“Hey, y’all…” a voice softly interrupts.
I have to stop myself from audibly groaning.
Henry clears his throat and leans back. “Sara Claire. How are you?”
She smiles timidly, which is annoying, because Sara Claire is not timid, and what is she even doing? She had a whole date with him.
I can feel the absolutely absurd expression forming on my face as I try to look nice and polite while also sending her some kind of signal that says not now.
“Cindy darling, do you mind if I cut in?”
I look to Henry and his smile is stiff. “Sure,” I finally say, and stand up, my hand slipping from his. “All yours.”
I give Sara Claire what I hope is a meaningful look. I know we’re all here for the same reason, but it’s hard not to feel betrayed, especially after last night.
She giggles as she settles down beside him, fitting perfectly under his arm, and I hate that I hate her right now. It’s a disgusting feeling that goes against everything I thought I’ve ever believed about women empowering each other and lifting each other up. But maybe this show is too much of a feminist wasteland for anything like that to even be possible.
Closer to the house, I find Anna and Drew with Chloe, Jenny, and Stacy all huddled around an electric fire pit.
“She really swooped right in, didn’t she?” asks Chloe as the circle widens for me to squeeze in between Anna and Drew.
“I don’t think I like that girl,” says Anna.
“You don’t even know her,” I spit back at her.
Anna jerks away a little, and Drew eyes me in a way that says, And you do?
“Sorry.” I nudge Anna and she eases a bit. “I’m just on edge.”
Stacy shrugs. “Besides, you can’t get mad because someone is doing the things we all came here to do. Aren’t we all here to win?”
A gust of wind blows through the courtyard and a shiver rolls through me. “Yeah. It would have been nice if she hadn’t just barged in like that. And it was so unlike her—”
“I don’t buy that whole Southern-manners act,” Jenny says.
“It doesn’t matter if you buy it or not,” Addison says from outside the circle. “It only matters if Henry does.”
“Good evening, ladies,” says Chad as he steps out into the center of the courtyard. “If you’ll follow me to the front of the house, it’s time for elimination.”
“What?” asks Jenny. “We’ve barely even seen Henry tonight.”
“Henry has made his decision. He’s ready for the elimination ceremony.”
As we walk through the house to the front, where lights and cameras are already set, Drew takes my hand. “Something’s up with Anna,” she whispers. “Doesn’t she seem off to you?”
“What? No. I haven’t noticed.” But then again, I wouldn’t notice after being so wrapped up in myself. “If anything, I’m the one who’s off.”
Drew shakes her head. “I can’t put my finger on it.”
As we step out onto the marble staircase, we’re directed in opposite directions.
Our hands drift, but Drew links her pinkie to mine. “Good luck, babe.”
My relationship with Anna and Drew was so difficult to navigate in high school. Imagine living with the older, most popular girls in school and trying to just be yourself around them. Things shifted their senior year when they became the ultimate queen bees, but I was still always their oddball stepsister whose fashion sense was a little offbeat and who found her solace in the drama costuming department. But after Dad died, they were there for me in a way any other friend just couldn’t be, because they loved Dad like he was their own father. The pain I felt was different from theirs, but it was a pain we bonded over. Just getting to see their warm smiles while I’m here in isolation with seventeen other women and a television crew is a comfort I don’t take for granted.
Tonight, Mallory lines me up in the front row between Chloe and Addison with Anna directly behind me.
“Welcome to the Midnight Ceremony. This evening is our last big elimination,” Chad announces with a line of Rolls-Royces at his back and the huge Before Midnight clock towering over us all. “Tonight this group will go from seventeen to ten. As the group grows smaller, it will be more important to make an impression on Henry. True love is on the line. And the clock is ticking.” He turns to Henry. “Let’s get to it.”
Henry’s stance is broad with his hands clasped in front of him. For someone who thinks clothing only serves a utilitarian purpose, he looks painfully handsome in a flawlessly cut deep blue suit. His dark eyes flit up toward us. “I’ve had a great few days getting to know each of you, and it’s given me the chance to decide who I need to spend more time with and whose journey here ends tonight.” He pauses for a beat. “Sara Claire, will you accept this scroll?”
I glance behind me and watch as she floats down the stairs, her cheeks flushed. “Of course,” she says, and when she reaches him, she stands there as they share a silent moment together. “Thank you,” she whispers.
I get a sick feeling in my stomach as it hits me. She’s really falling for him. She really is. And I want to hate her for it, but isn’t that what we’re all here to do? Fall for this guy. I remember when we first got here and how she said this felt like her last chance. I know that can’t be true…but what if it is? And what if I’m just standing in the way?
Addison, Jenny, Chloe, Anna, Gretchen, Samantha, Stacy, Valerie…Until only one scroll remains.
“Cindy,” he says.
I bite down on my lip to stop my smile from turning goofy. “Thank you.” I hold the scroll to my chest as I stand off to the side.
Chad steps forward. “If Henry didn’t call your name, then that means you’ll be leaving us tonight.”
I look up to see Drew still standing there without a scroll, and suddenly, it feels like the rug’s been pulled out from under me.
“No!” Anna says. “What about Drew?”
Henry looks up to where my statuesque stepsister in her beautiful lavender silk gown stands, her expression hollow. I knew this would happen and that one of us would have to be the first to go home, but I was absolutely certain it would be me and that I wouldn’t have to watch one of my sisters go.
Drew glances to Anna and then me, and shakes her head, trying to smile through her disappointment.
The rejected girls make their way down the steps to say goodbye to Henry, and Drew bypasses him altogether, heading straight for Anna.
“One less girl in your way,” she says to Anna with a wink as she pulls her in for a hug.
My chest tightens, and I can feel tears brimming for the second time tonight.
A cameraman pulls in tight on the two of them, and I have to remind myself that we’re technically not supposed to be sisters. “We’ll miss you,” I say quietly, my voice cracking.
Drew pulls me into their hug. “Watch out for her,” she whispers into my ear.
“Hug Mom for us,” Anna begs her just quietly enough for only us to hear. “And Gus, Jack, and Mary.”
Our tearful goodbye triggers more tears from the other women, like it’s contagious. I guess we’re all tired and a little bit drunk.