Page 50 of The Cuffing Game
“Well, I’m glad we’re finally skiing together,” Shirin said, gently holding the other girl’s arm so she could regain her balance. “I’ve always wanted to.”
Tiana was still looking down at her skis when she replied, “Same here!”
Shirin bit her lip, and Mia found herself doing the same from behind the camera. She was so nervous for Shirin. Having to see Noah every day to record the show was hard enough. She couldn’t imagine what it was like to secretly have a crush on someone who was also your best friend forten years.
By the time Shirin and Tiana finished skiing, the other contestants were already in line to return their equipment.
Mia spotted Celine and Noah, who, along with Kallie, were almost completely silent. She winced. Well, that date seemed like a bust. Before she could dwell on them for long, though, she spotted Matías and Jack farther along in the line, holding hands. They both had wild, happy grins on their faces, and so did Damien as he filmed them.
“Hey!” Tiana exclaimed when she also spotted the boys. Matías came running to excitedly whisper in Shirin’s and Tiana’s ears. The girls cheered.
After everyone had turned in their equipment and exited the rental cabin, Matías said, “Attention, please! Jack and I have an announcement to make.”
Mia’s heart pounded. Something big was about to happen. She could feel it.
Matías nervously laughed when all eyes—and cameras—turned to him. He looked up at Jack, who nodded and squeezed his hand.
“We just wanted to let everyone know that we’ve decided to drop out of the show,” Matías went on. “Since Jack already gets a lot of spotlight back on campus, we’re going to try dating on the low first while there’s still some time left before Christmas.”
A few people gasped. Damien looked like he was about to cheer and sob at the same time. Kallie slow blinked in disbelief, while Alex clutched the sides of their head in a gestureof panic. Mia didn’t blame them. Somehow the show was not one buttwopeople down today. It was a good thing they’d already thought of bringing in extra people.
Shirin and Tiana loudly clapped and whooped. And soon so was everyone else, cheering on the new couple.
“Best of luck!” Noah yelled.
“Yeah, so proud of you!” Shirin said. “Baby’s all grown up!”
Matías hugged Shirin and then blew kisses at everyone else while Jack waved.
As the boys went around to say their goodbyes, Kallie followed Jack with her camera while Damien followed Matías. Just in case Alex needed another angle to work with, Mia filmed Matías as he gave Noah a big bro-hug.
Afterward, Matías and Shirin spent a good five minutes whispering back and forth. Mia couldn’t make out what they were saying, but from their expressions, Matías seemed to be encouraging Shirin. To do what, Mia had no idea.
When Matías came to give Mia a hug, she stopped recording.
“Thanks for creating this show,” he said. “Truly, I wouldn’t even have had theslightestchancewith Jack without you.”
“Nah, with your amazing personality? I’m sure you would have figured it out some way or another.”
He flashed her a mischievous grin. “Maybe. But you made it a lot easier.”
When Jack and Matías finished making their rounds, Damien motioned toward the parking lot.
“I’ll take Matías and Jack back to the lodge, so I can record them leaving with one of the nicer cameras,” Damien said. “Mia, do you mind riding in Kallie’s car on the way back?”
“Not at all,” Mia replied.
With a big smile, she watched as Matías and Jack literally walked off into the sunset together.
Our firstCuffing Gamesuccess story,Mia thought. It certainly didn’t happen the way she’d expected it to happen, but she was happy for them, nevertheless.
Back at the lodge, Mia had just gotten out of the shower when she heard a knock. After living with her for the past four months, she knew it was Celine before she even opened the door.
The other girl was in her black silk pajamas, the very same ones she wore back in their dorm room. Seeing her wear the pajamas now, hundreds of miles away in Big Bear, was disorienting to say the least.
“Hey,” said Mia. “What’s up?”
“Hi, sorry, can we talk?” Celine asked. “Roommate to roommate?”
