Page 83 of The Cuffing Game
MIA:If you’re watching, Noah, please know that I don’t regret my feelings for you. Just maybe how I went about things. I’m sorry for pushing you away and being mean just because I wasn’t ready to come to terms with how I truly felt. I hope you’ll forgive me. And as for everyone else... welcome to the last day ofThe Cuffing Game. The live stream starts at four p.m. Pacific time.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Mia
This is the messiest show I’ve ever seen.
She made this entire TV show because she likes someone? Instead of justtellinghim? That’s so wild!
My pipe dream cuffle ship! It’s coming true!
After they uploaded the last recorded episode ofThe Cuffing Gameat noon, Mia lay in her bed and scrolled through people’s various reactions to her interview. She’d propped the windows open, and the cool ocean breeze filtered into the room. She could hear the seagulls, as well as the cast and crew members playing out on the beach. The vibes were amazing, but they did little to ease her nerves.
She’d expected Noah to call her.Or even send a text.Somethingto indicate that he’d seen her confession. But when the one response she’d wanted never came, her heart sank. She’d thought Noah, as dramatic as he was, wouldappreciate this public confession over a private one. But maybe she’d just embarrassed him—and herself.
To distract herself, Mia watchedThe Cuffing Gamein its entirety, something she’d been too busy to do until now. Celine had been right. It was almost comical how many times Noah glanced off camera, presumably to look at Mia. Or how she and Noah snuck glances at each other when they were on-screen together.
She’d just finished watching the latest episode when she got a FaceTime call from Jeannette.
Mia picked up instantly, eager to talk with her sister for the first time since she’d left for Big Bear. She’d been expecting only Jeannette and was caught off guard when all four of her sisters crowded the phone screen.
A chorus of “Hi, Mia!” and “Hey!” greeted her. Tears erupted from Mia’s eyes.
“Hey, y’all,” she said, her voice cracking on the first word. “How are things?”
Lola’s jaw dropped open, while Cara and Marie gave her weird looks. Jeannette’s face went dead serious as she brought the phone close to her face. “Mia? What’s wrong, hon? You okay?”
Mia shook her head, unable to lie to anyone for any longer. “No, I messed up. Big-time.”
“Did something happen with the show?” Jeannette asked. “It’s okay. Tomorrow’s Christmas Eve. I can change your flight to tonight, if you want me to.”
“It’s not that,” Mia said. “I messed everything up.”
“What happened?” Jeannette asked. “Talk to me.”
Mia had avoided telling her sister much about the show, mainly out of guilt and fear that she’d only disappoint her. But now, she told Jeannette everything, from how her crush on Noah had inspired the show to what she’d said during her interview this morning.
Jeannette reacted appropriately, gasping or cursing at the right moments. As they talked, Mia realized just how much she’d missed her sister.Allher sisters. Back home, they’d talked almost every day about what was going on in their lives. Jeannette especially had been her guiding light, her closest confidante. And Mia had felt so lost without her.
When Mia was finally done, Jeannette took a deep breath before she said anything, as was customary in the Yoon household.
“Mia,” she said, “I have a confession to make. Actually, we all do.”
Her sisters were suddenly all back, crowding the screen as Jeannette repositioned her phone.
Mia swallowed. “What?” she asked, unable to keep the panic from her face. “What is it?”
“We watched the show!” Lola blurted out.
Marie and Cara giggled, and Jeannette gave her an apologetic look.
“We got curious,” Jeannette explained. “I found it onYouTube, and I’d only meant to show them the first episode but then—”
“It was amazing!” Lola exclaimed. “We couldn’t stop watching.”
“And Noah is super cute!” Cara exclaimed. “Wow, so hot.”
Mia opened her mouth to protest when Jeannette beat her to the punch.
