Chapter 14 #2
She looks a little nervous at first as she steps forward to the podium, but I see the moment her gaze locks with Andrew’s. It’s like all of her nerves disappear.
“Cora, who would you like to lock in with?” Alex asks.
“I’d like to lock in with Andrew.”
A grin the size of Texas fills Andrew’s face as he walks up to the podium.
“Andrew, do you want to lock in with Cora, or do you have your eye on someone else?”
He doesn’t skip a beat; his eyes don’t break from hers, not even for a second as he nods and smiles.
“I’d like to lock in with Cora.”
Alex nods and reaches forward, hooking a pair of matching locks on each of their bracelets. As soon as the click of the lock activates, each glows a color. Theirs is orange, and they smile as they glance down at it before looking at each other once more.
“Please take a seat,” Alex says, gesturing to the large U-shaped couch off to the side.
Their fingers intertwine as they walk towards the couch, taking a seat as Alex turns to the group.
“Luna, please step forward.”
She gives me a nervous look, and I nod in encouragement.
“Luna, you a little nervous?”
“I’m shitting bricks over here, Alex,” she replies, laughing nervously.
“Cut!” Daryll yells.
“Oh fuck, my bad. Sorry. I’m, like, shaking,” Luna says, lifting up her hands for proof.
“It’s fine,” Alex assures. “Let’s try it again. Luna, you look a little nervous,” Alex says once more.
Just like that, it’s like she’s willed all of her nerves away.
“Me? Please, you should be looking at that line of men if you want nervous.”
The cameraman pans over to the guys, which gives her a second to laugh it off before the focus comes back to her.
Alex smiles to her. “Alright, Luna. Who do you want to lock in with?”
“I had a couple of great dates, but I think I want to lock in with Shane.”
Surprise crosses Shane’s face before a pleased smile takes over. He steps up to the podium.
“Shane, do you want to lock in with Luna?” Alex asks.
He grins at her while she smiles at him, and honestly, I don’t know what she was nervous for. I see fireworks between these two.
“Hell yeah I do.”
Luna chuckles as Alex places their locks, they both glow red when activated.
“That’s red-hot love, baby!” Shane cheers before placing a slobbery kiss onto Luna’s cheek.
I can tell she loves his crazy energy, and honestly, I’m grinning ear to ear for them as they take their seats on the couch.
One by one, the other girls are called. Each time my name isn’t called, my stomach flips. I shouldn’t be this nervous, but fuck I am. I glance over to see Noah giving me a reassuring nod, and I smile when Savannah is called up.
“Savannah, who would you like to lock in with?”
“Alex, I’d like to lock in with Noah.”
Noah’s eyes widen as he takes a step up to the podium; I shake my head and don’t even try to hide my eye roll. When will she give it a fucking rest? Was him screaming at her in the middle of the hallway not enough rejection for her? He’s made his intentions clear.
“Noah, would you like to lock in with Savannah?”
No.
That’s what I wait to hear. I can hear him saying it in my head.
No words come from his mouth, though. Several seconds pass by, and my eyes are bugging out of my head as I look to him.
Noah seems to be doing everything in his power not to look at me, and when he finally does, it’s like I can feel my heart shatter into two.
“I’m so sorry,” he mouths to me before turning to Alex.
“I do.”
Glass shattering, or is it my stupid messy heart all over the floor? Either way, it doesn’t matter. I’m a fucking idiot, and I look like a goddamn fool.
His answer seems to take everyone by surprise, and Luna isn’t able to suppress her “What the fuck!” shout.
All the guys cover their mouths with their hands; meanwhile, Savannah giggles and jumps into his arms when Alex snaps on their green glowing heart locks.
They walk past me on their way to the couch, and I feel Noah try to catch my eyes, but I don’t give him the satisfaction. Just like I try not to give him the satisfaction of seeing my tears, but goddamnit, a few sneak through.
Of course they couldn’t give me a minute to compose myself, though, right? My throat is hot, scratchy and tight as Alex calls my name.
Goddamnit.
“Courtney, are you okay? Do you need a tissue?” Alex asks.
I know he’s playing it up for the cameras, but I won’t let him get a rise out of me.
“I’m fine. One woman’s trash is another woman’s problem,” I say with a shrug.
“Oh shit,” I hear a guy whisper.
Alex gives me a sympathetic nod. “Courtney, who would you like to lock in with?”
Fucking no one. I want to go home. This game was stupid. I don’t have it in me to play these games. I don’t know what I was thinking in the first place. Coming here, looking for love? Ridiculous.
What seems even more ridiculous, though, is throwing away an opportunity to make life-changing money.
To get Lily out of the hole we’ve been rotting in for years.
Fuck my feelings. Fuck this game. Fuck the chance of love.
I’m not going anywhere. I came here to win, and goddamnit, that’s what I’m gonna do.
My eyes move to the two guys left—Calvin and Landon. I’m not going to choose Calvin. He and Kenzie are so perfect for each other, everyone can see it. I’m not a sneaky backstabbing bitch like some other women here, so he’s absolutely not an option. As much as I hate to say it, I only have one.
“Landon,” I say simply.
His eyes widen like he’s shocked. Our dislike for each other isn’t subtle.
But I also know he’s a competitive bastard.
He came here to win, and it’s clear he’s not here for love either.
He wants the money, and so do I, and together, I know we’ll do whatever it takes.
So fuck you, Savannah; fuck you, Noah; and fuck you, Locked In.
Let the real games begin.