‘I know you’ve always found comfort in eating, but this really isn’t the time to be hitting one fast food place after another.’

She means because of the photo evidence. Carla would much prefer to hide in the pantry and binge rather than be caught out in public.

‘We really need to get you on a cleanse,’ Carla says. ‘It’ll make you feel so much better.’

The idea of drinking nothing but juice and forbidding herself carbs, sugar, coffee or alcohol would actually be a form of torture right now. ‘I’m not doing a cleanse.’

Carla eyes Bonnie up and down, examining her outfit—jeans and a T-shirt from the dirty wash pile. ‘Even making a bit of an effort with what you wear would make you feel better.’

There’s no time to even respond to Carla’s comment because the door to the studio pushes open again, a cameraman entering first with the same journalist as yesterday only a step behind.

‘What are your thoughts on Ty and Penny’s reunion?’ the journalist probes.

Bonnie knows Penny agreed to appear on The One and even though the reunion itself would have been filmed already, it won’t be aired until tonight. She forces herself not to think too much about it. Feelings of anger and sadness and frustration are all bound together and she doesn’t want to feel weighed down with it. ‘Please, just leave me alone,’ Bonnie urges. She used to believe everything happened for a reason, but she can’t see how going on The One was guided by any higher powers.

‘How do you think the remaining girls would feel about Ty coming face to face with his ex again?’

‘Go away,’ Bonnie murmurs, feeling completely incapable of dealing with this today.

‘You heard her, get out!’ Carla shrieks. ‘Leave us alone!’

The journalist and cameraman slink away, Carla almost pushing them back out the door.

‘It’s disgusting.’ Carla shakes her head as she stands at the window watching them, arms folded like a bodyguard.

And while Bonnie takes the slightest comfort in her sister’s protectiveness, she can see that the whole situation has given Carla the biggest thrill and will be recounted to every one of her friends.

Bonnie hangs her head. She invited this ugly mess into her life by agreeing to go on The One. Is she going to regret that decision forever?

Chapter 58

58

‘What’s this?’ Alice looks up sharply as she takes the envelope Darcy’s handed over.

‘It’s my resignation.’ Darcy’s voice is steadier than she thought it would be.

‘Don’t be ridiculous.’ There’s annoyance in Alice’s voice, as though Darcy is wasting her time with theatrics. ‘I thought you wanted to build yourself a career here?’

‘I have built a career here,’ Darcy says confidently. ‘And I thank you for that. I’ve been pushed hard and become very good at what I do.’