Ch. 6

Mia wakes up with a tingling sensation in her stomach. She got up and is looking forward to today. A date with Jack.

But a shadow flits across her face. Sophia comes with them. Plus, for god knows what reason, she's still pissed off from making out with Summer. Sighing, she gets ready in the bathroom and stumbles over Sophia as she walks out. "Good Morning! What do you think he's going to do with us? ”“ Tomorrow, I have no idea, but we'll find out soon enough. ”She smiles at her counterpart.

Incredible. What's wrong with her? Mia likes Sophia, they have become something like friends over the last few days. So why does the nice pretend feel so wrong? Why would she prefer to stand at attention and hiss ´MINE´?

Confused, Mia goes to breakfast. She desperately thinks about her strange behavior. She smears two loaves of Nutella and joins the conversation at the table. "Tomorrow, Mia! Let's hope that it goes better today than yesterday. “, Trixi grins calmly at her. "Thank you, good morning to you too."

“ So I'm going to swim!” “Oh, I'd rather collect a few more rays of sunshine. A tan looks good on me. ”“ You don't have to bother looking good tonight. The decision who goes has already been made. “, Emilia looks coldly around the group. This is followed by an embarrassed silence that is broken by Sophia crashing down the stairs. “Is there still coffee left?” A murmur of apologetic no starts. Then the doorbell rings. Sophia is the first to react. "I go!"

Why does Mia want to turn her neck right now? Is she going crazy?

#

Jack is a little nervous. He is looking forward to this morning. Tonight he has to throw two out again, he doesn't like that at all. He doesn't want to hurt anyone. When he rings the doorbell, he hopes Mia will open it. Instead, Sophia stands before him. The other woman he dated today. However, she's just his buddy right now. “Morning, Sophia! How are you? ", She beams. "Fantastic. Come in."

Here he stands in front of eight women who hope to find their dream man in Jack. They are competitors and yet they sit here and eat together. Tomorrow there will be six women. Who will he send home?

" And what are we going to do today?", Sophia stands next to him and drinks the coffee that has just been made. Jack's eyes seek and find Mias. "We'll go rafting and then we'll treat ourselves to a carriage ride.", Mia laughs. “Skin-tight wetsuits. I hate these parts, you just can't get in. When you've made it ... it's hard to get out! ”, But the joyful twinkle in her eyes punishes her words as lies.

#

After breakfast they drive to the tour. A really handsome man is their leader. "I'm glad you chose our business." His pierced lip twitches. Mia smiles openly and warmly at the man. "So, where are these torture suits?", His gaze wanders to Mia and lingers there without paying attention to the others. "Come with me, I'll show you.", Mia follows him.

Suddenly someone is holding her hand. Jack. He looks kind of annoyed at her. Form his lips: Stop flirting! She winces in surprise. She was just being friendly. “Here are the suits. By the way, I'm Leon! ”“ Hey Leon. Nice to meet you. “, Mia feels a hand on her jacket. She has gripped and pulls her away from Leon.

What's the matter with Jack? He has seven other wives. Why shouldn't she be allowed to look around? He's making out with Summer too.

" Thanks! Where are the changing rooms? ”“ In the house opposite. On the left the women on the right the men. “, Leon laughs softly and throatily. Jack clears his throat ... loudly. "Thank you!"

In the locker room, Mia is fighting with the suit. Sophia, however, has already completely moved. "How do you do that? I just made it to my knees. “, Sophia laughs. “Wait, there is a trick. Don't fidget ... stop don't move. You have to put it on like a second skin. ”“ You are a genius, Sophia! I wasn't there that fast. ", Then Mia sees the expression on her face. There is something amused, mischievous, and glee about it. "What? Do I look fat? ”, A typical women's question. What is Jack doing to her?

" No, no! You look great. It's just ... Jack seems to like you a lot. "" What ... what? He has a whole house full of women he has a thing for. ”“ But you're the only one who triggers his territorial instinct. ”, She stares confused at her friend. “Am I a dog or what? You belong to his territory too. Why don't you mind that Jack supposedly feels more for me than for everyone else? ”A look of fear crosses her face. "What ...?, But Mia is interrupted by Leon calling into the cabin. "Do you need help, Mia?" How does he know her name? Jack probably told him. "No thanks. We're coming out! "

#

Jack is seething. This Leon is taking it too far. He can't deal with Mia like that. On the other hand, she seems to think he's nice. Which he doesn't like either.

Leon is just explaining how to paddle and what to do if someone is out of the boat. “Did you understand everything?” Everyone nods. "Well then it starts now!", Jack handles it so that Sophia sits next to Leon and he next to Mia. Sophia ... a great woman. Which he has completely forgotten and neglected in the whole fuss. After everyone has sat down in the boat without falling and anchored their feet, he smiles at Sophia. Her mouth returns the smile, but her eyes say her thoughts are elsewhere.

" We have to be in sync, otherwise we will go left or right.", Leon laughs as the boat starts to turn. "OK. We count. In time we paddle up: 1,2,3, and 4th 1,2,3, and 4th 1,2,3 .. ",

that looks a lot easier than it really is. There is no conversation. Sometimes people scream out when the boat almost tips over or ice-cold river water sloshes in. "We are only 250 meters back to the starting point.", A little sigh of relief goes through the round. Everyone's feet are half frozen, it is midsummer. "My paddle got stuck." Sophia has turned ashen. "Don't worry!", Leon leans over to her and grabs the paddle. Then the boat becomes unbalanced. It sways dangerously until: "Whoops!", Mia goes overboard with a loud splash. The first rule is: Don't move, or at least try to. You shouldn't have any problems with that. A head appears. "Shit, is that cold!" Instead of actually following the protocol, Leon says: "Go to Sophia's paddle and try to get it free." He stares at him in horror. "She should get out of the icy water!", But Leon only throws Jack a cursory glance.

" That's good! Can you get it free? ”“ The paddle got stuck between two stones. ”Sophia stung deep into the water, only a small end peeks out on the surface. “Can you dive and move one of the two away?” What does the guy imagine who he is? “Mia you don't have to dive. Better get back in the boat. You must be totally frozen. ”, But she shakes her head and looks at him lovingly. "Do not worry! I can manage it. ”With that she dives into the water.

Mia gasps after she can finally push the stone away. "I'll help you!" Jack holds out his hand to Mia, which she gratefully accepts. “You are freezing! Are you okay? ”Her teeth chatter. "A-Alles gu-gu-gut!", A brave smile on her face. The lips colored blue. "Come on, we still have to do the rest.", Jack doesn't like giving Mia the paddle at all. She should be wrapped in blankets and kept warm.

As soon as they reach the bank, Leon sprints off in an exemplary manner to get blankets. While Jack stares at him angrily, Sophia takes care of Mia.

#

" Come on, you have to get out of this wetsuit.", Sophia leads her back into the cabin. Trembling, she frees herself from the caustic thing with the help of Sophia. "I have blankets and towels.", Sophia picks them up in front of the door. "Let's get you dry first.", Mia lets the procedure go through. "Get dressed!", Still cackling, she obeyed the order. “You know, Jack has been watching you the whole trip. After falling in the water, worry lines formed on his forehead. In addition, he killed Leon with his eyes, if that were possible. I almost felt like a ghost. ”But this realization does not seem to make her jealous, disappointed or angry. “Don't you like Yeah-Jack not-not?” “Yes, but I like Jack. I hope that I'm not among those who have to go. Nevertheless, I am happy every time someone seems to have found the right one! "

Someone's knocking at the door. "How is Mia? Can I come in? “, Jack's voice still sounds concerned. Mia is wrapped in blankets and dressed. "Come in!" In less than five seconds Mia will be held in his arms. Surprised, she accepts the hug ... and closes her eyes. For a moment she can feel his lips on her temple, but she may have imagined that too. Jack embraces her face tenderly. "Are you okay? Warm again? ”His blue eyes burn into hers. “Almost w-thawed again. I'm fine. ”, But she fears that when his arms leave her they will turn to ice again. Fortunately, he lets her linger in his arms for a little while longer.

Suddenly someone clears their throat. Sophia! Oh my god, that was really unfair of her, Mia thinks. Sophia had nothing from Jack today. It seems to have just occurred to him again. He opens his mouth to say something, but Leon saves him. "Mia, how are you?" He stormed in. Apparently he's getting a little nervous now. "I'm fully back."

Jack doesn't exchange a word with Leon anymore. After they leave the premises, he grins unexpectedly. “Who wants hot chocolate ?, Sophia nudges her from the side and lets her eyebrows wiggle. Mia giggles. "I take that as a yes!"

#

His heart almost stopped when he pulled Mia out. Her hands were ice cubes. In the carriage, as if by chance, he grabs her knee to check whether she really has normal temperature again.

They drink the chocolate in silence. “The day didn't go any better than yesterday,” he sighs. He imagined it to be so funny. "What! I've always wanted to go swimming in a river. I can cross that point off my list. ”“ And since when I last had a chocolate, I don't even remember. ”, Really touching how they try to cheer him up. "Thank you!"

The carriage jerks, the horses puff, the hooves clack and the carriage driver winks conspiratorially at him. Maybe the day really hadn't been a total defeat.

Mia's head hangs on his shoulder. Your eyes are heavy. Sophia, who is sitting on the other side, looks at the afternoon sky.

Briefly he closes his eyes to enjoy the fact that someone is leaning against him. Nobody has ´used´ it like that before. Everyone he is friends with mimics the strong man near him. However, it is also a nice feeling that Mia (or others) trust him so much that they admit their weaknesses towards him. He looks down at her and gently strokes to one side over her soft hair, which is still damp at the tips. He realizes that she has probably fallen asleep.

" We are there!", It whispers from Sophia. Startled, he turns to her. Sophia! With the jolt that went through his body, he woke Mia. "I am sorry. I didn't want to fall asleep. ”, Her cheeks shine pink. A sign that she is really doing better. "If I had been down there in the river, I would still be sleeping now." Sophia smiles understandingly. Mia nods and gets out. Jack quickly pays the driver and leads the ladies back to the villa. Today two of the women have to go and he needs time to decide who it will be.