‘But can you please wait one more day to decide?’ I beg. ‘After last night… you helped me see that getting back at Josh isn’t what will make me happy. It’s petty and desperate. Moving on and never looking back will make me happy. And that’s what I intend to do.’
He raises his eyebrows. He’s curious. He leans back in his chair and folds his arms. ‘You don’t need to go on the show for that.’
‘True, and that’s fine.’ I watch him get up. ‘But my sister and her fiancé won’t have had nearly enough alone time. Please let me stay here for a bit longer.’
‘You want a free holiday basically?’
I feel my cheeks glow. ‘I won’t get in your way. You won’t even notice I’m here. I won’t bother you at all while you are busy checking phones and… writing secret papers,’ I say, following him into the kitchen. I stand next to him as he washes his cup in the sink. ‘I’ll help with the chores.’
He has nice hands and clean, manicured nails but more importantly he is thorough with the rinsing and double-checks the cup, holding it up to make sure it is super clean.
‘Look, we even do the dishes the exact same way.’
‘Fascinating,’ he says, picking up a plate to do the same.
‘I’m a primary school teacher so I’d be good company for you.’
He nods. ‘I do have a lot on. I’m not sure how much company you think I’ll need.’
‘I’ll do all the cooking. I’ll make vegan meals if I have to. Please, just a few more days.’
I sound desperate.
‘One more day,’ he says firmly. ‘I’ll need to check in with the boss to see where we are at with the other contestants. It’s around about now that we start pulling the cast together, so I guess another day won’t hurt.’
‘Thank you. Thank you so much. You won’t regret it.’ I could give him a massive hug but settle for flashing him the biggest smile my face can make.
Cam wipes his hands dry on a cloth, neatly folding it before placing it on the bench.
‘It’s fascinating to hear behind-the-scenes stuff. I’ve always wanted to know what a TV producer does. How is it different to a director? And why are there so many executive producers and directors? And there’s always thousands of key grips listed in the credits, what the heck are they?’
He shakes his head playfully. I am already bothering him, less than a second after saying I wouldn’t.
I follow him back through to the dining table as he talks.
‘I manage both the crew on set and oversee the two hundred or so crew who live and work in the makeshift production village just outside theLove on the Islandvilla. I’m responsible for the music, the daily rushes, the monitoring of the camera hides and microphones, as well as the general welfare of the contestants, those who make it on to the show and those who don’t.’
‘Wow. That’s a lot of stuff to manage.’
Cam nods. ‘Last year one of the Islanders failed to disclose that he’d starred in some pretty graphic adult movies. It threw the opening episode into chaos.’
‘All the more reason to play it safe with me. The most interesting it ever got at my school involved a dead pigeon.’ The words are tumbling from my lips, and I am powerless to stop them. ‘And little Patrick’s stepdad has been having an affair with Geoff next door for over two years. His wife is livid about it.’
For the love of God, please refrain.
After giving me a long look, Cam picks up his phone, and after a series of clicks and pressing numbers on the keypad, he gets through to someone. I listen to him speaking fluent Spanish, an instant aphrodisiac, before he turns to me.
‘If you’re going to stay then you’ll need your things.’ He points to his phone. ‘Lost property. They think they have your luggage.’
I suppress a squeal of excitement while he finishes the call.
‘You can tell me more about this dead pigeon on the way to the airport. Let’s go.’
9
Even though I’ve only been without my things for a few days, it seems like forever, and I am desperate for fresh clothes and my familiar toiletries. I am smiling at Cameron as though I have Stockholm syndrome. He keeps shaking his head at me and grinning to himself as we drive down the secluded road, hemmed in by thick tropical rainforest on either side.
‘It seems magical, doesn’t it? As though an elephant is going to pop its head out any second,’ I gush as we speed along.