‘Listen,’ I say, trying to sound convincing. ‘You said yourself I should do something spontaneous.’
‘The US show would cast a wider net for her.’ Tyrone is clearly Team Libby and has been desperately trying to come up with positives while he searches for a way to keep Lois from having to go on the show. ‘It will give her a more global reach. Cover all bases. Target an expansive range of territories.’
He’s making my potential search for a new mate sound like a difficult product launch. I can feel a panic setting in. It would be way too out of my comfort zone.
‘Thanks Tyrone. I’m suresomeoneon the island will find me attractive.’ My voice is rising a full octave with each sentence, as all my insecurities about life, where I’m going and what I’m doing bubble to the surface. I have as much sex appeal as a rotting banana. Maybe Josh was right. I haven’t got what it takes to be sexy and adventurous. I’m a joyless husk. They’ll see right through me.
Tyrone looks like a man at a tribunal hearing who is about to choose his words very carefully. He looks from my sister to me and back again. Me and my sister are practically identical. He has to be complimentary without beingtoocomplimentary. Hewill be forever caught between a rock and a hard place. He can’t find us both sexy. It’s almost painful to watch.
All of a sudden, the exhaustion of losing my job and my boyfriend in the same day, sweeps through me. ‘No worries. Forget it. It was just a stupid thought. They won’t force you to go on the show, sis. They’d have to prise you from my dead arms. I’ll leave you two to your film. I’m off to bed. See you in the morning.’
Lois jumps up to hug me. ‘I’m sorry. I’m sure once you sleep on it, you’ll realise it’s not a good idea.’ She holds me at arm’s length. ‘Someone deserving will come along when you least expect it and sweep you right off your feet.’
Her phone suddenly bursts to life, startling us all. A face is video calling her. A man’s face. Lois thrusts it at me, her eyes wide. ‘Oh my God. It’s them! It’sLove on the Island. What will I do?’
‘Simple. You accept the call and explain that you aren’t going to do the show,’ says Tyrone firmly as the phone continues to trill.
We’re all looking at each other as though we’re playing tennis with our eyeballs while we wait for Lois to move. It looks as though her body has frozen in time. Her eyes flick to mine. And before I quite know what I’m doing, I grab the phone from her and, in one swift movement, I release my hair from its bun and glide over to the fireplace so he can’t see Lois or Tyrone in the background, and press accept.
‘Hello. Thanks for calling,’ I say with a smile, as I make what could be the worst decision of my life.
Chapter 3
I sit down slowly in the pretty armchair next to the fire. Rows of books are crammed into the white shelving in the nook behind me, and a charming Edwardian sash window provides a flattering glow from the streetlamp outside, as I hold Lois’s phone in front of me.
‘Hi there, it’s Cam. Cameron, one of the producers from LoveIt TV,’ he says, giving me a friendly, reassuring smile.
As if this wasn’t already daunting enough to get my head around, I squint to get a clearer picture. I am looking at the most attractive man I have ever seen in my entire life. He sweeps soft brown hair from his forehead as though to give me a clearer view of his incredible blue-green eyes. His smile is lighting up his entire face and drawing me in.
He’s American. AnactualAmerican TV producer.
What am I doing?
‘We spoke briefly last summer during your VT.’
I stare blankly at him.
‘Your video audition?’
We most certainly did not.I would have remembered interacting with such a genetically superior and well-sculptured member of the species. And I would have gone completely to pieces. Rather like I am doing right now.
How did Lois not reveal this one tiny but significant detail?
He holds my gaze as though he is used to women turning beetroot red and severely mute in his presence, and carries on. ‘I’m calling to go over the schedules and confirm the press releases that need to be carried out before you fly out to us.’
I stare at the screen nodding, my hand trembling slightly as I lift it up to capture a more becoming angle, less nostril and more forehead. Tyrone and Lois are gesturing wildly for me to end the conversation.
I should say something.
He waits patiently for me to respond.
I should explain that I’m Lois’s near-identical twin sister and I’m about to fraudulently pass myself off as her, all so that I can get off with somebody, anybody, just to make my very recent ex-boyfriend jealous. And so that she can spend some well-earned alone time with her lovely fiancé, instead of being dragged through the courts by his TV company.
‘Fly out to you? To the island?’ I manage.
He is heart-stoppingly gorgeous. And that accent! He sounds like a film star.
‘Yes, that’s correct.’
