Reality Girl: Episode Two (Behind the Scenes #2) Read online

  “Why wouldn’t we?”

  She opened the front door, glanced at me, and then shook her head. “Sex and conflict. That’s what attracts viewers. We need more of both.”

  I already knew she was prepared to pay the men to have sex with me, and I suspected her addition of a surprise guest was for no other reason than to add conflict. Her willingness to manipulate the content of the show for the sole purpose of building ratings wasn’t at all what I expected when I signed the contract.

  I wondered if the tables were turned, and a man was living with six women, if Kelli would have offered the women money to suck the man’s cock. I decided she wouldn’t for fear of a lawsuit. While I prepared to say something witty – and shitty – to her, she pulled the door closed behind her.

  Fucking bitch.

  “I hate you,” I whispered.

  “Couldn’t agree more.”

  I turned toward the voice, surprised to see Les sitting halfway up the stairs. Dressed in jeans, a white tee shirt, and white tube socks, he looked cute.

  “I thought you went to your room.”

  “No, I was just trying to distance myself from the devil,” he said. “What a rude bitch.”

  I sat at the base of the steps. “I wonder who the surprise guest was going to be?”

  “Hard saying. Someone who was going to add conflict, no doubt. Maybe an ex-boyfriend.”

  “I don’t really have any. I mean, I do, but none that would add drama.”

  “Who knows.”

  “Do you want to watch the show tomorrow? Together?”

  “Sure.”

  “I’m curious to see what she airs and what gets cut.”

  “I suppose we’ll find out tomorrow.”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Although I struggled with it for some time, I eventually sent Franky a text message and let him know the show was airing. With my stomach in knots and my knee bouncing up and down like a nervous teen, I sat at Les’ side and stared at the television.

  I considered being truthful with him about Franky, but when it came right down to actually telling him, I opted not to. Following my choice to keep my relationship with my favorite bartender a secret, I questioned if doing so was more of a subconscious decision made to protect what I hoped may later develop with Les.

  I wondered just what I was becoming, and began to hate the position I had placed myself in. Who was I kidding? Living with six separate men for any period of time couldn’t end with anything but disastrous results, no matter how much I wanted to believe otherwise.

  A still picture of me getting out of the SUV flashed to the screen. I squealed and pointed at the T.V. Any thought of being forthright with Les about Franky was cast aside.

  Six men, one woman…

  Once chance at finding love…

  After this short message…

  Reality Girl.

  Les slapped my knee. “Here we go.”

  “I think I’m gonna barf.”

  The television went to a commercial.

  “You looked cute,” he said with a grin.

  “Not that. I just.” I set my bottle of beer on the end table and wiped my hands on my shirt. “Everyone’s going to see this.”

  His smile went slight, and then disappeared. He looked like he wanted to say something, but he didn’t.

  Rhett and I having sex rushed to the forefront of my thoughts. An image of me sucking his cock while Bobby filmed it came to mind, and I wondered if they’d try to air part of it. I wouldn’t put it past Kelli to do it, pixelating my cock-filled mouth while I gave poolside head to the veggie hating douchebag.

  I barfed a little bit into my mouth.

  I grabbed my beer, took a long drink, and decided I’d explain things to Les before the show started. “So, Rhett and I…”

  I’d no more than started speaking, and the screen changed from the commercial to the show.

  “You and Rhett what?” he whispered.

  “Shhh.” I grabbed the remote and decided if any blurry blowjobs were shown, I’d quickly shut off the television.

  I watched as I walked up the steps and reached for the door. The scene switched to Tanner standing inside the house. The camera panned to each of the men as they eagerly waited for me to enter.

  From the camera’s view of the entry hall, I watched the scene as Tanner opened the door and reached for my suitcase. “Let me get that for you.”

  The camera switched to outside, filming me from behind.

  “Back up, asshole,” I said.

  While watching the show, it seemed that I had made the remark to Tanner, but I knew that I hadn’t. “What the fuck?” I shouted. “That didn’t happen like that. I didn’t say back up asshole. How did they do that?”

  “You must have said it at some point,” Les said. “It was your voice.”

  “I did,” I said, recalling when Rhett and I were at the pool. “Later. Bobby was out at the pool filming us. I got pissed and--” I paused and turned to face Les. “But, I didn’t say it then.”

  “They’ll edit it to make it seem like whatever they want it to seem like.”

  The introductions of the men followed, and then Rhett and I promptly walked away together. I looked like a real bitch for leaving the other men standing in the house. I recalled how when I met Rhett that I was immediately certain he was the one.

  I took a drink of beer and rolled my eyes at the sight of him opening the door for me.

  Phony bastard.

  The scene changed to Rhett and me at the pool. After a few minutes of small talk, he offered to watch the sunset with me.

  Grateful that at least a portion of the show was accurate, yet still very disappointed with everything else, I stared at the screen in wonder of what might be next.

  With my eyes glued to the screen, I stared. After a moment, I leaned toward Rhett. From the angle of the camera, it seemed that he and I were kissing. I wagged my finger toward the television. “That fucking bitch.”

  “What?”

  “We didn’t make out on that first night at the pool. We just talked. I think I was whispering something to him, so the camera wouldn’t pick up what we were saying.” I inhaled a slow breath, hesitated, and then looked at Les. “Actually, we never made out. Not even once.”

  “Welcome to Hollywood,” he said with a laugh.

  “It’s not funny,” I snapped back.

  “Maybe not, but so far it’s pretty interesting.”

  “Might be interesting to you, but it makes me look easy. Like I’m desperate.”

  He shrugged. “I don’t know what you expected.”

  “The truth. I expected the truth.” I widened my eyes. “Would that be too much?”

  “Too boring, maybe.”

  As eager as I had been to watch the show, my interest in doing so immediately vanished. I stood and turned toward the kitchen. “Need another beer?”

  He shot me a look of surprise. “You’re not going to wait for a commercial?”

  I let out an exaggerated sigh. “No.”

  “Yeah. Grab me one, please.”

  I took my time in the kitchen and then returned with the beers. I handed one to Les, and reluctantly glanced at the television. On the screen, Rhett and I were in bed together, laughing and talking. It was undoubtedly after we had sex the first time. I wondered just what preceded our time in bed, but was afraid to ask.

  I sat down and let out a long sigh. I couldn’t continue to look at the screen, and I really didn’t want Les to watch it either. At least not any more of it than he already had. “Is it alright if I turn this off?”

  “Fine with me.”

  I turned off the T.V, then tossed the remote aside. After a few seconds of silence, curiosity got the best of me. “What went on while I was gone?” I asked, although I really didn’t want to know.

  He took a drink of his beer, then shrugged. “Do you really want to know?”

  “No.” I hesitated, and then looked at him. “Yeah, I do.”

&nbs
p; “Some small talk.” He looked at me. “You know, the post sex stuff.”

  “Post sex?” I did my best to act surprised. “Why do you say that?”

  “Because it was after you two had sex,” he said dryly.

  Naturally, I wanted to deny it. Doing so would make me a liar, and I was a lot of things, but a liar wasn’t one of them.

  “He was an asshole,” I said, hoping the declaration would make me feel better about things.

  It didn’t. I added a little more. “And a complete prick.”

  He patted me on the shoulder. “He’s gone now, so you won’t have to worry about him anymore.”

  “I know, it’s just…” I paused, not knowing what to say.

  I began filming the show hoping to find someone who I could spend the rest of my life with. The money I was going to be paid would be enough that we could live comfortably for quite a long time – if not forever. My hopes had been squashed pretty promptly after my exposure to Rhett – and Kelli.

  Rhett opened my eyes to the type of men the show may – and probably would – include. Kelli was simply a malicious bitch, one who was only concerned with statistics and money.

  But, from what I had seen of Les, he was different. Much different.

  “I’m sorry,” I said. “I just hate that I’m in this situation. I thought this was going to be fun.”

  “It can be,” he said. “Don’t let that bitch ruin it for you.” He stood up. “I guess that’s bitches. Plural. Rhett was a bitch, too.”

  I laughed. “Thanks. I needed to laugh.”

  “If you can’t laugh about it, you’re stuck being pissed off. It’s not worth it.”

  I nodded as I stood. “I agree.”

  He put his arm over my shoulder and pulled me into him. It felt nice to be treated like a human, and not like a piece of meat. I was beginning to like Les, but his lack of any form of sexual advances left me wondering just what our time together might include.

  But.

  At the present time, I was pleased it included no more than it did.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Les was right. There was no way to describe Kelli other than to say that she was a bitch. A bitch with a capital “B”.

  Her glare shot across the room like a bullet. “I don’t give a fuck if you liked it. It’s not my job to satisfy you. The ratings. It’s about ratings.”

  I found her attitude to be appalling. Although I had an entire night to sleep on it, I still wasn’t very pleased with what she had done with the show. Her manipulation of the truth was frustrating.

  I clenched my fists and returned her glare. Before my mouth had a chance to spit out what my mind was thinking, Les blurted out his thoughts. As fate would have it, they mimicked mine.

  He eyed her up and down. “You’re a despicable bitch.”

  My eyes darted to where Les was standing, and then back to Kelli.

  “Excuse me?” she retorted. “I don’t think--”

  “Yeah,” Les interrupted. He nodded his head in an exaggerated fashion. “It’s pretty apparent. You don’t think.”

  Her hands snapped against her hips. “I’ve had just about enough--”

  “What? You gonna kick me off your show?” He waved his hand in her direction, as if to dismiss her. “Do it.”

  “And, since when does what you think even fucking matter?” She looked down her nose at him. “Since never.”

  “I don’t give a shit if my voice matters or not, I’m going to speak it,” he said. “Get over it.”

  I was really beginning to like Les. My oldest brother, Lance, was a lot like him. He never took shit from anyone, and regardless of the potential of repercussion, he always spoke his mind. He said doing so allowed him to live with a clear conscious.

  “Fuck you!” she hissed.

  “A thick one in your uptight ass might change your attitude, but you’re not going to get it from me,” Les said with a laugh. “Maybe you can get the guy from Nebraska to do it. He looked like he was hung like a mule.”

  Holy shit.

  “You prick.” She glared at Les, and then glanced at me. “What?” she howled. “Do you have something else to say?”

  I did at one point, but after Les’ remarks, I was pretty satisfied with what was said. I looked her up and down, then turned away. “I’m done.”

  “Done what?”

  “Done talking about this shit,” I said over my shoulder.

  “When it comes to making this segment worth watching, you two aren’t doing much. I want more from you two,” she said. “I need more. A lot more.”

  I wrinkled my nose. “More?”

  “Yeah. More. You two are boring.”

  I inhaled a slow breath, locked eyes with her, and clenched my jaw. I wasn’t about to give her a gratuitous sex scene, and I felt that’s what she was asking for.

  “You’ll get what you get,” Les said. “I’m not putting on a fucking act.”

  Thank you.

  I couldn’t have agreed more. I looked at Les and then nodded in agreement. What I had done with Rhett wasn’t going to happen again – with anyone. For her to indicate she wanted more meant she wanted more sex.

  Les cleared his throat. Wearing his dark denim jeans, a wife beater, and boots, he stood and stared. His tattooed arms were tense, making his glare even more intimidating. He kept his eyes locked on Kelli, apparently waiting for her to look away.

  It didn’t take long.

  Bobby stood directly behind him, filming the entire debacle.

  I laughed to myself at the thought of him putting together a thirty-minute segment of Kelli being a bitch. Snippets of her cussing and waving her arms, with the words fuck and prick on continuous loop.

  After all, those words seemed to be two of her favorites.

  “You fucking prick,” she said through her teeth.

  Case. In. Point.

  “I might be a prick, but I’m a real prick. It’s a reality show, right? Isn’t it supposed to be real?”

  She inhaled a sharp breath, and looked beyond Les, at Bobby. After a short glare, she snapped at him. “Do you ever stop filming? Turn that god forsaken thing off.”

  He lowered the camera.

  Les looked at me and smiled. I smiled in return. It seemed Kelli annoyed us both equally. I admired the fact that he was able to stand up to her and say exactly what he felt without sugar-coating it. In the past, I had been more able to speak my mind, but doing so with Kelli didn’t come easy.

  “You three make my head ache.” She grabbed her purse and turned away.

  “And, you still make my nuts itch,” Les said.

  “If things don’t change in the next day or so,” she said over her shoulder. “I’ll make some changes myself.”

  “Like what?” I asked.

  She looked at me, turned toward the door, and opened it. “Try me,” she said, “And, you’ll be sure to find out.”

  As she pulled the door closed behind her, I decided I really didn’t like her.

  At all.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Angry at Kelli and what she represented, I’d spent a good part of the afternoon in hiding, and the most recent portion sleeping. I realized after my late afternoon nap that if I was going to make it through to the end of the show I would need to find a way to keep her and her attitude from getting on my last nerve.

  Now wandering through the house looking for Les, I was hoping I could talk him into going for a ride on the bike – or maybe having a drink or three – to forget about Kelli and her shitty attitude.

  “Have you seen Les?”

  Bobby shrugged. “I haven’t seen him in a few hours.”

  I yawned and shot him an innocent look. “I just woke up. I knocked on his door and checked out at the pool,” I said. “And his bike is in the garage.”

  “Maybe he went for a walk.”

  “In those boots?” I wrinkled my nose. “I doubt it.”

  “I don’t know. He was talking to Randy a few hours ago, and
I haven’t seen him since.”

  “Who’s Randy?”

  “He’s the gaffer.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Electrician. It’s what we call them.”

  “Oh.”

  “His bike’s still here,” I said. “So at least he didn’t get mad and leave.”

  “Not unless he got a ride somewhere.”

  “He doesn’t ride in cars, remember?”

  He rolled his eyes. “Oh. Yeah.”

  “If you see him--”

  “I’ll tell him you’re looking for him.”

  The home we were in was massive and had many bedrooms that we weren’t using. Two of the upstairs rooms were used for production; housing the crew, their equipment, and much of the electrical wiring, switches, and sound equipment. Although I hadn’t looked in that particular area for Les, I felt no need to.

  After scouring the house one more time and finding no clue as to where he was, I realized asking the production crew was the only option I had left.

  I went upstairs, down the hallway, and walked up to the door. Beyond the walls, I heard at least two men whispering and laughing. I pressed my ear to the door.

  “Holy shit. Now that is sucking a dick. Jesus. All the way to the balls. Look at that,” one of them said.

  “I call that a face fucking,” the other said. “I had a girl in college that could take a cock down her throat like that.”

  “I can’t believe--”

  Half infuriated that they were sitting in their little production room watching old footage of me sucking Rhett’s cock, and half aggravated that I had sucked it in the first place, I pressed my shoulder to the door and shoved it open.

  Three men – two who were sitting, and one who was standing – all shot me a surprised look at the same time.

  The makeshift desk behind them was covered in sound equipment, wires, and switches. Above all of that were several monitors. On one of them – much to my surprise – Les stood with his pants around his ankles and his shirt on the floor beside him. Engrossed in the blowjob he was getting, his back was arched, his eyes were closed, and his cock was sliding back and forth past the lips of the person on their respective knees in front of him.

  In complete shock, I stared at the screen.