“Awesome,” I croaked. “See ya!”
When she turned to leave I looked up just in time to see Becca staring at me. Damn it, I hoped she hadn’t seen the awkward kiss.
But judging by the look on her face, the one girls get when they’re so pissed they can’t help but stare laser beams straight through your body in hopes that you’ll spontaneously combust, she wasn’t happy.
Damn, I really did need to make that chart. With a wave in her direction, I walked to the hut and started working. I had a few hours before the date and I needed to have a game plan for the rest of the show, the sooner the better.
A pounding sounded on the door. Panicked, I jolted from the fetal position on the floor and yawned. Must have fallen asleep making my chart. The production crew had brought me pictures of all the girls. I made do without scissors, folding each picture so only the name showed beneath the face, and lined them up on the floor.
Fifteen girls.
I’d set about memorizing their names—their real names as well as their nicknames, so I knew which ones were bad and which were good. For example, Apple, also known as Bang because literally every time I’d smiled in her direction she’d made a gun motion with her hand like she was a sharpshooter from the Wild West. I was still on the fence about her. Not sure if she thought pretending to shoot my face off was cute or if she really did hit the bull’s-eye every time and imagined my face as the target. To be safe, I was going to warn Becca about her.
With a sigh I walked to the door and opened it.
Reid stood on the other side, smile huge. “Ready for your big date tonight? You do know you have to pick one of the girls and send the other one home? I wonder who it will be?”
I shook my head and pushed the door open farther so he could walk in. Once he stepped over the threshold I pushed against his chest, stopping him. “The goat, it’s stalking us.”
“Oh.” Reid turned around and pointed. “You mean Hades?”
“The god of the underworld lives on Love Island?” I snapped my fingers. “Damn it! I should have seen the signs!”
“The goat.” Reid rolled his eyes.
“You named it!” I roared. “When you name things you take possession of them, jackass!” I smacked him on the back of the head and motioned toward Hades. “Shoo, shoo now, just—just run along!”
The goat stared me down, his jaw moving back and forth as he chewed on a piece of grass. That’s right, little bastard. I’m watching you. I made a motion with my fingers, pointing at my eyes and then at his.
He stomped his foot.
“Was that a challenge?”
“Max,” Reid called from inside. “Stop scaring the goat.”
“I’m saving your life!” I yelled back, turning around so I could explain. When I turned back toward the door, the goat was gone.
“Hey?” I took a step outside. “Where’d he go? Hades? Hades?”
“Uh, Max.”
“Shh! Reid! I’m working.”
“Max—”
“Hades!”
“Naa-naa.” I blinked and turned to my right.
Hades was standing two feet away from me.
Reid sighed and walked around me. “He’s been like that all day, super silent, scares the shit out of me, but doesn’t really do anything except make noise. I think he’s . . . lonely.”
“When demons get lonely they usually possess someone.” I slapped him on the back. “So good luck finding a girlfriend with the mind of that one inside you.”
“Max.” Reid rolled his eyes. “Conquer your fears.”
I smirked, my eyebrows arched, as I crossed my arms. “Wow, really?”
“What?” Reid puffed up.
“One word.” I examined my hands. “Grandma.”
Reid visibly shook.
“Aw, gonna pee your pants?”
“You’re an asshole.” He glared, then motioned toward the goat. “Come on in, Hades. Make some friends.”
The goat, clearly smarter than I’d given him credit for, waltzed right into the hut and started walking around.
“Son of a bitch!” I staggered back toward the bed. “How dare you invite Satan into my home? Everyone knows you have to invite them, otherwise they have to stay outside!”
“Pretty sure that’s vampires.” Reid laughed. “At any rate, that’s what you get for saying her name.” He shuddered. “You doing okay?”
“Sure I am, though I’m a bit concerned that you’re actually worried about me. Didn’t you make a bet that I’d fall flat on my face during this little escapade, or was that Jason?” I was banking on the fact that they’d made side bets. I knew my friends well—most likely there was at least two hundred dollars in a pool over how many times I’d mess up.
A loud chomping interrupted my thoughts. “Hey!” I ran toward Hades. “Stop that! Stop eating those!”
Ignoring me, he continued to chew on my boxers. I tried to pry them free from his teeth. When I did, he growled. Swear to all that is holy that damn goat growled at me like he was possessed by pure evil.
“Nice Hades.” I released the boxers. “Here, take them all!” I dumped my underwear into a pile and scooted it toward the far corner of the room. “Feast, my friend, feast!”
Hades, clearly satisfied with his new arrangement, waltzed over to the corner, plopped down, and went to town.