Episode 19
“We made it to the merge!” Saffron screams as she throws her arms around me, nearly tackling me into the sand. The collective relief around us is a loud frantic burst of energy as the remaining players rush together. Everyone is laughing, hugging, and celebrating the massive milestone.
I gently part from Saffron’s grip, my eyes searching through the chaos until I find the one person I want to hold me.
Celeste is already moving toward me when I look up.
We lock into a deep, tight embrace. It feels incredibly good to hold her again, a sharp contrast to the cold distance of the separate tribes.
When she pulls back just a fraction, her tired eyes look straight into mine.
The raw emotion in her gaze tells me everything.
I see the weeks of worry, the lingering concern, and the sudden, overwhelming joy.
She doesn’t have to say a single word. My heart eases, and a natural, instinctual urge pulls me to lean in and kiss her.
I catch myself just in time. Now is not the time.
We are finally on the same team, and there will be moments for us to be alone later. I have to hold onto that.
Steph steps up to the center of the perimeter, drawing our attention toward a large wooden crate resting beside her feet.
The heavy camera rigs track her movements, the lenses catching the firelight as the crew repositions around us.
“From this point forward, the stakes only get higher with each day,” Steph announces, her expression serious before she breaks into a wide smile.
“You’re all here to win for different reasons.
You identify how you love women in different ways.
But when the torches are lit and the votes are cast, you’re all… ” She pauses. “Team Sapphic.”
Applause breaks out across the beach. Steph begins handing out the brand new purple wraps, and I quickly untie my old one. I hold the fresh fabric in my hands, taking a quiet second to just let the reality sink in. My thumb brushes over the clean lettering spelling out the new team name.
Once the excitement settles, Steph gestures toward the edge of the sand.
Four elegant tables for two are set up right on the beach, illuminated by the warm glow of candlelight.
A massive, luxurious catered feast covers the stations, and the gentle, lilting melody of a live harpist drifts over the sound of the crashing waves.
The smell of carved smoked meat makes me almost drool.
Today’s meal looks like an incredibly fancy, romantic date night.
I lock eyes with Celeste and smile. “Would you like to enjoy our merge feast together—”
Before I can even finish the sentence, she is already grabbing my wrist and pulling me toward one of the tables.
We take our seats, and I glance around the clearing to see how the rest of our new team is pairing up.
Arlie and Beya sit down together at the first table.
Jeida and Bo claim the next one, while Lex and Saffron settle across from each other at the third.
Despite the upscale atmosphere, the tension drops the moment we look down at our plates. Celeste lets out a soft laugh, adjusting the strap of her worn tank top. “Honey, I think we’re overdressed.”
I play along without missing a beat. “What, this old thing? I forgot to grab my more casual summer dress from the cleaners this morning.”
We giggle.
The humor fades into something softer as we pause, really taking each other in for the first time in days. Celeste Ashford is a heartthrob, alright. The best part is she doesn’t even know it. I swallow hard against the tightness in my throat. “Yeah, I’m really glad to see you again.”
Under the table, I reach out and find her hand. “Me too,” she says softly, squeezing my fingers. Celeste smiles, the warmth of the gesture grounding me instantly despite the production crew hovering just beyond the candlelight.
As we dive into the incredible food, the conversation turns back to the game.
I walk her through the mechanics of Raina’s blindside, laying out how the pieces fell into place.
Celeste listens intently, her fork hovering in midair as her facial expressions shift from confusion to absolute surprise at how the strategy unfolded.
Near the end of the meal, the servers bring out the final courses. A rich, decadent chocolate dessert is placed in front of me, and I take a bite, letting the sweetness relax me through the lingering chaos of the day. “This is exactly what I needed,” I say, leaning back in my chair.
“What’s your favorite dessert? I take it churros aren’t it.” I ask playfully.
Celeste laughs, shaking her head. “No, but I do enjoy my Monday churros quite a bit. My absolute favorite pineapple upside down cake. The secret to making it right is using extra brown sugar and pineapple juice. That is exactly how my grandmother used to make it.”
I smile at her, but the intimate moment is interrupted when Steph clinks a fork against her champagne flute and the entire group turns.
“Arlie,” Steph calls out, her eyes locking onto the first table. “What would you say is the secret to a happy marriage?”
Arlie maintains her usual deadpan face, lifting her chin to point toward her partner. “The safer I feel, the harder she comes.”
Steph’s eyebrows shoot up, and she lets out a nervous chuckle. “Spicy. I’m sure production will cut that.” She shifts her gaze slightly. “And what do you say, Beya?”
Beya completely freezes. Her fork clatters against the edge of her porcelain plate, her entire posture radiating embarrassment as the cameras tilt down to capture the moment.
A deep, bright blush creeps up her neck and colors her cheeks.
She clears her throat twice, staring down at her lap. “What she said.”
I chuckle softly, but the lighthearted mood shifts instantly as Steph’s expression sharpens into a distinct, shit-eating grin.
“I hope you enjoyed getting to know your dinner partner,” Steph says, her voice echoing into the night.
“But here’s a never-seen-before twist in the game.
That person sitting across from you is not just your dinner buddy.
They’re your partner for the rest of this game until the last immunity challenge. Or until that changes.”
The words hang heavily in the salt air. Celeste and I snap our heads toward each other, our expressions freezing into identical looks of pure shock.
“How?” I whisper, the word slipping out before I can stop it.
“This is still an individual game,” Steph continues, nodding at our collective horror.
“There can only be one sole champion. Don’t worry, you’ll still get a front-row seat and decision-making power to determine who wins this game and becomes the sole champion.
Everyone who is eliminated from here on joins the jury.
And as a jury, the fate of the winner lies in your hands. ”
My mind starts reeling as I try to process the strategic shift. The game has completely flipped on its head in a matter of minutes. I stare across the small, candlelit table at Celeste, the flickering flame casting shadows across her face.
The silence between us grows heavy. Panic claws at my throat.
I am still a show plant. Lying to Celeste is becoming more agonizing with every passing day.
Now, she isn’t just my closest ally or the person I want to protect.
She’s my fake endgame wife now, and the terrifying truth of my deception threatens to ruin absolutely everything.