Outplayed By Love

Chapter 1 Paya

I expected Celeste to write my name down. What I didn’t expect was the coordinated wrath of the entire camp.

Steph Rhodes stands at the stone altar, her face illuminated by the summit fire pit.

She reaches into the wooden chest, where my fate in this game lies.

Her fingers wrap around the first folded parchment paper, then she turns the paper toward us, voice dropping into that familiar gameshow host tone. “Paya.”

My stomach knots staring at my name in black ink.

I know the results of tonight’s vote, yet my leg won’t stop shaking against the wooden bench.

I squeeze my eyes shut. My mind fills with memories of mine and Celeste’s time spent on this island.

Laughing through the rainy nights. The intoxicating heat of her lips against mine.

The way I completely dissolved when she moaned my name for the first time.

Now she won’t even look at me. No one will.

My price to pay for betraying everyone’s trust.

I’m sorry, I plead inside my head, glancing at her. She’s two seats away, but it feels like miles. Please, Celeste. Look at me. Anything but the boardroom face. I know she hates those meetings.

My chin trembles as my name keeps coming out of Steph’s mouth. It’s over in more ways than one. How the hell am I supposed to go back to working as Celeste’s assistant after everything we’ve done out here? I have no backup plan. No safety net.

“Paya.”

Another vote hits the smoky air. That one had a middle finger drawn next to my name.

I exhale, letting it out slowly. Exhausted is an understatement.

A trickle of sweat rolls down my spine as everyone around me leans forward.

I cover my face with my hands and tuck my chin, hiding the tears pricking my eyes.

Dread courses through me, my pulse jolts beneath my skin.

Steph pulls out another parchment slip and unfolds it. Through the dense silence, the paper’s dry, crinkling sound echoes the humid night sky.

I hold my breath.

“The next person voted out on The Final Summit is…”