Darcy moves to the lounge and flops next to Ed.

‘How’s Drew? You coping without him?’

It’s only been a few days since Drew left, but it’s nice to have Ed ask. Every time she’s spoken to Drew, he’s given a running commentary on who he’s seen and what they’re up to. She’s trying not to take how much he’s enjoying it personally. He did call today asking if she could get away for the weekend so that had been a nice surprise. ‘I’m meeting him this weekend in the Hunter Valley.’

Ed raises his eyebrows. ‘Ooh-la-la.’

‘I know!’ Excitement sparks at the thought of having a weekend away—a romantic weekend away. ‘I’m going to head straight up after work on Friday. He’s booked a last-minute deal.’

‘I bet he got a good one.’ Ed is well aware of Drew’s penny-saving ways.

Darcy wouldn’t expect anything less and rolls her eyes. Drew’s fixation on saving is one thing that grates on her.

Ed changes the subject. ‘How’s the new season of the show?’

‘The final twenty-two get notified tomorrow.’

‘Are the chicks as desperate as last year?’

The girls that had been cast last year seemed to get more desperate as each episode aired. The suitor, Simon, had been totally freaked out. Darcy had spent plenty of time trying to assure him they weren’t as bad as they seemed.

‘The chicks,’ she echoes, ‘seem a little more normal this season.’

‘You don’t sound completely sure about that?’

Darcy’s thoughtful as she considers the stuff she’s read in some of the applications. So many sound like they’d do anything to have a real chance at love. When she reads all their stories and situations it reminds her she’s lucky to have Drew. Some of the applicants have been single for so long that it makes them sound a little psychotic.

‘They all seem okay before the cameras start rolling,’ he teases.

Even she has to smirk at this. ‘Ain’t that the truth.’ It never ceases to surprise her how the ‘competition’ for love brings out extreme character traits. ‘But you know the audience loves the crazy ones the best.’

‘The poor guy.’

‘Well, that’s debatable.’ Her eyebrows arch.

‘I don’t envy him for a second. Dating twenty-two women at once? Sounds like a nightmare to me.’

Darcy imagines what Ed would be like as the suitor and finds herself grinning. She knows he’d find the whole thing overwhelming and end up saying really awkward things.

Ed looks up and sees her expression. ‘I know what you’re thinking. If it were me, I’d make a total arse of myself.’

‘Stop talking,’ she tells him, turning away to try to soak up the picture of him as the suitor. ‘I’m enjoying this too much.’