Summer's POV
Morning came too early.
The sound of waves was peaceful—until a loudspeaker crackled somewhere above the trees.
"Good morning, contestants!" boomed the host's chipper voice. "Welcome to Day One of Love Survival Island! Today's mission: build a shelter worthy of romance!"
Summer groaned and buried her face in her arms. "Romance? I barely survived mosquitoes."
Beside her, Ethan stretched, annoyingly calm. "Come on, it's not that bad."
She squinted at him through messy hair. "You look way too alive for someone who slept on sand."
"Maybe I'm just adaptable."
"Maybe you're secretly part seagull."
He chuckled, running a hand through his hair. "You know, there's a camera right above us."
Summer froze. Then, slowly, she sat up, gave the drone her brightest fake smile, and said, "Good morning, viewers! Please ignore my tragic survival look."
The drone beeped twice, like it was laughing.
---
Ten minutes later, a production assistant appeared with a laminated card.
"Your challenge details," he said cheerfully. "Each pair must construct a proper shelter before sunset. The winning team gets an advantage for tomorrow's challenge!"
"What kind of advantage?" Summer asked suspiciously.
He grinned. "A mystery box. Could be food, could be… not food."
Then he vanished back into the forest, leaving them with a pile of bamboo poles, rope, and leaves.
Summer looked at Ethan. "You know how to build a house?"
He glanced at the materials. "Define house."
She sighed. "We're doomed."
---
They started working under the sweltering sun. Ethan tied the bamboo poles together with impressive precision, while Summer handled the leaves and fabric roof.
"Hold that steady," he said, reaching over her shoulder.
"I am holding it steady!" she snapped.
"It's leaning."
"It's artistic."
He laughed softly. "Sure, let's call it that."
The camera drone hovered closer, zooming in on their bickering.
Summer plastered on a sweet smile and said loudly, "Working so well with my dear partner!"
Ethan grinned for the camera. "She's a natural at giving orders."
"I'm a natural at surviving annoying men."
The crew watching from afar probably loved every second.
---
By midday, their "shelter" looked halfway decent—until one corner collapsed.
Summer jumped back, hands on her hips. "Okay, this is personal now."
Ethan wiped sweat from his forehead. "We can fix it. Just need to adjust the tension."
"Or we can pretend it's a modern open-air design."
"Pretty sure rain doesn't care about design."
She groaned. "Fine. You win."
When he crouched to retie the rope, his hair fell into his eyes. For a split second, Summer caught herself staring. The easy focus, the calm tone, the way he worked without complaint—it was all so… unlike the man she remembered during their breakup.
Maybe he'd changed. Or maybe she was just sleep-deprived.
Either way, she looked away quickly.
---
Ethan's POV
Summer Hayes was many things—stubborn, dramatic, occasionally impossible—but she wasn't lazy.
He watched her wrestle with the thatched leaves, muttering under her breath every time the wind blew one away. Her determination was almost endearing.
Almost.
"Need help?" he asked.
"No," she said firmly, even as another leaf flew off.
He bit back a smile. "Right. You've got it handled."
"Completely handled!"
The drone buzzed overhead, recording every moment. He knew their dynamic—exes forced to cooperate—was exactly what the producers wanted. Still, there was something real in the chaos. Something familiar.
When they finally got the roof to stay upright, Ethan stepped back and nodded. "Not bad."
Summer squinted at the structure. "It's crooked."
"It's character."
She laughed, soft and genuine this time. "You stole my line."
"Consider it payback for every time you called me boring."
"You were boring."
"Still am," he said lightly. "Just better at pretending not to be."
---
As afternoon turned into evening, the host's voice returned.
"Time's up, contestants! Please step away from your shelters."
A camera crew appeared to inspect their work. Two other teams had built flimsy huts. One pair had given up entirely and was napping under a palm tree.
When the host reached Ethan and Summer's camp, his eyebrows rose. "Oh! This one actually looks livable!"
Summer puffed up proudly. "We call it the Reconciliation Resort."
Ethan coughed. "That wasn't the name five minutes ago."
"What was it?" the host asked.
"The Disaster Shack," Ethan said.
The crew burst out laughing. The host announced, "Team Ethan and Summer wins the Day One challenge!"
Cheers erupted from the crew. Summer blinked. "Wait, we actually won?"
Ethan shrugged, smiling. "Apparently competence is attractive."
She nudged him with her elbow. "Don't let it go to your head."
---
Their prize arrived soon after: a wooden crate marked MYSTERY BOX.
Summer eyed it suspiciously. "It's going to be coconuts, isn't it?"
Ethan pried it open carefully—and froze.
Inside were two small pillows, a lantern, and a note that read:
> "For your comfort and chemistry."
Summer burst out laughing. "They gave us couple's camping gear!"
Ethan sighed. "Of course they did."
The note continued:
> "Bonus rule: tonight's interview must be done together inside your tent."
She looked at him. "In the tent?"
"Apparently."
A camera crew member waved from a distance. "Smile for the night segment!"
Summer groaned. "Great. Nothing says 'privacy' like national TV."
---
Night Interview — Dual POV (In the Tent)
The small lantern cast a warm glow. They sat side by side, the ocean murmuring in the distance.
A producer's voice came through a small speaker: "So, how was working together today?"
Summer spoke first. "Surprisingly productive. We didn't kill each other."
Ethan nodded. "A low bar, but success is success."
The producer chuckled. "Any romantic sparks rekindled?"
Both froze.
Summer forced a smile. "Only the ones from our campfire."
Ethan added dryly, "And possibly her temper."
They both laughed then—tired, but genuine.
When the interview ended and the cameras withdrew, silence filled the tent again.
Outside, waves broke gently on the shore.
Summer leaned back against her pillow, exhaling. "You know," she said softly, "this might actually be… fun."
Ethan looked at her, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Careful. You sound like you're enjoying my company."
She rolled her eyes. "Don't push it, Reid."
He chuckled. "Wouldn't dream of it."
But as the lantern flickered and the night deepened, both of them knew—
this was only Day One.
And already, the game was changing.