Chapter 24
Paige
Fifteen Hours Until Finale
Neil Steel: Well, folks, the summer is coming to an end…
and for those of you living under a rock, here’s whatcha missed!
Declan fancied Zoe but Zoe dumped him for James, now Declan’s with Imogen, who used to date Oliver, who was dating Eavie, who’s now dating Elliot, because Oliver was still hung up on Maeve, who’s with Jack, who used to date Holly, who’s now dating some fellow named Liam, I guess.
I’ve got a rhyme to keep them all straight:
James and Zoe are the couple to beat, Jack and Maeve come off so sweet, Declan and Imogen have been through the ringer, Elliot and Eavie have no chance, and in case you forgot, James is a singer!
Paige jolted awake, scrambling to turn her alarm off as she squinted at the bright light of her phone’s lock screen.
She rolled over and stared at the ceiling for a few minutes, her eyes feeling heavier with each blink.
Just as her breathing slowed, the sharp horn blasted again, this time louder.
She groaned. Groggily, she sat up and flicked on her bedside lamp, casting her room in a soft glow.
The place was a mess.
Clothes exploded from a suitcase still sitting exactly where she’d first put it down eight weeks before.
Old dishes caked with food were piled precariously next to her laptop, symmetrical to the stack of notepads on the other side of her desk.
She rummaged for clothes, grabbing a pair of black jeans and a black blouse and pulling them on.
She stumbled into the bathroom to brush her teeth and tease her hair into a presentable bun, using concealer on the dark circles that had begun to form when she’d come across that audio from the bathroom after James had tipped her off about what he’d seen on the hike.
She raced down the stairs to where Brian and the rest of the crew were waiting by idling white vans.
It was 5:33 a.m.
‘You’re late,’ Brian said, bored.
‘Yes, thanks,’ Paige said, waving the team into vans before climbing into the front seat of one.
She looked over her clipboard on the short drive to the villa.
She’d be doing interviews that morning with the remaining couples to get final reflections on the summer.
They’d do a short break for lunch and then the couples would share a romantic last dance before the crew set up for the live finale.
Once she had the details for the day in hand, Paige turned to the crew and rattled off assignments.
‘Be sure you have all footage submitted before twelve. We’ve got a quick turnaround on this one and we’ll need final approvals before we go live at eight thirty.
Understood?’
She received a few sleepy nods.
‘It’s the last day, people.
Let’s make it count,’ were Paige’s parting words of inspiration before she headed into the Love Shack.
Her first interview of the day was with the person she least wanted to see.
Declan showed up to his and Imogen’s interview looking more hesitant than she’d seen him all season.
Her one consolation in the past week had been that though she had undeniably hurt Oliver, at least Declan had been unflappable.
But when she’d asked him to talk to James – Darcy’s idea – and he’d broken down, she had started to doubt even that.
‘Hi there, Declan, Imogen,’ she said, trying to stay upbeat.
Contestants fed off the energy she gave them, which was the most exhausting part of her job.
In the past week of masking her feelings, she’d become so worn down that she could only feel relief at reaching the finale.
‘Morning, Paige,’ Imogen said sweetly.
‘Hey,’ Declan said, sitting.
His hesitancy vanished as he smiled at Paige, his usual charming grin.
This was a man who knew exactly what it meant to mask his feelings.
‘How’s it going?’
‘Good, good. This shouldn’t take too long – we’ve got tons to cover today.’
Declan nodded, the smile not dropping from his face.
‘So… how are you two feeling about your chances?’
Declan looked sideways at Imogen, raising his eyebrows cockily.
‘Well, Imogen and I are practically shoo-ins at this point, aren’t we?’
His confidence would play well with the audience; this was Declan at his best. She shouldn’t have worried about him.
Imogen beamed at Declan.
‘I’m so excited for what the future holds for us.
It’s going to be one long adventure.’
‘You don’t think there’s a chance for any of the others?
What about James and Zoe?’
Declan scowled. ‘I should hope the British public hasn’t stooped that low.’
He’d led her into it perfectly.
‘Do you feel like you’ve not made amends with James?
Thought you two understood each other better after your chat.’
‘Nah,’ Declan said, tone flat.
‘We’ve got it straightened out, but we’ll never be mates.’
‘Nothing like a little rivalry to keep things fresh,’ Imogen said.
‘And when you look back on your time here,’ Paige said, ‘you feel it’s been a good experience?’
It wasn’t a question she had written down, but she was curious what Declan’s answer would be.
‘It’s been amazing,’ Imogen gushed.
‘I’ve made so many lifelong friends, plus I snagged this dreamboat.’
Paige smiled, placating, then turned to Declan.
‘Uh—’ Declan frowned, seeming to choose his next words carefully.
‘There have been highs and lows, but it was all for a summer in paradise, all in the name of true love. Right?’
When he looked at her, she felt a pang of unease at his raw expression.
The line he’d given her had been suitably cheesy, but it seemed like he wanted some sort of confirmation from her.
‘Right,’ she said, after a pause.
‘I mean, you’ve found Imogen.
Where do you see the two of you, after the show?’
Declan’s expression eased.
‘Ah, well, I’ve got boxing to return to.
Imogen is so supportive of my career, and I hope I can do the same for her.
She wants to open a clothing store, and I think she’ll be brilliant at it.
She says I can be one of her models, if I’ve got any spare time.’
Declan elbowed Imogen in the side and gave a short laugh.
‘I think it will be easy, with the two of us.’
Paige nodded.
Giving a perfect sound bite had always been Declan’s strong suit, but there was something about his smile that made her want to cry.
‘All right, that’s it,’ she said, suddenly wanting to be anywhere else.
Oliver had accused her of trying to ruin Declan’s life, something she hadn’t forgotten.
When she was lying in bed, trying to get the few hours of sleep she could, his voice played over and over in her head.
He was self-righteous, when it came down to it.
Did it count as being self-righteous if you were in the right?
She shook her head, clearing it, and noticed Declan giving her a funny look.
‘Good luck,’ she said, her voice coming out slightly uneven.
‘Er – thanks.’ He and Imogen stood, and Paige automatically flicked the camera off.
His face cleared. ‘Are you rooting for us?’ he asked, his cocky demeanour back.
‘Of course,’ Paige said.
It was a lie. At this point, she didn’t care who won the show.
She hardly cared that it was a good show.
All she wanted was one night of uninterrupted sleep.
Darcy arrived at 7:50 p.m., a full twenty minutes late.
Paige nearly had an aneurysm, but Brian swooped in before she could get too involved, ushering Darcy to her dressing room.
Paige followed after taking some calming breaths, walking through the private part of the villa that the contestants didn’t have access to.
It wasn’t nearly as glamorous on the production side of the house, mainly another bedroom the team had been using as a supply closet, Darcy’s dressing room – sometimes doubling as a much-needed nap room – and the house’s indoor kitchen.
‘Ready?’ Paige asked as she entered the dressing room, listening to her intercom.
They’d already let the live audience into the garden to find their seats.
Tonight, Darcy was in an 80s-inspired suit dress, with a vaguely floral pattern of reds, greens, purples and blues.
She wore dark smoky eyeshadow and a dramatic red lip.
‘Nearly,’ Darcy said, adding more powder to her already-perfect make-up.
‘How are our Lovers?’
‘Good,’ Paige said, glancing at her clipboard.
‘The soundbites from this morning have been added to the montages. Here are your questions for the live interviews.’ She placed a stack of notecards on the table near Darcy’s elbow.
She still wasn’t looking at Paige, instead tousling her hair until it reached her preferred level of dishevelledness.
‘Great,’ Darcy said.
‘How are our numbers?’
Paige consulted her clipboard again.
‘As of an hour ago, we’re up 5 per cent in voting over the same time last year.’
Darcy nodded absentmindedly, bending to fiddle with her blue suede boots.
‘We’d hope to be at 10 per cent over last year.’
Paige’s cheeks burned.
They had talked about it, and only a week ago they had been on track to meet that goal.
Unfortunately, due to the untimely departure of one fan favourite and the complete disinterest of another, viewership had stalled.
‘There’s still time,’ she replied.
‘I’m sure,’ Darcy said, finally straightening.
She grabbed the notecards from the table and walked out of the room.
‘I’ll just work my arse off to get us there, hmm?’
They made their way to the girls’ dressing room and Brian’s voice came through Paige’s headset: ‘Audience has been seated.’
‘Brill,’ Paige said, watching as Darcy chatted with the girls still applying make-up.
‘And the sizzle reel?’
‘Already rolling.’
‘Cheers, Bri,’ she said, turning to head to the bedroom to collect any stragglers.
‘I’ll be out in a moment.’
She caught Darcy’s eye and held up a hand to signal her five-minute warning.
As Paige crossed the hall, she noticed the door to the bathroom slightly ajar.
Declan was there, staring at himself in the mirror.
It was only a split-second, Paige didn’t pause on her way to the bedroom, but she was struck by the expression on his face.
It wasn’t the Declan she’d seen through the weeks, the boisterous, cocky man who had given her so many perfect moments to air to millions, the one she’d spoken to that morning.
At first glance, she assumed he’d thrown water on his face to calm his nerves before the live show, but maybe he’d been crying.
His face had been twisted in pain, but it was hard to know for sure, with her guilt over Oliver warping her perception.
She reached Brian in the outdoor kitchen, the crew’s makeshift backstage for the finale.
He smiled faintly at her, sweat collecting on his forehead.
‘Last few hours now,’ he said, putting out his hand.
Paige took it. ‘It’s been a pleasure working with you.’
Paige was touched; she’d never pegged Brian for the sentimental type, but she’d take the small kindness he offered in the sea of chaos.
Darcy came out behind her, applause from the crowd rising at her appearance.
‘All set?’ she asked, looking between Brian and Paige expectantly.
Brian nodded. ‘Great!’ She threw on her most dazzling smile and strolled out onto the grandstand stage the crew had constructed for the occasion.
‘Hello, everybody! Are you ready to crown our winning couple for this year’s Summer of Love ?’
The crowd shouted enthusiastically, and Paige settled into her role of producing the live show.
This was always the part she’d been good at, setting cues and calling shots.
‘Thirty seconds out,’ she called to the controllers, ‘ready pre-taped interview highlights.’ She paused, counting the seconds as she scanned Darcy’s script, a speech she’d already memorised.
‘Okay, take highlights.’
That pre-recorded segment bought them about five minutes to get the couples ready to walk out for their introductions.
Paige turned to ask Brian to round them up, but found him already ushering them into a line.
‘All right,’ Paige said, forcing some pep into her voice.
‘This is it! Congratulations on making it this far, and no matter what happens tonight, you all have been spectacular to work with.’
Zoe and Imogen smiled politely back at her from their spots in line, but the rest of the contestants had their eyes trained on the sliver of audience visible from behind the grandstand.
Paige didn’t take it to heart.
Living in front of cameras – the viewers becoming more and more abstract as the weeks progressed – couldn’t compare to screaming fans.
Paige studied Declan.
He looked nothing like what she had thought she’d seen in the bathroom.
His suit jacket was perfectly pressed, his head up and eyes clear.
He even smiled at Imogen and leaned down to whisper something that made her laugh.
It was a shame they wouldn’t win.
‘Thirty seconds,’ Paige called.
‘Count to three before following the previous couple, like we practised. Got it?’
She saw some nods and decided that was sufficient.
‘All right, ready…’
Darcy’s voice rang out as she began her introductions.
‘And walk.’
Paige had reached the final hour of the show.
If she survived this last exit interview with Declan, she would have made it through the worst. She would have proven she could do this absolutely mad, exhausting job that she’d worked towards for years.
Declan walked into the Love Shack looking almost relieved.
It wasn’t the reaction she had expected from the man who had confidently told her he would win hours earlier.
His demeanour threw her off, and her pen nearly slipped out of her fingers as she twirled it distractedly.
‘Hi,’ she said, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
This moment was the culmination of months of work that she’d put into the show.
That was why her heart was beating so loudly in her ears.
‘How are we doing tonight?’
Declan pursed his lips, his eyes sliding to the flashing red light of the camera.
‘Well,’ he began, ‘obviously, it was disappointing that Imogen and I didn’t win.
But our relationship is as strong as ever, and I’m excited to see what the outside world has in store for us.’
Paige wondered if Declan had a PR team at all, or if he spent all of his free time spinning this crap on his own.
That propensity should have been good for her, for the show.
There was no reason that it should make her tense with sudden frustration, especially after months of the same from him.
The words came out of her mouth unbidden: ‘You’re planning on continuing your relationship with Imogen?’
It was a test, and, from his expression, it looked like he knew it.
He took on a soothing tone, as though he could tell how wired she was.
‘Of course I am. Finding Imogen was the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
Plus, it’s good for you – another success story in the books, right?’
He had the audacity to wink at her.
She inhaled sharply.
‘Could you please stop thinking about what I want? What do you want, Declan?’ His gaze moved, almost imperceptibly, to the camera standing next to her.
She sighed, flicking it off.
‘Better? Can we be properly introduced now?’
Declan chuckled, not losing any of his amiability.
‘I don’t know what’s got you so shaken up.
Sure, I put on a show for the cameras, but it’s not like I’ve got any dark secrets.
I’m not holding back.’
She pressed him further, desperately, stupidly wanting something real from him.
‘How do you feel about the end of the show, cameras off?’
He gave the question a moment of thought, looking at her more earnestly.
‘I got exactly what I came here for, didn’t I?’
Paige assumed Declan had come on the show as a ploy to distract the public from his downward-trending boxing career.
He could live a cushy life on sponsorships alone, especially after this exposure.
She had known from the beginning that he wasn’t there for love – but then again, few of them were.
She had taken the job cynical about the possibility of real love forming on a TV show.
And yet there were examples of those who had proved her wrong over the weeks.
Niall and Stella. Jack and Maeve.
And, of course, Oliver’s face came unbidden to her mind.
Her head felt too heavy on her shoulders, the guilt suddenly overwhelming.
‘What about Oliver?’ she blurted out.
She had expected to feel even worse as her veneer cracked in front of a contestant.
Instead, she felt a slight measure of relief, an uncoiling in her neck.
The corner of Declan’s mouth twitched.
‘What about him?’
‘Do you have any regrets?’
He slowly leaned back, and Paige could almost see the memories flickering across his face.
‘I suppose so,’ he said softly, as though he wasn’t sure he wanted her to hear.
‘I feel like maybe I could have stopped him from leaving, if I’d done things differently.
I mean, we had a bit of a – a row.
And that’s why he left.’
Paige bit the inside of her mouth, hard.
‘You think he left because of something you did?’
‘Um—’ He glanced at the camera again, as though checking she hadn’t turned it back on, then shrugged.
He looked as though they were talking about nothing significant, maybe the weather or their upcoming flight numbers.
His voice, when he spoke, bore the brunt of his emotion.
It came out gravelly and uneven: ‘Yeah. I think so.’
The admission of the pain Paige had inflicted made everything easier.
There was only one way to make this feeling stop.
‘Oliver didn’t leave because of you.
He left because of me.’
Declan gave a humourless laugh.
‘No offence, Paige, but you don’t know what you’re on about.’
She shook her head forcefully.
‘I put Oliver in an impossible position, and he had to leave; he couldn’t do it any more.
Because of me.’
Declan’s eyes flashed with emotion for a second, and she thought she could see some understanding, or anger, there.
‘What did you do?’ he demanded.
‘I—’ She cleared her throat.
‘I knew about you two.’
Realisation dawned on Declan’s face, and then unmistakable anger.
‘What did you do ?’ His voice was tight and low.
She swallowed. ‘I wanted him to go public with your relationship, to be honest about his feelings for you. But he wouldn’t do it.’
‘It wasn’t a relationship,’ Declan bit out.
‘There was nothing to tell. Isn’t that what he said?’
She closed her eyes, unable to look at him.
‘No. That’s not what he said.’
She didn’t know how to make him understand what had happened when she hardly understood it herself.
It had all got out of control so quickly.
‘He called my bluff – he knew I couldn’t do anything without his participation.
Without the two of you being together, the happy ending that would justify everything else.
Otherwise it would look like the show had outed you both for publicity.’
She opened her eyes and immediately regretted it.
Declan wore a blank expression, but his posture was tense and his eyes held a cold fury.
‘It would look like that?’ he spat out.
‘You still can’t own up to it?
It didn’t look like that, it was like that.’
‘I shouldn’t have done it.’
Her voice came out small.
‘I shouldn’t have tried to force his hand.
But I didn’t mean for it to all go so wrong, please believe me.
I wanted the two of you to be able to be together, and I thought you both wanted that too.’
‘Don’t pretend to care about what we wanted.’
He stood, not looking at her, and offered no other parting words as he slammed the door behind him.
The adrenaline that had been keeping Paige upright dissipated, and she lowered herself into the closest chair.
Darcy found her there hours later.
‘Paige,’ she barked.
‘Where have you been ? I’ve been looking everywhere.’
‘Here,’ Paige said, not moving.
Darcy crossed her arms, surveying the room.
‘Doing what exactly?’
‘Nothing.’
‘Come on,’ Darcy said, laying a manicured hand on her shoulder.
‘We’ve wrapped; let’s go out and celebrate!’
‘I’m all right,’ Paige said, barely feeling the words come out.
‘Come on,’ Darcy said again.
‘There are some people who I want to introduce you to.’
‘No,’ Paige said, more forcefully.
‘I’m not going.’ She shrugged Darcy’s hand off and stood, heading for the door.
‘You have to go,’ Darcy said, her voice taking on a hard edge.
Paige turned to see her standing in the middle of the room – the one Paige had spent nearly all summer trapped in – with barely concealed outrage on her face.
‘No, I don’t,’ she said, ‘because I quit.’ And she walked out the door.