Page 63 of Playing With Matches
“Darwin didn’t know,” Lacey explains. “And neither did me or Ryker. It was an honest mistake. I was in a lot of pain, and they were like my knights in shining armor, Marco. Neither one of them could bear to see me suffering.” She purses her lips and preens, batting her lashes at the two men. I think the face she’s making is supposed to signify gratitude. It’s hard to tell though. She’s had so much botox that all her expressions look the same.
“Nah. That’s no excuse for what happened,” Owen, who is freshly shaved and showered, makes a disgusted face and shakes his head. “Dudes can’t just be whipping it out and getting into duels like that. Especially on a boat. I don’t think I’ll ever get that image out of my head, guys.”
“To be fair,” Ryker says, elbowing Darwin, “We’d tossed back a few drinks at this point. Right, Mate?”
“Yeah,” Darwin nods emphatically and shoots Ryker a grateful look. “Ryker and I chose to stay on the boat and chill while the others were swimming. I was pretty lit. And I had to go real bad.”
Rob waves both arms to get Marco’s attention again.
“So,” Marco slowly reads off the cards Rob is holding up. “You might say this was yourgolden opportunity?”
Rob gives the thumbs-up sign, and the entire cast groans. It takes a couple of seconds for Marco to translate and understand the joke in his head, but when he does, it’s apparent. His eyes fly open wider.
“I didn’t think I’d ever say this, but I was kind of glad to be vision-impaired at that point,” Paula suddenly says, speaking in Marco’s general direction. She’s not turned toward any of the cameras, but one of the cameramen pivots to zoom in on her face. She’s wearing a light pink satin floral minidress and a matching pair of pink, cat-eye sunglasses festooned with rhinestones.
“This must have been so scary for you,” Marco says to Paula. He stands to walk to her loveseat. “What did you think? Did you know what was going on?”
“Well,” Paula reaches out to feel for Marco when he sits in the empty seat beside her.
“I’m right here, Bella,” Marco says, reaching out and holding her hand to his face. Paula startles but doesn’t pull her hand away. Her face blooms into a smile as she explores his features with her fingertips.
“So this is what you look like,” she marvels, running her fingers along his jaw and patting his lips. “I always wondered, but it was hard to know since I can’t actually see the covers.”
“I hope Marco lives up to your fantasy,” he says.
“Your lips are very soft,” she smiles, finally pulling her hand away. “High cheekbones. And your jawline is so firm. Exactly how I imagined.” She sighs happily.
“Well,” Marco fans himself. “It is getting warm in here, no?”
“Can I say something?” Ryker stands to speak. He’s the most casually dressed cast member by far. He has shown up wearing a cartoon character tee and lounge pants that I suspect might also be his pajamas. His Australian accent seems extra pronounced tonight. “I don’t think anyone should be blaming me. I was just doing what anyone would do. Darwin was way too drunk to aim. He was pissing all over the deck. Not to brag or anything, but I happen to have a precision stream. Time was of the essence. And I just wanted to get the job done properly?”
“Uggghhh!Nobodyneeded to pee on Lacey,” Chloe argues. “Even the medic on board said so. He tried to stop them. That was when all hell broke loose. The medic slipped on the pee and fell, and Ryker started swinging.”
Marco stands to go back to his sofa, rubbing his temples as if it’s difficult to keep it all straight.
Rory holds up another card offstage. It reads: ASK ABOUT THE FIRE.
“Okay,” Marco says, “but what about the fire?”
“The fire happened when the chef ran out from the kitchen to break up the fight,” Lacey volunteers. “He forgot he left something on the stove.”
“I was really looking forward to that bacon quesadilla,” Ryker laments.
“I was really looking forward to doing more snorkeling,” Owen says dejectedly. “We barely got a chance to see anything before the group date crashed and burned. Literally.”
“Well, Marco sees you all have bonded over this experience. Tell me, what do you think about your choices from the other day? Would you play your cards the same way now?” Marco questions the group and proceeds to quiz the contestants individually. “Chloe, would you still choose Ryker?”
She laughs and rolls her eyes. “No way. No offense, Dude, I just don’t think there’s any way,” she acknowledges Ryker.
“No worries. None was taken,” Ryker shrugs it off. “I’d still choose Lacey if you asked me today. If she’d have me. I think I’ve made my intentions clear.”
“What about you, Lacey? Do you still want to go on a date with Owen?” Marco says.
“Pass! Some firefighter. I didn’t see him lift a finger to save me. Let alone get out hishose.” Lacey winks at Ryker and I see Owen shudder.
Jackson nudges me with his knee and brushes my hair aside to whisper in my ear again. His hand lingers on my neck. “Check that out; it looks like your longshot choice, Ryker and Lacey, might have a chance.”
“Well, guys, you know what time it is. Marco is sorry to do this to all of you. But it is time for Cupidbot to reveal the algorithm’s picks for you, at which time we will perform the Shell Ceremony and decide who stays and who, if anyone, goes home.
