Bonnie stares at him, searching his face to know how to answer properly. Her gut instinct is to say no, that she’s not okay. But can she really trust Ben? Sure, they’re friendly enough, but she doesn’t really know him. He has a life away from the house. He gets to go home, talk to other people, be in his own space. Longing swells inside her. ‘What did you do last night?’

The question seems to throw him. ‘What do you mean?’

‘I’m stuck in this place like a prisoner. I need a taste of the outside world. What did you do after work yesterday?’

Ben’s face crinkles with an amused smile. ‘I picked up some pizza and hung out with Sofia.’

She imagines his simple life—pizza, girlfriend, lounge—and feels envious.

‘Sorry,’ he says. ‘I feel like I should have done something to impress you.’

She smiles. ‘Hey, to me that sounds like the perfect night in. This is probably the longest I’ve ever gone since leaving home without eating takeaway. I wish I could say I don’t miss it, but I do.’ She feels a bit pathetic admitting this, but Ben laughs.

‘Well, I guess when you screw up making an omelette, you would need to rely on takeaway.’

He’s teasing her about the meal she made for Ty on the Food Appreciation date. It feels weird that Ben’s been there for almost every date she’s had with Ty. He’s seen how she acted, heard what she said.

‘I would have thought you’d be craving some Indian?’ He’s waiting for her to respond but she doesn’t get it.

‘Huh?’

He gestures to her outfit, a Bollywood-inspired costume that all remaining girls are wearing tonight. Hers is a dark olive green, with a beaded crop top and a long flowing skirt. Her stomach is bare and her arms are covered in gold bangles. Her dark hair has been curled and a gold headpiece sits in the middle of her forehead.

She shakes her head. ‘I love Indian food, but I don’t love wearing this.’ She doesn’t like dressing up. She’s happiest in her trackies and a T-shirt.

‘Only a couple more days in the house,’ he says. ‘Then you can have as much pizza and Indian as you want.’

Bonnie nods. They haven’t been informed of the schedule yet, not until it’s revealed who Ty is picking for hometown visits. Her chest tightens thinking about the key ceremony tonight. Will she be chosen? Will Ty want to go to her hometown? Does he see a future with her?

‘You okay?

‘What?’

‘You’re staring at me.’

Bonnie drops her face into her hands. ‘Sorry, my head is just going around and around.’

He seems a bit concerned now. ‘Do you still want to do this?’ He nods in the direction of Ty.