening to their words. Anyway, Teegan and Courtney are interested in Jace. They spend all day talking about him and watching his every move. But Jace only has eyes for you, and so does Lennon. Though, I think Bella would happily jump in Jace’s bed if he showed her even an ounce of interest. And you... you can’t decide who you want to play with. I think you want them both but realize that’s not how life works, and you seem to be a rather strong woman with good values. I don’t think you’d string them both along.”

“I wouldn’t,” I reply defensively even though he just said he didn’t see me in that light.

“I know but I want you to think about something. This show is a mind-fuck, but at the core, it could really be helpful for your current predicament. You’re meant to date both of them, to kiss them, to get close to them. It’s not cheating if you’re not committed. And until you decide who wins your heart, you need to give them both a chance.”

He sounds like Naomi. Good God. I should introduce them.

“What about you, Callen? Who’s on your radar?”

“Honestly, I don’t think I’m connecting with anyone here yet. Do I have fun? Sure. Am I easy to get along with? I’d like to think so. Still, at the end of the day, the type of person I’m looking for I don’t think I’m going to find here. No offense.”

“None taken. When this is all said and done, there’s someone I’d like to introduce you to. If you don’t find love, that is.”

“I may take you up on that. Right now, we have a game to play. A tournament to win. And since you sound a little too coherent, you need another drink if that’s what it takes to beat everyone.” Callen stands and moves toward the bar before stopping and looking over his shoulder at me. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you make it back to your villa alone tonight.”

How did he even know I was thinking about that? He really is intuitive or one hell of a mind reader.

Ed pulls us all together and gives one of his fake, upbeat speeches for the cameras before disappearing as the games begin. There are three stations set up. Callen and I are in the middle playing against Gage and Kyra. Jace and Natasha are facing off against Teegan and Drake on our right. To our left, Lennon and Bella are taking on Milo and Courtney.

The shit-talk between the guys is already heating up. They’re taking side bets. The stakes are as high as a hundred dollars to the winner of each round and five hundred to the final winning team.

“You don’t have to put in fifty if you don’t want to. The guys were already talking about this earlier this morning over breakfast,” Callen tells me when he asks if I want in.

Breakfast. The one meal I avoid like the plague even though I’m invited every day. Some of the girls go, but mainly it’s a guy thing, and I don’t want to be the only one there. Plus, I really enjoy sleeping in as long as I can. I’m not used to being up all hours of the night, and since being here, I can’t remember a night I’ve gone to bed at a decent time.

Plus, if my options are staying up drinking and having fun without cameras directly in my face or eating early in the morning while I’m being watched, I’ll take late nights over early mornings any day of the week.

“I can go half with you,” I offer. “In fact, I have a great idea. Why don’t we make a side bet for the second round?”

“We have to win first,” he notes, nodding his head across the lawn at where Gage is giving Kyra pointers. She looks terrified even though he has a smile on his face.

Oh, hell.

“How would you feel about throwing the game?” I lean in close and ask, covering my mouth in case anyone attempts to read my lips.

“What? Why?”

“Because Kyra is the most sensitive person here, and if Gage loses, he’s probably going to flip his shit on her. The last thing I want is for her to break down and cry in front of everyone.”

He thinks it over for a second before nodding in agreement. “As long as you’re not worried about winning immunity.”

“If I go home, I go home. I’d rather spare her feelings if possible.”

“You really are a great person, you know that? I can see why Jace and Lennon want to fight for you.”