Summer's POV
The morning began with too many smiles from the production crew. That was never a good sign.
"Attention, everyone!" the host announced, standing on a crate like he was declaring war. "Today's episode—'Rival Survival.' You'll swap partners and compete in challenges. Winning team gets real dinner. Losers eat… whatever you find."
Summer blinked. "Swap… partners?"
The host nodded, grinning. "Exactly. Let's spice things up!"
Before she could even process, the new guest stepped off the boat.
Tall, lean, sun-kissed skin, confident smile. The kind of man producers love—and Ethan immediately hated.
"Everyone, meet Liam Carter, actor, athlete, survival enthusiast," the host said.
Liam gave a relaxed wave. "Hope you're ready to lose."
The crew laughed. Ethan didn't.
Summer folded her arms. "So, who am I—"
The host clapped his hands. "Summer, you're with Liam. Ethan, you'll team up with Ava."
The silence that followed was sharp enough to cut through the ocean breeze.
Summer forced a smile, pretending this didn't sting. "Cool. Fun. Totally fine."
Ethan's jaw twitched once. "Yeah. Fine."
---
Ethan's POV
He wasn't fine. Not even close.
Watching Summer walk beside Liam made something twist painfully in his chest.
Maybe it was jealousy. Maybe it was hunger. Either way, it was unpleasant.
"Focus," Ava said, noticing his glare. "It's a game."
"Sure," Ethan muttered. "Just a game."
The challenge was simple—build a bamboo raft and race across the lagoon.
Simple for everyone except his brain, which couldn't stop tracking where Summer was, what she was laughing at, and why Liam kept standing too close.
Ava tossed him a rope. "If you're done death-staring your ex, maybe tie this?"
He caught the rope, smirked. "Not my ex."
"Right," she said dryly. "You just look like a man in emotional denial."
---
Summer's POV
Working with Liam was… different. He was easygoing, funny, and ridiculously charming.
"You've done this before?" he asked, holding a bamboo pole.
"Only every childhood summer camp ever," she said.
He grinned. "So you'll carry us."
"Exactly. You're just the pretty face."
"Happy to play my part."
She laughed, but the moment felt off—too smooth, too practiced.
Her eyes drifted across the beach, catching Ethan tightening rope with sharp, controlled movements.
He looked serious.
And when he looked up, their gazes locked for a second too long.
Liam noticed. "Your partner seems intense."
"He's not my partner anymore," she said automatically.
But even she didn't believe it.
---
Ethan's POV
The race started with chaos.
"Go!" shouted the host, and suddenly everyone was dragging rafts into the water, yelling orders, splashing everywhere.
Ava climbed on board first. Ethan pushed from the shore, muscles burning.
Across the lagoon, Summer and Liam's raft shot forward. Liam was laughing, paddling strong.
Summer's hair whipped in the wind, face determined.
She looked alive—and Ethan hated that someone else got to see it up close.
"Paddle harder!" Ava yelled.
He did, but his eyes never left Summer.
Then, halfway across, Liam's raft hit a wave. Summer nearly fell off—until Liam grabbed her wrist, steadying her.
Ethan's stomach dropped.
The camera zoomed in.
Ava groaned. "Oh, come on. Now they look like a movie poster."
Ethan didn't reply. He just paddled harder.
By some miracle—or rage—they reached the shore first.
Ava jumped up, victorious. "We won!"
Ethan didn't celebrate. His gaze went straight to Summer.
When she reached land second, she looked at him, smiling despite everything. "Nice job."
"Yeah," he said, trying to sound casual. "You too."
But it came out rough, colder than he meant.
Her smile faltered. "Ethan—"
The host interrupted. "Amazing energy today! Viewers are going to love this tension."
Ethan clenched his jaw. Of course they would.
---
Summer's POV
After the cameras stopped rolling, she found him alone by the water, staring at the horizon like it had personally offended him.
"Hey," she said softly. "You were good out there."
He didn't turn around. "You almost fell."
She blinked. "So you were watching."
He laughed once, humorless. "Hard not to, when half the crew's filming your new love story."
"Wow," she said. "You sound jealous."
He turned then, eyes sharp. "Maybe I am."
That shut her up. For a second, neither of them spoke—the air thick with unspoken things.
Finally, she sighed. "It's just a show, Ethan."
"Yeah," he said quietly. "Tell that to my heart."
Summer froze. "What?"
But he just walked away before she could ask again.
---
Ethan's POV
That night, as the others laughed around the fire, he sat apart, replaying every moment in his head.
Her laugh. Her fall. Liam's hand on her wrist.
He told himself it was just professional irritation. He didn't believe it.
Somewhere in the dark, he heard her voice—soft, uncertain—talking to Liam.
He didn't catch the words, only the sound.
And it was enough to remind him what he'd said earlier.
He was jealous.
But what scared him more was realizing…
He might also still be in love.