Brazen Girl by Ali Dean Page 0,25

starts to massage them I move my legs over to get out.

Camila, however, thinks I’m making room for her. “Oh, can I get in with you?” She slides her ass in front of my face and starts to lower herself on top of me.

“Uh, let me just get out first, you can have it to yourself.”

I don’t even care how awkward it must look as I maneuver getting out of the hammock while she’s trying to get in on top of me. I manage to do it all while holding a beer, but Camila doesn’t take the hint. She never takes the hint.

Moses shoots me a sympathetic look as he gets up from his chair and we walk back into the house together. I’m sure Camila is right behind us but I’ve learned that even being polite to this girl is too much encouragement. She’s on a mission to make something happen with me, and it’s starting to really weird me out. I keep hoping the next competition will be her last on the show, but she’s still here.

“Oh, Beck! I heard you’re really good at fixing stuff and the temperature thing on my shower isn’t working right. Can you come look at it?”

Moses starts laughing as he opens the door and I glare at him.

“What’s so funny? Is yours broken too?” Camila asks.

Moses doesn’t stop laughing as he answers. “Yeah, mine broke and I fixed it. I’ll come up and help you.”

Camila juts out her lower lip in what I guess is supposed to be a pout. “Okay,” she concedes as she walks through the door. She brushes against me before I can establish more space between us, and tilts her head up to mine. “You can come up to my room anytime to help fix something, Beck.” Camila uses this sultry voice that sounds as if she’s mocking someone, except she’s being serious. Moses drops his hands to his knees behind her and practically dry heaves in silent laughter.

It isn’t the first time she’s made this kind of offer, as if her earlier request for help wasn’t obvious enough. She’s heard I’m good at fixing things? Man, she’s really trying all angles here. She used to say shit like this when I was dating her supposed best friend Kelly years ago, but her skills in subtlety have really deteriorated with time.

I’m getting better at masking my shock, and looking as unaffected as possible, but at the moment it’s taking some real effort not to laugh alongside Moses. My phone buzzes in my back pocket as Moses follows Camila to her room. I’ll have to thank him later for saving me.

I can hear the rest of the cast on the back deck, and I should join them. Not all of them are as annoying as Camila, or Kelly, or Bikini Girl. But I’m already taking out my phone and once I see it’s from Jordan, I know I’ll be spending the rest of the night in my room. Maybe we can actually talk on the phone instead of text. Hearing her voice is like a detox from this place. Even if she hasn’t said a damn word about whether I’ve got a chance at getting back with her, texting and talking to her is still the best part of my day.

Chapter Eleven

Early April – two months later

Jordan

As passengers start to come through the doors, the anticipation that’s been building for weeks goes into overdrive. With it, doubt bombards me.

What if he doesn’t feel the same way about me anymore?

What if he doesn’t find me attractive?

What if he’s changed?

I’ve been talking to Beck on the phone and texting with him the entire time he’s been filming. Almost three months now. I would know if he’s changed, right? While he still says all the things to make me believe he wants me just the same, the reality is that I broke up with him nearly four months ago. He has no loyalty to me, and I haven’t asked that from him.

I can’t be sure if it’s been Beck’s sense of obligation that’s kept him talking with me. After all, he’s maintained this weird non-relationship with his dad out of a sense of duty, and for whatever reason, he stuck with his ex-girlfriend Kelly for longer than he really wanted to.

All I know is, I need him. As a friend—if that’s all I can get, I’ll take that. But even with the support of my friends and family, there’s something missing. I