Page 82 of Taking the Heat

Not deigning to answer, I tried to move past him but he stepped sideways and blocked me. ‘Move, freakshow.’

His greasy hair gleamed in the low light and his features were distorted in a horrid grimace. ‘Dante has been in his cabin every night since he claimed his key. And no one comes! So, I ask myself, who is the shycazzo stuzzicarewho avoids my bed?’

Horror began to overwhelm me as I frantically tried to convince myself I couldn’t possibly be the only girl yet to spend a night in the fantasy cabins.

‘But Dante knows … time is running out for her,si?Tick, tock!’ Dante laughed uproariously. ‘One way or another, you will feel the fire of mybelino. Whether you like it or not …’

He blew me a kiss and slithered off. And that’s when I made my decision.

I’m not going into the fantasy cabin.

Chapter 26

(Producer, off-camera:What exactly do you mean by you’re not going in?)

I’m not going in. I can’t do it.

(B-but … your million bucks!)

I can live without it. I’ve already won seventy grand. That’s not enough for a house, but it’s enough for a deposit. We’ll make it work.

(Umm … are you sure you don’t …)

Dude! This is a done deal! Move on! God knows I’m trying to …

So anyway, I headed into the bungalow just in time. The cameras were rolling as Miles did a little kick-ball-change move on the stage.

‘Tonight’sWhat You Don’t Knowis titledYouthful Indiscretions.And first up is one of the corner pieces from our New Zireland love triangle!’ He chortled at his own cleverness, then turned beady eyes on Nik.

‘Nikau is a Maori—a culture all about family. Surely that’s a bonus, right, Meghan? A lad who’s a real family guy? Unless, of course … he’s already started one!’

On the screen, Nik appeared with a little boy in his arms. The kid was about four or five, with black curly hair and huge white teeth. The resemblance between father and son was striking; their identical bright grins and happy eyes were a giveaway.

Everyone looked to Meghan and Nik, anticipating fireworks. Meghan sighed. ‘If there’s one thing I’ve learned the past few weeks, it’s that going off half-cocked just sends everything arse-ways. Nik, talk to me, love.’

His face was creased with deep tension lines, which eased as Meghan nodded at him encouragingly. ‘It’s true, ay. I have a small fella, his name is Tane.’ Nik pronounced itTah-nay.‘I knocked up a girl when I was seventeen. We’re not still together, but I support my little man. He’s the best thing I’ve ever done.’

Nik spoke to Megs as if she was the only one in the room. ‘Girl, the only reason I didn’t tell you was because I was trying not to get Tane involved in this show. I hope you understand, but if you don’t, that’s okay too, ay.’

Meghan’s face split into a forgiving smile. ‘Ah, go way outta that, of course I do. I’m only sorry that it had to come out like this.’ She turned to Callum, who leaned against a pillar at the back of the room. ‘And Callum, I owe you an apology too. My temper runs a bit hot sometimes, but you were a kid … and I forgive you.’

Callum’s cheeks burned a fierce red. ‘Cheers, Han,’ was all he could manage, the emotion choking him.

Meghan spoke to the entire room, her scarlet hair wafting around her like a flame. ‘And that goes for everyone. We should all forgive each other, because if you dig into anyone’s past you’ll find something they’d rather forget or keep private.’ Wise beyond her years, she finished, ‘Don’t let these arseholes ruin the beauty of the relationships we’ve built here.’

‘Fucking A, Megs.’ Clara stood on our table, ready to do battle. Over our heads, she cried, ‘I know what Miles is about to say, and I’m gonna beat that fucker to it.’ She looked down at Toshi, her tears rolling already. ‘I fucking love this man, and I choose to believe that love can conquer all, even fuckwit reality-show producers. Toshi, honey-boo, you need to know … I got married when I was 17.’

Sure enough, a low-resolution photo of Clara and another teenager flashed up on the TV. They both looked rotten drunk, Clara wearing a leopard-print mini dress and her groom in a David Guetta T-shirt. An Elvis impersonator stood behind them as the couple kissed clumsily. The watermark on the pic readGraceland Wedding Chapel.

Clara jumped down and dropped to her knees on the floor by Toshi’s feet. ‘I was so fucking stupid. My parents told me they were moving us back to Japan and I flipped out, stole their car, dragged this random guy from high school out to Vegas and married him. It was annulled a week later, but it’s still on the fucking records.’ She bowed her head. ‘Forgive me.’

Toshi pushed off his seat and knelt with Clara. ‘My beautiful songbird. There is nothing to forgive.’

The way they stared at each other, the love almost visibly draping between them, cracked my heart open. I twisted in my chair to meet Chris’ eyes, finding them burning back into my soul with the same emotion I felt. The walls between us melted a little as we smiled tentatively at each other.

But as Aanya leaned forward and spoke to Chris, the good feelings vanished like a fart in the wind.

Miles slunk off the stage and the night was over. Toshi and Clara said goodnight, and I raced to catch up with Megs, and told her I was so proud of her.

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