Chapter 11

The next twenty-four hours seemed to pass by in a blink.

Cas was consumed—all night, all morning, all afternoon—with worry about the partnering ceremony that evening. About what Femi would do, what he should do, now that the rankings were in.

How long would people continue to like him, think good things about him, if he stayed associated with her? He was clearly well-liked, and short of, like, actively fighting one of them, that probably wouldn't change overnight. But people would start to question him—his integrity, his judgment—if he continued to be Cas's partner, especially given his clear feelings for Sienna.

As easy as it was to fall down that spiral, it was just as simple to examine the alternative. To see this as an opportunity. A lifeline. Because how long could she stay at the bottom if she was tied to someone like Femi? If the public had such a strong positive feeling about him, surely it must say something about her if he was actively choosing to associate himself with her. And even more broadly, if she continued to spend time with Sienna and Ada. Yes, Cas was in the bottom, but she was surrounded by the most well-liked people in the villa. Surely, surely, that had to count for something.

It made her feel a little sticky thinking about it, but maybe, if they refused to cave to the public pressure, the audience would reevaluate their ideas of her.

Cas kept hoping that Femi would come and find her at some point during the day, but he was never around anytime Cas looked for him. He still brought her a coffee in the morning, still flashed her the same grin he gave to Ada and Sienna before he ran outside into the sunshine, but by the time Cas's brain had switched on for the morning?

He was playing two a side with Reece, Jayden, and Charlie, then he was in the gym, and then he was just... gone.

No matter how much Cas tried to play it cool, she was definitely starting to stress as the sun dipped lower and lower. As her moment of fate crept ever closer. She could have gone to talk to him about it, but she didn't want to feel like she was pressuring him. Last place, least liked as she was, it would have been painfully obvious to her, to Femi, to everyone, exactly what she was after. The smooth rocking of her pool float in the water was the only thing keeping Cas from giving away the very last shred of her dignity and begging Femi to keep her.

Cas was lucky enough to grab the first shower that evening, so she had more time than usual to choose her outfit. Cas thumbed through the wardrobe, considering each bodycon dress and micromini with an intensity that far exceeded the actual severity of the situation. She eventually decided on a mostly sheer bustier top that hugged her curves and a white faux leather skirt with a slit that exposed most of her right thigh. It was a very different style from what she usually wore, but she liked the contrast in the fabric, and even more, she liked the way that it felt when she put it on.

She was sitting at the vanity blending foundation down her neck when Ada walked in, hair dripping, and made her way to the wardrobe.

Cas was not at all watching the path of the water droplets over her collarbone.

"I thought you weren't going to wash your hair."

"The boys let me get into the outside shower before them if I promised to make them coffee tomorrow morning," she said.

"They should have let you in for nothing," Cas said, tilting her head back to check that she'd blended her makeup well enough. "It's not like they take more than two seconds to shower."

"Whatever." Ada grabbed a halter dress out of the wardrobe and examined it before putting it back. "I'd get up tomorrow and make myself coffee anyway, so it's just a few more mugs."

"Fair enough."

Neither of them spoke as Ada continued searching through the wardrobe, though Cas felt her eyes drawn to Ada over and over again as she held out her options. Each one—a tiny dress that was more cutouts than dress, a skirt set that looked barely bigger than a postage stamp—made Cas feel like she could hear her heartbeat against the inside of her chest.

The most recent selection, a royal blue bandage skirt and a halter top with a cutout across the chest, appeared to have Ada somewhat mesmerized. She tilted her head to the side, considering it, and Cas tried to distract herself by applying bronzer to her skin to stop herself imagining Ada in it.

Or, god, imagining peeling Ada out of it. A thought that hit Cas like a ton of bricks.

She'd known, from the first moment she'd walked into the villa, that she found Ada attractive, but it was unavoidable now. Undeniable in a way that was really going to be a problem if Ada didn't feel the same way.

Though it might be an even bigger problem if Ada did feel the same way.

Because Ada was genuine. Looking for a connection with someone that transcended whatever time she was going to spend with them in the villa. Cas had no interest in anything lasting beyond the second she stepped out that front door.

Ada scraped her lip over her bottom teeth and locked eyes with Cas in the mirror. "What do you think about this?"

Cas thought far too many things about that little skirt. And only about three of them were possible to share at the moment.

"You should wear that," Cas said. She grabbed her sponge off the table and started diffusing the blush across her cheeks. "You'll look hot in it."

"Do you think?"

"Yeah." Cas grabbed an eyeshadow brush and a random palette. Started very casually doing her eyes.

The other girls, thankfully, started filing in over the next few minutes, the laughter and conversation the perfect distraction from everything going on in her head.

Cas had just finished putting the final touches on her lipstick—a bright, almost electric red that looked like poison against her lips—when Femi appeared in the doorway.

"You all are looking lovely."

"Thank you," Sienna said. She had just emerged from the wardrobe, a set of Barbie-pink separates in her hand. "You're looking decent yourself."

Femi was wearing a soft pastel striped shirt, but the lines were abstract, curving and waving around the top instead of forming straight lines. The pink, yellow, green, and blue popped beautifully against his dark brown skin and the faded black jeans he'd paired with them for the night. He'd left a few of the top buttons undone, and Cas watched Sienna's eyes drift over the exposed planes of Femi's chest.

Femi, though, was twisting his fingers together and staring at Cas. "Cas, have you got a second?"

Cas flashed him a smile, though the anxiety was swirling wildly in her gut now. "Of course."

Her feet were remarkably steady as she stood, her fingers relaxed as she set her lipstick back in the tray on the vanity. No one spoke as she made her way to the balcony door, but Ada caught her hand as she passed, a quick squeeze and a glance that gave Cas the last bit of confidence she needed to walk outside.

The balcony was small, little more than a tiny two-seater bench, a few potted plants, and a string of fairy lights. It was a nice space, seemingly private, but the door into the change room and the fencing, both, were glass.

Cas sat very carefully on the bench, tugging the hem of her skirt down with so much force she might have ripped it in half.

Femi kept his eyes on hers. "Sorry I didn't come find you earlier today. I was in the beach hut for... a while this afternoon."

Ah. So, the producers made sure that Cas and Femi weren't having this conversation until now.

"How are you feeling about tonight?" Femi asked.

Cas exhaled, the sound shaky and almost a laugh. "Honestly?"

His expression softened into a smile. "Honestly."

"Horrible," Cas admitted. "I feel like I should have spent the night packing my bags."

"Really?"

She nodded. "Not because I think you'd— Not because of you. Just... I don't know. I'm last. Why would anyone keep me round?"

Femi hummed absently. Didn't contradict her. He leaned back against the glass, crossed one leg over the other. He wasn't looking at her, was watching the girls as they finished putting their makeup on, though, Cas noticed his gaze catching on Sienna. Admiring her as she checked her outfit in the mirror, smiling, just a little, when she threw a cotton pad at Ada's head. Exhaling gently as she laughed at something Tia said.

Finally, he drew in a deep breath. Turned back to Cas.

"You're my best friend in here, you know," Femi said quietly. He sounded almost awed, like he couldn't quite believe it.

"Try not to sound so surprised."

He nudged her lightly with his shoulder. "It's just easy to talk to you. I like our little debriefs in bed at night."

From anyone else in any other context, it might have sounded suggestive, but Cas knew exactly what Femi meant. Those moments at night, lights out, neither of them tired enough to actually sleep. They always stayed up a little longer to recap everything that happened that day, making little jokes or observations about whatever ridiculous thing occurred. Plus, the chats helped to drown out the soft moans and sound of smacking lips from Lexi and Charlie's bed at the other end of the room.

"Me, too," she agreed.

"It's important to me that I'm partnered up with someone I trust. I feel like I trust you. And, thinking about tonight..." Femi said. "Would you be willing to stay in a friendship couple?"

Cas was nodding before Femi even finished asking. This was everything she wanted. Right here on a silver platter.

"I'd stay in a friendship couple with you until the very end if you'd let me. But..." She took a deep breath. This could fuck everything up. "What about Sienna?"

Femi half shrugged, half shook his head. "Jayden's going to choose her tonight. He was talking about it downstairs." He was quiet for a moment before he rallied, smiled. "Besides, I'm going to worry about saving you first, always. I can't imagine being in this villa without you."

"Me, either."

The sense of relief was immense, overwhelming. After the stress of the day, the feeling of having the weight lifted off her shoulders nearly brought tears to her eyes.

They were quiet for a beat before Cas glanced at him. "I'm so glad that Lexi cast you off onto me."

Femi laughed, and Cas loved the sound of it, how big and round and loose it was. Like he was full of so much joy, it was positively spilling out of him.

"Me, too." He stood and extended his hand. "Now, let's go partner up."

"I hope you have a big, soppy speech about me," Cas said.

"Oh, you know I do. If you don't cry, this partnership is over."

"I'll have to make sure I grab my eye drops on the way out, then."

Femi laughed and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, jostling her as he tugged her into his side. "I hate you."

Cas rolled her eyes and turned the door handle. "Liar."