Bonnie knows she has to move on but as she lets go of Ty’s hand she’s hit with overwhelming panic, like she’s Alice in Wonderland falling down the rabbit hole.

Somehow, she makes it further down the path and inside the house. The other girls seem brighter and shinier than they did before they’d left the hotel. They’d only met briefly before the limos picked them up and she’d spoken to a few of them, but it had been a blur of smiling red lips and glittery dresses. Now, their voices are loud, competing with one another, escalating at rapid speed.

‘What do you think?’ one of them asks her.

Bonnie can’t remember the girl’s name but knows she’s from Sydney and works in marketing. ‘A fancy name for a promo model,’ another woman had whispered to her, giggling.

In all honesty, her body feels numb, in shock after a huge surge of chemicals had rushed through it. She’s never felt such an attraction on first meeting someone before. Surely these aren’t the kind of thoughts she’s supposed to admit to the other girls?

‘He seems nice,’ she says finally.

‘Nice?’ one of them screeches with amusement. ‘He’s the hottest suitor they’ve ever had. We are very lucky ladies. Very lucky indeed.’

Bonnie is handed a glass of champagne by a waiter and she murmurs thanks, immediately second-guessing the connection she’d felt with Ty. Maybe he’s the kind of guy who has that kind of power over every girl he meets.

‘Are you all right?’

Bonnie turns her head and sees Darcy, the producer who had interviewed her at the auditions, clipboard in hand. Bonnie hadn’t realised she’d backed herself against the wall.

‘Do you need some water?’ Her voice is full of concern.

Bonnie shakes her head. ‘I’m okay. I think I am, anyway.’

Their attention turns to Nicole, the next girl who enters the room having just met Ty. ‘He’s gorgeous!’ she announces, and the rest of the girls purr back in agreement.

Bonnie feels Darcy studying her. ‘Just block them out. I know it’s hard but just focus on you and Ty.’

Bonnie glances around the room. She knows Darcy’s right, but she doubts her ability to ignore these loud, glitzy and attention-seeking girls.

‘I shouldn’t be telling you this,’ Darcy says quietly, ‘but I saw you and Ty on the monitor. There was something there. Trust me.’ She squeezes Bonnie’s hand and then moves away, glancing down at something on her clipboard.

Bonnie knows she has no reason to trust Darcy, but she does. Those few words are enough to give her the confidence she needs. She takes a sip of her champagne and joins a nearby group of girls.

There is something worth sticking around for.

Chapter 14

14