Page 53 of Love Galaxy

CITY SINGLE BRIAR:

I’m learning that you can’t hide who you are. There’s no faking it. So our relationship is going to evolve naturally. Like, we can’t force it. We can’t fake it. Everything you’re seeing is the real me.

COMMENTATOR CHLOE:

What are your thoughts about the other contestants?

CITY SINGLE BRIAR:

I wish every single one of them all the best, and I hope they make the most of what’s left of our incredible journey. Blah, blah, blah. Seriously, Chloe, where’s Sorin?

COMMENTATOR CHLOE:

Oh, didn’t you know? He’s back at the main house. He wanted to get to know the other women better. I heard him saying something about a new task they’d been sent. Hmm… What was it again? Oh, I remember. He’s going to be the judge of a kissing competition.

CITY SINGLE BRIAR:

Bullshit!

I glare up at Chloe, arms crossed over my chest. “He wouldn’t do that. He—”wouldn’t leave me here alone without telling me where he’s goingwas what I’d been about to add, but I can’t quite bring myself to say it. Because he has left me here alone before.

“You said it yourself: there aren’t many days left.” Chloe smirks. “It’s not like you’ve made a commitment to Sorin. He’s probably worried you’ll decide to leave, and he doesn’t want to risk not finding love. That’s the name of the show after all. LOVE GALAXY. It isn’t called Friends With Benefits Galaxy.” She laughs, like she made a funny joke instead of a crap one.

Mr. Smith hasn’t moved from his spot leaning against the counter. The only indication I’ve got that he’s enjoying this is his tail, which has stilled.

I stand up. “When did this message come?” Surely I’d have heard the beeping if his tablet had been trying to get our attention? Had he creeped out of bed, seen the message and gone to the main house without me? The last thing I remember before falling asleep was the two of us climbing into bed together after we’d hidden outside, away from the cameras.

Even now, my legs are sticky with his cum. Despite the discomfort, I hadn’t wanted to wash it away last night. I hadn’t wanted to remove the evidence of our secret time together.

“Not that long ago.” Chloe shrugs.

I press my knees together. “I don’t believe you.”

“It’s really not my job to care if you believe me or not. Now, back to the questions.” She consults her list. “Did you?—”

I turn my back on her.

There’s a weird spluttering sound, clearly supposed to be indignation, but I stop listening.

If (and it’s a very bigif)I can trust what Chloe’s told me and Sorin really has gone back to the main house to judge a kissing competition, can I blame him? It’s not like I have a claim on him. We’re not boyfriend-girlfriend. We never had theplease don’t kiss other peopletalk. When he tried discussing our relationship with me, I’d been extremely noncommittal, unable to decide if I wanted to take things between us seriously or not.

I bury my face in my hands.

Ugh. I hate that Chloe’s right about this being LOVE GALAXY and not ‘Friendship Galaxy’. Sorin signed up because he wanted to find love. He wanted to find his Mate. If I can’t give that to him, then he’s got every right to look somewhere else.

So then why does it feel like if I let myself cry, I won’t ever stop? Why do I want to punch Chloe? Why do I want to curl up into a ball on the ground?

It’s because I’m in love with Sorin. Obviously.

But I’d been too focused on hating Mr. Smith to acknowledge my new feelings for Sorin.

I groan. Maybe I’m my worst nightmare.

Maybe I think I’m angry at Mr. Smith and Chloe and LOVE GALAXY and my ex-boss and my parents when really I’m angry at myself. For all my past failures. For the possibility that I’m going to fuck up this opportunity, too.

When I eventually open my eyes, I’m not surprised to see Chloe holding the camera in my face. I bat her hand away, and she scowls.

Huh. Turns out I really am angry at Chloe. But I can be angry at Chloe and angry at myself at the same time; they aren’t mutually exclusive.

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