Chapter 24
Walking behind Diane, hand in hand with Alex, is surreal. And not in a pretty, aesthetic kind of way. It’s more of a what is my life right now kind of vibe. Us three being in the finale still hasn’t fully settled in.
The front door swings open before I can brace myself against the deafening silence waiting to swallow us whole.
For half a second, I linger at the threshold, caught in place as the house unfolds exactly as it did that first week—loud and crowded, voices spilling through the entryway, bodies everywhere.
It doesn’t make any sense.
“Surprise!”
The chorus of shouts erupts from every corner of the living room, and suddenly, people are rushing toward us. Familiar faces I haven’t seen in days, some of them weeks. The energy hits me like stepping into sunlight after a long winter. Bright and overwhelming in the best way.
I barely have time to breathe before RaeAnn barrels into me. “Holy shit, you made it!”
Her arms wrap around me so tightly I nearly lose my balance. I hug her back just as fiercely, the sadness that’s been coiled in my chest since her elimination finally loosens like a knot coming undone.
“I missed you,” I say into her hair.
“You better have.”
When she pulls back, her eyes flick past me toward Alex and then back again, a slow grin spreading across her face as she connects our very obvious dots.
“Oh my God,” she whispers. “It’s really happening, huh?”
“I have so much to tell you,” I say quickly, keeping my voice barely above a whisper, because I absolutely cannot have this conversation with an audience. The mere thought of someone overhearing all the details has heat creeping up my neck.
RaeAnn snorts a laugh.
Before she can interrogate me further, Ace claps his hands loud enough to cut through the chatter.
“Alright, alright,” he announces, stepping into the center of the room like a self-appointed master of ceremonies. “First, cheers to the final three. You all are the GOATS!”
Everyone raises their drinks toward us.
After taking a gulp from his cup, Ace gestures toward the back doors. “It’s warm outside. Let’s take this party to the pool and celebrate in true LA fashion!”
That’s all the encouragement the group needs.
Within seconds, the energy shifts, the house erupting into movement as people head in different directions to refill drinks, change into swimwear, or snag one of the few lounge chairs beside the pool.
Jasper turns some music on, and suddenly the whole place feels like it’s remembering how to be fun again. Brandon is already arguing with Chloe about who makes the best margarita, which honestly feels more on brand now than ever before.
I hang back for a moment, leaning against the archway near the foyer with a soft smile.
It’s strange seeing everyone again like this, outside the pressure cooker of eliminations and challenges.
Like the house has reverted to some earlier version of itself, before alliances and goodbyes started carving holes into it.
After I change, I step out onto the patio just as laughter erupts near the pool. With a towel wrapped around me, I slide next to RaeAnn on the lounger she was able to claim. My body settles, but my brain is still playing catch up.
My gaze immediately searches for Alex.
He’s already found a spot at the edge of the pool with Julian, feet dipped in the water. His eyes meet mine with a smirk and a wink before he turns his attention back to his cousin.
The evening air is still warm, carrying the faint scent of chlorine from the pool. String lights glow overhead, reflecting in the water in long, wavering lines.
Closing my eyes, I nestle into RaeAnn’s side as she tells me all about her kids’ newest shenanigans.
This is exactly what I needed. A night that is simply about being present with people I absolutely adore.
I’m halfway through that thought when Lila appears beside Alex.
I don’t know where she came from. One minute she’s near the patio railing talking to Ace, and the next she’s there—leaning casually against his shoulder like she’s done it a hundred times. Which is exactly the problem.
He shifts over, subtly creating space that she immediately takes back like it belongs to her. Her laugh carries across the pool, and my eyes narrow on instinct.
“You know,” she says, tilting her head up at him, voice light and way too confident. “Now that I’m off the show, things are a lot less complicated.”
She isn’t… flirting with him right in front of me, right?
Alex’s posture stiffens, eyes darting to mine.
She traces the rim of his drink with one finger, smiling like this is a completely normal interaction. “There’s no ulterior motive this time. Seems like a waste not to finally have some fun.”
Something sharp twists in my stomach.
Around them, a few people have gone suspiciously quiet. Alex and I haven’t explicitly announced that we’re together, but it’s undeniable if you pay attention. Especially after today.
Lila’s gaze flicks toward me briefly before returning to Alex, the corner of her mouth lifting. Oh, she knows exactly what she’s doing. This is just another performance for the cameras.
For a second, I consider pretending I didn’t hear it.
Week-One Taylor might have.
Week-One Taylor would’ve laughed it off, focused on her own conversation, and convinced herself Alex was a big boy that could handle himself.
But I’m not Week-One Taylor anymore. I’ve changed over these last few weeks, and I’m done letting people walk all over me. Just because I’m nice doesn’t mean I’m weak.
Finale-Taylor isn’t going to stand idly by while someone intentionally antagonizes her. If she wants to invite me into some drama, then fine. I’ll accept and meet her there.
My feet move before I can second-guess what I’m doing.
“He’s not interested.”
The words leave my mouth calmly, almost conversationally. And I’m proud because they’re in sharp contrast to the fire burning in my chest.
Lila turns to me slowly and arches one eyebrow in complete disbelief that I just interrupted her moment with Alex.
“Oh yeah? Did he tell you that?”
I hold her gaze, unflinching. “He didn’t have to.”
Alex stands and immediately wraps an arm around my shoulders, choosing to present a united front against Lila.
“She’s right,” he confirms. “And I’ve already told you I’m not interested. I’m not going to be as nice about it next time.”
Satisfaction blooms in my chest and I give her a sweet smile as I lean into Alex’s side. His body is warm against my skin.
Lila studies both of us for another moment before lifting her hands in mock surrender. “Relax, just trying to have some fun.”
“Try someone else,” RaeAnn quips from behind me.
A ripple of laughter breaks the tension as Lila saunters off back toward Ace, the moment dissolving as quickly as it formed.
Jasper cannonballs into the pool, sending a wave sloshing against the edge. Conversations resume. Music fills the space again. And gradually, the crowd shifts and scatters into smaller groups.
Lost in thought, by the time I realize how quiet it’s gotten, the patio is completely empty. Even Alex and Julian have wandered off, probably to refill their drinks.
I’m sitting on the edge of the pool with my feet in the water, absently kicking slow circles when a familiar figure appears beside me.
Alex lowers himself onto the concrete with a soft grunt.
For a while, neither of us says anything.
The water glows faintly blue under the lights, rippling around our ankles. The party carries on, fragments of laughter carrying faintly from inside the house behind us. Here, though, it’s quieter. Like the night is giving us a small, temporary reprieve.
Alex stretches his legs out, leaning back on his hands beside me. Close enough that I can feel the warmth of him even through the cooling air. “You handled that pretty well back there.”
I glance over at him. “Handled what?”
He turns his head toward me, that familiar crooked smile tugging at his mouth. “Lila.”
“She was being annoying.” I shrug, aiming for casual, but my eyes drift back to the water like it suddenly needs my full attention.
“Mhm…” he hums, unconvinced, though his gaze stays on me. “You were jealous.”
Jealous isn’t the word I’d use. Not exactly.
But something tight and sharp had flickered in my chest when I saw the way Lila looked at him. It was like she was trying to climb inside a story that didn’t belong to her.
I press my lips together. “I was not.”
“You absolutely were.” He bumps his shoulder into mine, the contact easy, familiar.
I roll my eyes, but there’s no heat behind it. “You’re imagining things.”
“Am I?” he asks, amused, like he enjoys the question more than the answer. Probably because he already knows the answer.
I don’t respond. Just bump him back.
He huffs out a quiet laugh.
“You know,” he says, voice turning thoughtful, “I actually kinda like it when you get territorial like that.”
Heat rushes up my neck.
“That little ‘he’s not interested’ moment?” His smile tilts, voice dipping. “I loved every second of it.”
“Oh, shut up.” I laugh, shoving him.
Hard enough to knock him off balance.
Alex lets out a surprised yelp as he tips forward, splashing into the pool with a dramatic crash of water that sends ripples sloshing against the concrete. I gasp as the water soaks my legs, then immediately grin, watching as he resurfaces, pushing wet hair back from his face.
“Worth it?” I call down to him, arms crossed, thoroughly pleased with myself.
He wipes water from his eyes, then looks up at me with a slow, knowing smile. “Oh, absolutely.”
Uh-oh.
He starts toward me, unhurried, water shifting around his shoulders as he closes the distance. I barely have time to move before he reaches out.
“Alex—”
His hand closes around my wrist and with one firm tug, the edge vanishes from beneath me.