Page 70 of The Cuffing Game
Kyle?Agentleman?Without his phone, he had no idea whether Thad was keeping up with the show at his ski resort in Aspen, but Noah hoped he was. Just for this one hilarious moment.
He wanted to laugh and cry at the same time as Celine walked past him with a flick of her hair. But the only outward reaction he allowed himself was running a hand through his own hair, a little gesture to relieve some built-up tension. After what had happened yesterday, it felt good to be in control of himself in front of the cameras again.
Celine and Kyle linked arms, and Mia turned to Noah.
“Okay then,” Mia said. “Noah, as Celine’s previous partner, you’re up next.”
Noah coughed and looked around at the remaining contestants, glancing one by one at Violet, Tiana, and Shirin. Violet, after what he’d seen this morning, was a definiteno. For both her sake and his. And Shirin, probably no as well, since she’d shown zero interest in him all week. Maybe Tiana?
But then he saw it. The tiniest exchange of glances between Tiana and Shirin. Shirin, to her credit, was managing to keep an indifferent expression, but Tiana’s eyes widened in panic.
And then, it finally clicked.
Noah shrugged. “Respectfully, I’m dropping out.”
Damien’s camera immediately focused on him as Kallie’s swept across the other contestants’ shocked faces.
Noah smiled. He was going to miss being on this show. It’d been challenging, but also weirdly fun.
“Yup, you heard me right.” Noah pointed right at Damien’s camera this time, breaking the fourth wall. “I’m out.”
Damien cursed under his breath, swinging his camera away from him.
Okay, people are probably going to make fun of me for that.
Noah walked away from the camera and came to a stop in front of a wide-eyed Mia. Bits and pieces of the conversation he had with her last night lingered in his head.
“Hey,” he said to her, quietly so Alex’s boom mic couldn’t pick up on the sound. “Can we chat privately before you leave Big Bear? I want to talk to you about something.”
Mia gave him the faintest of nods. Noah got out of her way so she could go back in front of the cameras.
“Um, okay then. Well, that was interesting.” She let out a nervous laugh that was echoed throughout the room. “Tiana? How about you?”
Tiana looked positively giddy as she said, “I’d love to cuff with Shirin, again!”
She and Shirin linked arms and cheered.
“Okay then!” Mia said. “So, this isn’t what we originally planned, but since we have two people left ... Carlos? Violet? Would you like to cuff together and be the final cuffle?”
From where he now leaned in the doorway, Noah grinned at how well Mia was playing the part of the clueless MC. If he were hosting, he probably couldn’t have resisted throwing them a wink. Or otherwise alluded to the hot tub incident this morning.
Carlos and Violet looked at each other with huge grins on their faces. “Yes!” they exclaimed.
“Well, there you have it, folks,” Mia said, smiling brightly as she turned back to the cameras. “Your final three cuffles ofThe Cuffing Game!Tune in tomorrow at four p.m. Pacific time to vote for your favorite pair during the live streamed finale. Congratulations, finalists!”
Everyone cheered. Smiling, Noah fully ducked out into the hall, knowing he’d made the right choice.
The In-Between
Chapter Thirty
Mia
Since the drive to the beach house was not safe without cell service, especially in current winter conditions, Mia returned the finalists’ phones. As she did, she made them all promise to not check social media or the SPC’s YouTube channel. Most of them were probably going to do it anyway. But she hoped they would at least think twice about it.
After helping Alex out as much as she could before they shooed her out of the production room, Mia went downstairs. Noah, who’d also gotten his phone back, had texted her to meet him in the backyard. So while Mia expected to find him outside, what shedidn’texpect was to find him in the hot tub, which was still bubbling and steaming from when they’d left it on this morning.
He was shirtless again, so Mia had a clear view of his wide shoulders sticking out of the water.
