Page 71 of Unscripted

Which meant, of course, that I’d get to kiss Callum again.

I ignored the thrill that ran through me, the anticipation swirling in my chest and seeping out into my bones.

This is fine. Totally and completely fine! I told myself as I watched and waited for Callum to take his turn, trying to focus on anything but the warm, fuzzy feeling that was currently residing in my gut.

When it was finally his time, I tried my best to remain calm and collected, not to stare at him so blatantly.

The intention was short-lived.

Maybe it was the heat frying my brain cells and making any kind of disciplined thinking obsolete as I all-but ogled him as he slid down the plastic tarp, his wet abs and broad chest glistening in the sun.

I was nearly vibrating with anticipation when he pulled the shark with my name on it out of the water and then came to stand in front of me.

Looking up at him, I was struck, once again, by the magnetism in his eyes. It was that same pull toward him I felt during After Show. The one I thought had dissipated this week. Boy, was I wrong. It was it back, and we were both soaking wet and decidedly less clothed, so it felt impossibly more electric.

I realized then, with a jolt in my gut, that my palms had moved on their own accord and were resting on his abs. The warmth of his skin radiated into me, and my head spun as Callum leaned down so we were face to face.

“Hello, again” he whispered, just for me to hear. The husky tone of his voice sent a shiver across my skin. I arched closer to him, breathing in that intoxicating scent of his. He didn’t wait for me to reply; he simply closed the space between us and pressed his lips to mine.

The kiss was just like before, hot and electric, but we both had a little more sense about us this go around and only made out for a respectable amount of time. When he pulled away, he simply smirked at me and then jogged back over to where the other boys stood.

I let out a shaky breath as I watched him from across the platform. Was his heart rate spiking like mine? He seemed totally fine, laughing and chatting with the guys as though nothing of interest had just transpired and it was just another day in the villa. Was he totally unaffected by whatever little moment we had just had?

Could I even consider it a moment?

No, no I couldn’t. It wasn’t that at all. It was just part of the game, part of the chaos that was Bella Amore.

Come on, Poppy, I chided myself. It’s the act: to look good for the cameras, that’s it.

Still, I couldn’t ignore the warmth that his kiss left in my gut.

It lingered long after the game was over.

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

BREAKING NEWS: POPPY’S EX FROM ACROSS THE POND BREAKS HIS SILENCE! IS SHE REALLY IN THE VILLA FOR THE RIGHT REASONS?? WE HAVE THE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH HIM IN OUR NEXT ISSUE.

31

Morning dawned bright and early; the blaring production lights shocking awake the communal bedroom.

It was Friday, or at least I thought it was. Production didn’t allow clocks or calendars in the villa, and the only way to tell what day of the week it was would be to count how many days it had been since the last After Amore Live Show. Even that proved tricky as all the days began to blend into one past a certain point.

I snuggled down into the mattress, bringing the duvet up over my head and trying to steal a few more minutes of sleep. It was working right up until a producer’s voice crackled out over the speakers.

“All Bellas, please get ready for a beach day. You have one hour to get dressed.”

I threw back the comforter and shot up straight.

We were getting out. We were all getting out!

I didn’t realize how badly I needed a change of scenery until the thought of it was right in front of me. The obstacle course game didn’t really count. Not when we had only taken a few steps outside to film it.

Cheers rang out across the room and soon enough everyone had sprung up onto their beds and were jumping up and down like little kids. There was an aspect of being in the villa that made these moments feel very pure. I could be silly and playful and, despite millions watching at home, not care who saw.

I was laughing so hard, caught up in the simple joy around me, that I bounced a bit too high and lost my footing, falling directly into the very defined, very bare chest of Callum. His arms went out to wrap around mine, saving me from careening off the bed.

“Careful there,” he said.