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“How did that… go?” I ask.

“Fine. She and Jordy are staying across town, but you’ll get to see both of them next week to hear all about it.”

My stomach sinks. I suppose it was too much to hope that I could have her for the next week. I try to keep my voice casual. “Is there… much to hear?”

Wai looks skeptical. “I’m not sure you want to hear the details, Skye. I know today’s been hard.”

“I’m actually okay. I do want to hear the details. I really, really—it’d make me feel better.”

Wai studies me for a long moment, then shrugs. “As far as I know, it was lovely. I’m sure they’ll be happy together. I know you and Maya are close. You know, it’s nice that you’re supporting your friend, even if I’m sure it’s not the outcome you wanted.”

Even if… Oh, because she thinks I wish I won.

But then, does she simply not know? Is it possible thatword about the rejection hasn’t reached her? Or is she pretending everything is fine so Perrie and I look appropriately surprised for the cameras during the live event?

It’s got to be the latter. That’s frustrating, but expected.

After Wai leaves me, I head down the hall to find Perrie’s door open. She’s still wearing her finale outfit, a floor-length gown of bright purple silk, and appears roughly as unruffled as I feel.

“It’s not like I had feelings for him,” she says, wandering over to the window in a swish of silk. “I’d have to be stupid to let him in after what he did to you and Maya.”

“That’s probably why you came this far,” I say, examining the minibar, which we have full access to. “Other than the fact that you’re amazing, naturally.”

“Naturally.”

“That guy’s got a sixth sense for which girls aren’t all that into him. I don’t know if he likes a challenge, or the idea of low commitment, or what, but it’s there.”

“Lucky me,” Perrie says ruefully. “If I’d known I could get all that winning-contestant publicity by being a bit more of a bitch, I would’ve brought it. I can do a verbal takedown like you’ve never seen.”

I select a tiny bottle of white wine and pour it between two glasses. It’s about three sips each. “I think we struck a happy medium, personally. We still get plenty of screen time, but we don’t have to date Jordy.”

I hand her a glass, and she clinks it against mine. “I just wish we were allowed into the pool,” she says wistfully, looking down at the grounds.

“We could sneak out,” I say. “Ooh, we could have a night swim.”

“Nah. I don’t wanna risk it getting out that we lost. I’m stillhoping to capitalize on the follows from people who think I might have won.”

“Okay, well… let’s give Wai a shopping list made entirely of sugar, and we’ll have a sleepover watching horror movies until we pass out.”

“That sounds like agreatidea,” Perrie says. “But swap out horror for action.”

“Action? Really?”

“Mmm. If there’s not a single CGI explosion, it’s a waste of time if you ask me.”

“Okay, if you’ve got recs—”

“Oh, I’ve got recs.”

We’re interrupted by a knock at the door. Perrie opens it to find Wai.

“Hey, Skye,” she says. “Can I grab you for a sec?”

She takes me into the hallway, where she drops her voice to a whisper. “Isaac called. He wanted me to give you a message from Maya.”

Here it comes. The victory flag.

“She… It’s vague, I’m sorry, maybe it’ll make sense to you. She says she’s sorry for what she did, but she had to do it. She said she’ll explain more when she sees you next week.”