Chapter Twenty-Two
Talia embraced the artificial light of the villa hallway the same way she embraced the first sip of a morning coffee.
.. with enthusiasm. She glanced up at the woven capiz-shell chandeliers and smiled as the soft, pearly light shone on her face.
Then she stole a look sideways at Sabine, who was walking in step beside her, her face dreamy and completely at ease.
The bangka had dropped them off at the pier ten minutes ago, and although Talia had expected an entourage of people to guide them back to their rooms in the pre- and post-show villa, she was glad it was just the two of them. More than glad, frankly. Ecstatic.
But did they really have to think about it now?
No, Talia decided. This moment was reserved for blissful ignorance of a potentially disastrous future.
For now, they were just Talia and Sabine who had refused to advance to The Sending and were probably the only Outlast Her contestants who would ever give up their chance of winning and get voted out with an advantage in their pockets.
Although it was too soon to tell, considering it was only the first season.
“What’s the first thing you’re going to do when you get back to Seattle?
” Talia asked, stepping in just a little closer.
She didn’t want to be too touchy-feely now that everything was out in the open.
On the boat, they’d sat with their knees together, Talia’s head resting on Sabine’s shoulder, but that was then.
Talia didn’t want Sabine to know just yet that her love language was physical touch.
Although she suspected Sabine already knew. “And don’t say go to the hospital.”
Sabine chuckled and tangled their fingers together. Talia then swung their hands forward like they were in a cheesy romance movie. “I don’t know,” Sabine said, her voice light and airy. “I guess it depends on when my flight arrives. Maybe order a pizza and sit on the sofa watching Big Bang Theory.”
“Really?” Talia asked. “Big Bang Theory? I didn’t expect that at all.”
Sabine laughed louder. “Most people don’t,” she said, smiling. “I’ve watched all twelve seasons at least four times, and I believe the show got exponentially better when Bernadette and Amy were introduced into the cast. What are your plans?”
Talia had already considered this, though she was torn between two options.
One would include heading straight to the bar, putting in her notice, and then booking a one-way plane ticket to Seattle.
The other option was slower and involved catching up on life the same way she would’ve done if she hadn’t met Sabine.
Laundry, errands, dinners with friends and family.
The second option seemed responsible and sensible.
Besides, she loved Boulder. She loved Colorado.
Moving out of state for a woman was crazy.
Wasn’t it? And yet, she felt herself leaning toward that idea.
“I think I should probably give my sister a massive hug and finally confess what I did with her baby blue blouse I borrowed three years ago.” Talia smiled and squeezed Sabine’s fingers. “I owe her.”
“How so?”
“She was the reason I entered the show.”
“Ladies,” Elise appeared as if out of nowhere and greeted them. “Hi,” she said, her voice cheery, though for some reason Talia felt her stomach knot like a pretzel.
Elise was the executive producer. It didn’t matter that she was so short Talia could look down on her head, or that she was wearing a thin leather headband holding curls out of her face, or that she was in black linen overalls over a white crew-neck T-shirt and wore a pair of glittering white Common Projects sneakers.
The woman exuded an importance that came with the title.
“Congratulations,” she said with a wink that made Talia’s stomach unknot but then do an immediate cartwheel.
Talia suspected no contestant voted off had ever gotten congratulations, so either there was trouble coming or Elise loved a good love story.
“Honestly, I did not see that coming. But I guess romance blooms in even the most unexpected places.” She smiled and Talia let out a breath.
Sabine’s fingers, which had momentarily tightened earlier, loosened their grip.
“I’m sorry,” Sabine said. “I didn’t mean to make such a—”
“Don’t be sorry,” Elise interrupted, looking almost offended that Sabine even apologized.
“Everyone’s already buzzing about this. Our post-production team is combing through footage as we speak to see if they can spot the brief moments you two had together.
Though I suspect your sneaking around was quite impeccable.
” She winked again, and Talia felt oddly proud at the compliment.
Yes, they’d put a lot of effort into sneaking around.
“And the network is thrilled too,” Elise went on.
“Early analytics show viewers are going to eat this up. They’ll absolutely love it.
” She laughed, a quick, bright sound that bounced off the walls.
“I loved it. It wasn’t exactly my plan for the first season of Outlast Her, but it might end up being the best twist we’ll ever have.
I just wish you two could’ve stayed longer in the game. ”
“Us too,” Sabine said.
Talia wished she agreed, but she didn’t.
She’d rather be here with Sabine than back out there sleeping on bumpy bamboo poles, hoping something long-legged didn’t crawl over her face, and then waking up tomorrow to beans and rice when all her stomach craved was oily eggs and bacon and a strong cup of coffee.
This, she thought, was freedom. Warm, dizzying, electrifying freedom.
Elise lowered her voice a smidge. Talia caught her twisting that gorgeous ring around her finger.
“If you want a little tip from someone who spent a great deal of time around reality TV romances, let the quiet moments count. Most of the time they’re the ones you’re going to miss the most.” Then she smiled and twirled a hand through the air like she was going to grant a wish.
“Well, that’s enough from me,” she said and stepped past them.
Talia glanced back over her shoulder, but all she caught were Elise’s curls as she disappeared around the corner.
“That was unexpected,” Sabine said when she caught Talia’s eye.
Talia couldn’t agree more. “It was,” she said. “I wonder what everyone is doing back at camp.” It wasn’t so much what they were doing, but rather what they were saying. “Do you think they were shocked? You know, by us?”
Sabine dropped Talia’s hand. For a moment, Talia thought that Sabine was pulling back, but then she skimmed her hands down Talia’s sides toward her hips. “Knowing Charlize, she is probably going through every event and non-event trying to find some or other sign.”
“Do you think Charlize convinced everyone to go against us?” Talia asked, though even as the words left her mouth she knew it wasn’t Charlize. Or Connie. Or even Monique or Amy.
The only person capable of such a blindside was dear Isla with that faux French accent.
“If Isla wins this game, I’ll jump into Lake Union in the middle of winter,” Sabine said with a deadpan expression before she laughed. She then slid her fingers beneath Talia’s top.
They were cool against her skin, though coolness wasn’t the reason for the goosebumps. Nope. It was nearness. Sabine stood so close that Talia could feel her breath on her nose.
“I’m putting my money on Lucia,” Talia whispered back. It felt almost illegal to speak louder than a whisper when they were this close. “I think she’s going to win.”
“Lucia?”
“Yes,” Talia said, nodding. “She’s the underdog. The person no one notices until the very end, and then she wows everyone with her impressive ability to stay under the radar. If there’s a jury, though I’m not sure if there is, I’d vote for her.”
Sabine laughed properly now. Her head tilted back. When she looked Talia in the eye again, Talia placed her hands on Sabine’s cheeks, which were still cool and slightly flushed from the boat ride. “What do you say you spend the night in my room?”
Sabine encircled Talia’s neck. “Do you have something in mind?” she asked, her teal eyes bright and magnificent. “You know, if I spend the night?”
Talia leaned in, closing the last bit of open space between them, and pressed her mouth to Sabine’s. She didn’t kiss her, not yet. Instead, she muttered softly against her mouth. “I have several things in mind.” And she did, all of which involved no clothes and a gush of hot running water.
“Well, then I can’t think of a better place to be.”
“You can also fly back to Boulder with me tomorrow,” Talia added, though she knew she was pushing it. Spending a night together wasn’t exactly the same thing as picking up their entire lives and weaving them together like two rivers meeting. But it was a start.
“We can talk about that tomorrow,” Sabine muttered, pulling back her lips just enough to kiss Talia on the nose. Then her right eyebrow, then her left. “Right now, there’s something else I’d rather do.”
“And what’s that?” Talia asked.
“This,” Sabine said, slipping one hand between Talia’s thighs. And Talia’s entire body jolted like she’d been electrocuted. Except electrocution hurt and this felt dangerously good. Good enough that she nearly ruined everything by blurting, “I love you.”
“I love you,” Sabine said, unexpectedly.
“Seriously?” Talia asked, not sure why she was this surprised.
Or why she was asking Sabine if she was serious when all Talia really should have been doing was reciprocating the sentiment.
Before Sabine could say a single word, Talia quickly added, “I love you too. I wanted to say it like right before you said it, but then I thought it was too soon and maybe you’d be scared off, and the last thing I want is for you to think I’m—”
“Talia,” Sabine interrupted.
“Yes?”
“Stop talking and kiss me.”