Chapter 7
Oliver
Six Weeks until Finale
As promised, he got a date a few days after his interview with Paige.
He had been trying to get to know Zoe more without attracting Declan’s attention, and he thought it had been going well.
Between a short conversation where he’d complimented how nicely she’d matched her make-up to her outfit – something Will swore girls put effort into – and her calling him funny after he’d made what he thought was a rather serious observation on the current state of the internet, Oliver considered his luck to be picking up.
‘Oliver,’ Darcy said, as those sprawled around the garden gathered around, ‘looks like you’ll be getting another chance at love.
Take the Lover of your choosing on a date, and remember: hope floats.
Ta for now!’
He looked at Zoe, standing to his left.
‘What do you say, Zoe?’
Zoe hesitated for only a moment before replying, ‘Love to!’
‘Great,’ Oliver said, trying not to look at Declan.
Zoe and Oliver walked towards the villa, the cameramen and contestants trailing behind for the pre-date ritual of pep talks and wardrobe advice.
Oliver thought he could feel Declan’s eyes boring into the back of his skull.
When he looked over his shoulder to confirm his suspicions, Oliver’s mouth went dry.
Only Declan could make baby-blue eyes look so murderous.
They would have been pretty in any other context.
The girls headed upstairs as the boys spread across the bedroom.
Oliver had his limited wardrobe memorised and could probably get dressed in his sleep, but show mechanics dictated that the other boys have their say.
‘Which shirt?’ Oliver asked Niall, rifling through his suitcase.
In the corner of his vision, he saw Paige talking to Declan.
‘The white and green one, with the leaf print. That’s your best,’ Niall replied, studying the disorganised inside of Oliver’s suitcase with mild horror.
‘Right you are,’ Oliver agreed, stripping his shirt off and buttoning the new one.
As he turned to show off the end result, Declan was standing in front of him.
One of his intimidation tactics must have been wearing less and less clothing as the show progressed; today he wore only an indecently short pair of swim trunks.
Oliver swallowed. ‘Wishing me luck?’
Declan glared at him, his jaw becoming impossibly sharper as he clenched it.
‘Look, mate, I get it, I stole your girl and now you want revenge.’ He puffed his chest out a little, crossing his arms in a way Oliver thought was meant to emphasise an impressive set of muscles.
‘But Zoe and I are sound; there’s no splitting us up.’
Everything Declan did was more and more infuriating.
He was only talking to Oliver now because he had strayed into his territory by asking Zoe out.
Otherwise, he would have continued to pretend that he blended perfectly into the floor.
‘Well, if you and Zoe are so sound ,’ Oliver said, ‘why was she flirting with me all week?’
It was an exaggeration, but Paige was standing behind Declan, a cameraman at her side, and he was trying to remember what she had told him about drama.
If he wanted to win, maybe feeling ridiculous was a part of the process.
Declan blinked. ‘Oh, I see,’ he said, gaze turning sharp, ‘you’re delusional.
Well, that explains it, then.’
‘Let’s see who feels delusional when Zoe has her chance to pick,’ Oliver said, trying his best to mirror Declan’s signature cocky grin.
Declan’s eyes narrowed.
‘I’m looking forward to it,’ he said, his expression mocking.
‘And may the best man win.’ He put out his hand, and Oliver, in some mild state of shock, shook it.
As he pulled his hand away, Paige gestured to the cameraman and Oliver watched them move to catch a shot of Zoe and the girls in the hall.
He looked back to Declan, bracing himself for the other man’s anger, but found none.
Declan’s face was relaxed, his expression oddly blank.
Utterly bewildered by the altercation, Oliver tried not to dwell on it when he met Zoe in front of the villa and they were escorted to a white van.
The ride was short, ending in front of a dock with a small yacht bobbing off its side.
Zoe gave a whoop of excitement.
Brian pointed at the unattached microphone packs in his hand and gestured them out of the car.
‘First, you need these.’ After their mics were on, he continued, ‘Let’s get that initial shot again.
Zoe, you’ve just seen the boat.
This is the most exciting moment of your life.’
His tone was entirely deadpan, and Oliver had no idea if he was joking or not.
Zoe, however, nodded animatedly and waited for a cue before re-enacting her excitement.
Brian gave a thumbs-up.
‘I love boats,’ Zoe said to Oliver.
At Brian’s signal, they started down the dock.
‘I’ve never been on one,’ Oliver admitted, taking a hesitant step onto the yacht.
This seemed like the most shocking piece of news that had ever been delivered to Zoe.
‘Never?’ she asked, eyes wide.
‘How come?’
He focused on her face as the engine roared to life.
‘I manage to stay busy enough – I don’t have much time off work.’
‘Oh,’ she said, nodding.
‘I totally get that. I feel like I’m constantly working, but since I’m in Brighton, the beach is close by.
It’s a great backdrop for my peaceful yoga meditation videos.’
‘That sounds nice,’ he said, managing to keep a straight face as he glanced off the port side.
‘I’ll have to try one out sometime.’
Brian handed them a champagne bottle and glasses, gesturing for them to lie out on the bow.
‘Cheers,’ Oliver said, and Zoe smiled again as the cameraman stepped even closer to them to catch their glasses clinking.
The situation was getting claustrophobic, but he took a deep breath and ploughed on: ‘I’m glad I got the chance to ask you on this date.’
‘Oh yeah?’ she asked, looking up at him through thick, dark lashes.
‘I was disappointed that we didn’t get to hang out more before Declan chose me.’
‘Exactly! I think we have great potential,’ he said.
‘I fancied you like mad as soon as I saw you in the villa that first day and I admire your work ethic as a fitness coach.’ He grinned at her, feeling like a complete idiot.
Zoe giggled. ‘You’re not so bad yourself.
And I’m glad you acknowledge how difficult my career is.
A lot of men undermine what I do, but managing a brand is difficult work.’
There was a beat of silence.
‘So, you also run a brand?’ Oliver asked finally.
She rolled her eyes.
‘ I am the brand.’
‘Right, so, you manage yourself?’ He’d meant it as a joke, but he could tell by Zoe’s flared nostrils that it hadn’t landed.
She pasted on a smile.
‘And I do it excellently. I just hit 250,000 followers on Instagram.’
Even Oliver knew that was a lot.
‘Wow, that’s impressive.’
When he didn’t continue to congratulate her, Zoe glanced to the side for direction.
Brian took a step forwards – now fully wedged between them – and grabbed the bottle of champagne, pouring them fresh glasses and looking like he would rather drown himself in the bottle than continue to watch their date.
‘Zoe,’ Brian muttered, ‘you could ask Oliver about his job, his hobbies…’ He trailed off and gave her a pleading look before stepping back.
‘So,’ Zoe said, her voice suddenly lower and more flirtatious, ‘what’s a guy like you do in his free time?’
Oliver paused for too long and Brian facepalmed.
‘I, uh, volunteer as a dance instructor for kids who come from areas with fewer arts resources.’ It was the only hobby Oliver had ever had, but he hoped Zoe wouldn’t ask him anything about it.
When he’d started, he and Sophie had been co-teachers.
‘Oh! That’s nice,’ she said, leaning in.
‘That’s actually one of the reasons I started my channel.
Wellness shouldn’t be only for the rich.
Having all my videos available online means anyone, anywhere can get fit if they want to.’
‘Right, it’s wonderful to see the kids connect with something that’s such a big part of me.’
She gave him such an unexpectedly earnest look that he continued, ‘I was one of them, once. My first ballet instructor’s encouragement is the only reason I have the career I do, and I want to be that source of support for them.’
‘You must like kids,’ Zoe said.
He nodded. ‘Love ’em.’
‘I have a younger sister,’ she said, her face lighting up.
‘She’s four years old, and she’s so much cooler than me already.
Do you have siblings?’
‘Two older sisters and a younger brother. We’re not really close…’
he said hesitantly, not wanting to explain that he and his siblings had never had a thing in common, ‘but I love kids.’
She smiled.
‘Well, we agree there.’
‘All right,’ Brian said, startling them into remembering that he was still only a foot away.
‘We certainly got something that can air on television, anyway. Let’s move on to B-roll.’
When Oliver and Zoe returned to the villa that evening, they found Niall and Stella cuddling on a daybed and Callum and Poppy having a splash-fight in the pool, with the rest of the contestants out of view.
Zoe turned to him. ‘Great date today,’ she said perkily.
‘I’m going to head inside.
I usually do my daily affirmations around sunset.’
He wasn’t sure what a daily affirmation was, but he didn’t know if he cared to find out either.
‘Er… great. I’ll see you later?’
She nodded and headed off towards the villa.
As he watched her go, anxiety crept in – the date hadn’t gone terribly, but it certainly wasn’t the roaring success he and Paige had been hoping for.
And then there was the problem of Declan, and how Oliver could pursue Zoe with him constantly around.
As soon as Oliver’s thoughts turned to Declan, he seemed to materialise in the corner of his vision, sitting with a group of contestants under the pergola.
Oliver took a step in Niall and Stella’s direction then turned, resigned, towards the pergola at Paige’s warning look.
‘All right?’ he greeted, and Maeve made room for him next to her on the swing.
Jack grinned, eyebrows raised as he looked between Maeve and Oliver.
‘So… no new missus, then?’
Oliver didn’t want to talk about it in front of Declan, who was giving him another inscrutable look.
‘She’s in the house, doing her daily affirmations.’
‘I thought we weren’t allowed to masturbate,’ Holly quipped, and Imogen laughed too loudly, throwing a wide smile to Jack.
Maeve snorted, but turned it into a conceivable coughing noise.
‘Be more obvious, why don’t you?’
she muttered, too quietly for anyone but Oliver to hear.
Jack looked like he was going to ask what she had said, but Holly cut in first: ‘We’ve been trying to have such a dull conversation that the producers will have trouble listening to it later,’ she said.
‘Why?’ Oliver asked, puzzled.
‘We’re bored out of our minds,’ Declan said, finally meeting his eye.
As always, his gaze was unnerving.
‘It’s payback time.’
Oliver couldn’t figure Declan out; the man sitting across from him didn’t seem at all like the one that had blown up at him in the bedroom.
He looked like he couldn’t care less about Oliver’s date with Zoe.
‘I didn’t realise the producers found anything you said interesting enough to record,’ Oliver quipped.
Declan’s mouth twitched, and Oliver’s stomach dropped, unsure if the joke had landed.
He was distracted from worrying about it by Paige walking over, whispering into her headset.
Holly nodded towards an approaching cameraman.
‘Gee, thanks, Oliver,’ she said, without much bite.
Oliver mouthed an apology.
‘So, how did the date go?’ Declan asked after a moment’s pause, his voice holding none of the warmth from moments ago.
Oliver swallowed. ‘I went on a boat for the first time,’ he said, because he couldn’t think of anything else to say.
‘Right.’ Something about the look in Declan’s eyes reminded Oliver of how Paige had looked at him during their interview, expectant.
‘I’m sure you lot go on boats all the time,’ Oliver continued, feeling like he’d messed something up.
‘Well, you’ve certainly nailed the boring thing,’ Declan said drily.
Jack and Owen laughed in appreciation.
‘Man, you two are too good,’ Jack said.
Oliver barely registered the dig.
There was something he wasn’t getting.
Declan flicked a glance towards Paige; it was a split second of broken eye contact, but suddenly Oliver felt foolish.
Because of his near-constant rehashing of their interaction on the plane, he hadn’t considered the possibility that Declan was playing up the love triangle for the cameras.
‘It was quite romantic, actually,’ Oliver said, looking into Declan’s eyes.
‘Got to see the sunset over the waves and sip champagne together.’
Declan gave him an almost imperceptible nod of approval.
‘I’m not sure a romantic setting would be enough to tempt Zoe,’ he shot back, his face the picture of disdain.
‘Unfortunately, I think she’s also got to like the company.’
‘I didn’t hear any complaints,’ Oliver said, trying to insert some heat into his voice.
Paige was practically beaming at them now; he had never seen her so pleased.
‘Well, let the best man win,’ Declan said, leaning back on the swing with his arms behind his head in a pose that perfectly displayed his biceps.
‘I wouldn’t be so confident,’ Oliver said, almost giddy now.
Once he was in on it, Declan’s performance was quite entertaining, and Oliver breathed a little easier knowing the drama would help him stay on the show.
The only thing giving him pause was having no idea where the act ended and Declan’s real feelings began.
‘Oh, I am,’ Declan said.
‘Because at the end of the day, she’s still sharing my bed, mate.’
Oliver stood in front of the firepit, running a hand through his hair distractedly until he noticed Paige glaring at him.
Sorry , he mouthed, trying in vain to smooth his curls back into a presentable state.
The boys were lined up in the flickering firelight for another recoupling ceremony.
It was the night after Oliver’s date with Zoe, and her choice would be the main focus.
Oliver glanced around at the guys, looking at Declan first. He wore a navy shirt, bringing out the blue of his eyes, the firelight catching on the crooked bridge of his nose.
Noticing his gaze, Declan winked and Oliver looked away quickly.
Darcy entered through the garden gate, strutting towards the firepit in heels so high Oliver had a hard time comprehending how she could physically walk in them.
‘Lovers,’ Darcy said, her mouth pulling into a pout, ‘I have some bad news. All week, the viewers have been voting for their favourite couples. We’ve tallied the results, and the couple with the fewest votes will be dropped from the villa immediately.’
Oliver only had a few seconds to feel anxious, adrenaline pumping hard in his veins.
Maeve grasped his hand, squeezing it tightly as Darcy continued, ‘I’m sorry, Callum and Poppy, please pack your bags and leave.’
‘What?’ Callum’s scowl was more pronounced than Oliver had ever seen it.
‘That can’t be right.’
A tear-stained Poppy dragged him back to the villa, as he cursed the lot of them, promising an exposé on male-discrimination on reality television in his next episode.
‘Well then,’ Darcy said, surveying the group hawkishly.
‘Nice and easy recoupling from here on out. Make it pensive, make it dramatic, and for the love of God, make it quick .’
As the cameras rolled, Darcy asked Stella to choose one of the men in front of them.
Stella gave a speech that ended with the predictable choice: ‘Niall.’ He walked over to give her a kiss before sliding his hand into hers and pulling her to the couch.
Oliver gave them a thumbs-up.
Paige directed the cameraman closer.
‘Oliver, do that again, on my count. Niall, give Oliver that gorgeous smile of yours. You two are mates.’ They were mates, so it was weird she felt the need to tell them that.
They repeated the moment until Oliver’s cheeks were sore from smiling supportively.
‘I think we have it,’ Darcy said tightly.
Paige signalled for the cameramen to reset.
‘Zoe?’ Darcy prompted, barely pausing to take a breath.
‘Which Lover will you couple up with this week?’
Oliver glanced at Niall, who mimed taking a deep breath.
He smiled gratefully.
‘Close up on Zoe, Oliver and Declan,’ Darcy ordered.
‘Zoe, take it away.’
Zoe looked between him and Declan, uncertainty etched on her face.
‘This week, I had a hard choice to make. I got to know two incredible guys, but I only get to choose one. This man has made me feel so comfortable here, I feel like he understands where I’m coming from and we can talk about anything.
So this week, I’ve chosen to couple up with…
Declan.’
Oliver was almost relieved when Zoe didn’t call out his name.
He knew it was coming – whatever potential they might have had quickly fizzled out after their date – but he did his best to look heartbroken for the cameras.
He thought he caught an approving look from Declan as he strode over to Zoe.
‘Perfect!’ Darcy said, turning back to the remaining girls.
‘Maeve?’
Maeve met Oliver’s eye with an encouraging smile, and he let out a breath.
‘Right, well, this boy has been rather good to me, which can’t be said of all the men here, and he makes me laugh, which is hard to do with my rotten sense of humour.
I’d like to see where things go.
I pick Oliver.’
‘Thank God,’ he jokingly whispered in Maeve’s ear when he reached her, under the guise of giving her a kiss on the cheek.
They only had to repeat this exchange two times, since Darcy was so pleased with the result.
Holly swapped Jack for Owen, leaving him for an appreciative Imogen to scoop up.
When all of the couples stood on the right side of the firepit, Oliver braced himself for what would come next.
He may be safe for the night, but if Poppy and Callum’s fate had proven anything it was that being in a couple wasn’t enough to win – the audience had to root for your love.
He glanced at Declan and Zoe, feeling like maybe he should’ve fought harder for her, and then back to Maeve, recommitting himself to making this work.