Stay With Me 1

  “Well, they’ve known each other since they were kids!” Savannah huffs in frustration, like it’s all completely unfair. Karin supposes it is, since they truly are a couple, which they have to be, as Karin knows for sure that she and Declan are not one. It’s bitter. But they messed up the challenge, so what is she to do about it then? It’s not like she’ll say no to one million dollars because some strangers start to question their relationship.

  “Or maybe they’re a couple and you both aren’t,” Courtney says meanwhile, sounding very apologetic and affectionate. Karin appreciates her very much in that moment.

  Before Savannah can say anything, Tag calls time from behind them and then they rearrange again to film the elimination, Savannah and Iver looking like they might get sick, and mad as hell at each other most of all.

  “Before we start on the nominations, it’s my pleasure to announce the winners of this challenge,” Tag says, his perfect teeth shining in the stage lights and everybody already knows who won, because they’re leading by points. “It was a head to head between Karin and Declan and Courtney and Bobby, but the winners of this challenge, leading with eight and a half to seven points are Karin and Declan. Congratulations, you’re going to go on a romantic dive in the coral reefs!” Tag pauses for applause and then they cut to get some ‘true to life happy reaction’ shots from Karin and Declan.

  “But now for the hard truths,” Tag declares ominously, about five minutes later when they’ve reset the scene. “Couples, please cast your votes! Who has lost the Heart Roulette?”

  One by one, each pair names the couple they believe is the fraud and to no one’s surprise, Savannah and Iver are named by everyone but Savannah and Iver, who name Aileen and Rickard, simply for the fact that they got the second fewest points in the challenge.

  “This means that our two bottom couples after this very first challenge are Aileen and Rickard and Savannah and Iver,” Tag announces at the end of it and then turns to the two couples, one camera on him and Hank and Gorman swarming in close to pull the two bottom couples into a close-up. “You now each have thirty seconds for a final statement. Aileen and Rickard, you’re up first.”

  “We know how it looked, trust us,” Rickard says, his voice soft and appealing. “The truth is, there are still some things we’re learning about each other. Most of our relationship, we’ve only had an odd week together here or there. Going long distance for so long, there’s just a lot of things you don’t know about what your partner does or likes while you aren’t together. But we know what’s in each other’s hearts. Ask me right now what I know about her character, her soul, and we’ll get eleven out of ten, I promise you.”

  Karin can’t help but coo at that a little, because it was a beautiful sentiment. She glances over at Declan for a moment but can see he’s already zeroed his attention in on Savannah and Iver. He raises an eyebrow at the cadence of Savannah’s voice when she starts speaking, making Karin spin her head around to see if the face matches the sourness of her tone. It does.

  “We are a couple,” she insists hotly, not helping her case at all. “We’re the real deal. That’s all I can say. I honestly don’t know how anyone wouldn’t see that?”

  They don’t stand a chance after. There are four votes for Savannah and Iver in the end and none for Aileen and Rickard.

  This leads to Tag finally surmising: “Savannah and Iver, the other couples have decided: For you, the Heart Roulette isn’t real. This means that you are out of the competition.”

  Hank keeps his camera on them for an uncomfortably long time and then Marietta calls cut. The tension snaps immediately, which is Savannah’s cue to jump up and walk over to Marietta to yap at her. It’s a very strange ten minutes while the others sit around listening to Marietta explaining calmly but distinctly that those are the rules of the game. Savannah, however, is so vehement in her insistence that it’s completely unfair and that they were promised a full week on the island and are now supposed to leave after just about one night, that Marietta offers them a hotel room for the remainder of the week on the production’s dime.

  Karin enjoys the disapproving side-glances of her fellow competitors almost as much as her silent communication with Declan that is entirely made up off scoffs and rolling eyes. Savannah and Iver barely stay for their reaction segment and then go straight to pack and are gone before the crew has packed up for the night.

  Their rash and prissy exit is the main topic of conversation that night and long after they’re done with shooting. The five remaining couples sit together in the living room and talk down the eliminated pair for their poor form and Savannah’s ridiculous outburst.

  “That was almost too easy,” is the last thing Karin says to Declan in bed that night before she turns to her side to sleep. He just snickers in reply and she likes how petty it sounds. Yes, competition might bring out this not-so-charming side in both of them, but she’s wickedly happy to learn that they have this in common.

  The next day starts grey and comparatively cold, the winds chasing clouds across the sky until mid-day when it clears, but it gives Karin the chance to take a bubble bath and catch up on some reading, while Declan watches half a season of a baking competition in bed next to her. Through their open windows, they can see the others cross through the yard occasionally and this time, Declan passes up on Kaidan’s offer of a repeat beach-volleyball match, putting his hand on Karin’s thigh to tell him he’s good. That’s nice. It’s Karin who leaves eventually, because they skipped breakfast and they’re both hungry.

  In the fancy kitchen, she plunders the fridge for the one ingredient she knows how to work to her means and is happy to find a full carton of eggs in the back of the second compartment. She takes two of them out and sets water to heat on the stove, needing no more assistance as Bobby lights the gas up for her because she’s never done that in her life and then prepares toast with avocado slices to go along with the eggs while the water starts boiling. In the meantime, Courtney has dropped in on them and winds an arm around her boyfriend’s shoulder, playfully asking him why he never makes breakfast for her.

  “Why make it, when I can order it, honey?” He asks her sweetly and kisses her on the cheek. “You deserve so much more than my lackluster PB-and-J’s.”

  “Oh baby,” Courtney coos back at him like he’s a toddler and Karin cracks an egg each into a cup as they cuddle, trying to control her face. Courtney and Bobby are very nice, don’t get her wrong, but their incredibly loud smitten behavior is exhausting and at times more than a little bit annoying in its overbearing sweetness. Watching them feels like what your mouth tastes like after too much Diet Coke, and occasionally just as artificial. Surely no one can be this enamored at all hours. But then again, each of the couples is probably playing up their togetherness to a considerable degree here, simply to ensure that nobody else doubts it.

  It’s a good thing Karin is too close to the noisily bubbling water to hear Courtney and Bobby murmur some sweet nothings at each other at the kitchen island behind her. Because this way she doesn’t get distracted from the intricate task of poaching the eggs for her and Declan’s lunch. She stirs the water into a miniature whirlpool with a vigor and then pours in one egg at a time, getting the speed and the set of the eggs just right and perfect. She arranges them easily on the plates of avocado toast and enjoys Courtney’s wistful sigh at the sight of them as she carries them back to the hall to bring to her “boyfriend.”

  “Rinny, can you make me one of those, too?” Courtney calls after her, unabashed and pleading.

  “Tomorrow,” Karin promises and grins at her over her shoulder. “I can teach you how to make them, too.”

  “Teach her what?” Declan asks as Karin rounds the corner back into their bedroom and she shows him their meal by way of explaining.

  “Nobody will ever be able to do poached eggs like you do,” he says, reaching for the plate and doesn’t even bother with the fork and knife she brought along. He just plucks the toast right off o
f the ceramic and takes a large bite, dripping runny egg yolk everywhere. Karin chuckles as she watches him make a mess and primly cuts into her own eggs and toast with precision, careful to not let a bit of it spill onto the plate between bites.

  When they’re done, Karin puts their plates on her bedside table and takes stock of the state of Declan’s face which is covered in crumbs, not unlike an overzealous toddler’s.

  “Look at you,” she giggles, and reaches over to wipe some left-over yellow stains from just below his bottom lip and he catches her wrist in his hand.

  “I’m saving that for later,” he chides and she breaks into a laugh.

  “Yes, alright,” she grins and lets go of him, getting up to return the dishes to the kitchen instead. “You go get dressed and cleaned up. Camera crew’s going to be here in half an hour for whatever they’re going to have us do today.”

  “Aye, captain,” he says while giving her a mock-salute. His playfulness in combination with the sorry state of his personal hygiene, courtesy of her poached eggs smeared on his cheeks, is enough to set Karin’s heart pitter-pattering softly, drowning out most of everything else. He’s such an idiot. He’s such a idiot and she likes him so much.

  Roughly forty-five minutes and a requested change into her bikini later, Karin stands with the rest of the cast and crew in the shade of the patio where Brody and Marietta have asked them to gather around for instructions for today’s schedule.

  “Alright, folks. We’re going to be shooting a little segment, a boys vs. girls thing in the broadest sense of the word,” Marietta announces. “We are going to have the girls lounge at the pool and the guys playing pool in the game room in the guest condo. Now I know for you,” she pauses to talk at the two gay couples exclusively, “it’s annoying and nonsensical but you’re going to have to choose which group you’ll join.”

  Kaidan groans and Marietta nods at him sympathetically.

  “Trust us, we’re well aware that it’s bordering on offensive,” she admits freely. “But we’re all going to television hell anyway, so rest assured that we’ll burn for our sins. Nonetheless, it’s TV and people like boxes and labels. So, Kaidan and Kaelan, who will play pool, who will sit by the pool?”

  “I’ll go with the girls,” Kaidan sighs.

  “I’d say,” quips Kaelan and earns himself a frown from his boyfriend.

  “I’m going with the guys,” Grace says, all-business. “Because my hair is ten centimeters shorter, so obviously, I’m the butch one.”

  “Thanks for understanding, and I’m sorry,” Brody pipes in, himself obviously not too pleased with the way gay couples face this need to take on male and female parts in their relationships in order for the broader audience to get it. “One of these days we won’t have to do it like this anymore.”

  “Never mind,” Mimi shrugs. “It’s not like we’re not used to it.”

  “Very well,” Marietta smiles and claps her hands together. “Take ten while we set up and then we’ll get started on this.”

  The End

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