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“How did I look then?”

“Like you’d been dragged along to the last place you’d ever wanna be.”

I let myself fall back against the wall. Suddenly, more than anything, I want to talk to someone about all of this. I feel like I’ve been flying totally blind for the past week, messing things up every step of the way. I’m not good on my own. Somehow, I always mess it up.

I don’t want to mess this up.

“Can you keep a secret?”

“I’m actually really good at minding my own business.”

“It’s a really, really important one. And you only need to keep it for the next hour or so. I hope. Is that okay?”

She gives a single, confident nod. “Hit me with it. I can take it.”

I brace myself, then, screw it. “I… like Skye.”

Perrie gives me theweirdestlook at this. So weird that my brain immediately rushes to homophobia. But she knowsI’m bi. We’ve talked about it! She didn’t have an issue then! Unless she’s someone who pretends to be an ally when it’s hypothetical but doesn’t want anything to do with it if it’s right in front of them. Oh god, why is she looking at me like that?

“What?” I spit, at the same time she bursts out, “I know!”

“You know?” I repeat, confused. “Skye told you?”

“No. Once I was looking for you guys and you weren’t in your room, and I found you outside making out. So I… backed away slowly and never told anyone.”

“Including me?”

“Remember how I just said I’m good at minding my own business? Iminded my own business.”

I pause, then laugh with relief. “Wow. Okay. And you didn’t tell Jordy or the producers or anyone? Even though it probably could’ve gotten us kicked off?”

She looks indignant at the very idea. “What kind of monster would do that?”

“A lot of reality show contestants.”

“Mm, but we weren’t picked out of a crowd based on how much drama we can stir,” she says.

“Well, I kind of was.”

“Huh?”

“Apparently Jordy told the producers to make sure I came on because I’d be a great villain.”

Perrie gapes. “What! You’re kidding.”

“I am not kidding.”

“Maya, why are you still with this guy? What? Skye is right there.Right there.”

I must make a weird face at that, because she raises her eyebrows. “Okay. What else don’t I know? Catch me up.”

Well, hey. She’s going to know about it by the end of theshow anyway. I might as well tell her. Except for Isaac’s and Gwendolyn’s involvement, of course, just in case that’s the sort of thing that might make or break a lawsuit if the royal family does sue.

When I’m done, she sticks out her lower lip and breathes out noisily. “Wow. Well. I can’t say he doesn’t have it coming.”

“Right?” I say.

She nods, then furrows her brow. “But… do you think you’ll be happy after this?”