“He picks one woman and he gets a twenty-four hour date with them on a deserted island. We set up cameras all over the place, so there isn’t even a cameraman following them around.” Proudly, he continues, “We’re hoping to take away all their inhibitions. Other reality TV shows, the contestants are constantly reminded they’re being watched. Filmed. Having cameramen around makes the women think twice before they go too far.”
“What happens if Beckham and his date aren’t into each other?”
“Oh, they’ll be into each other. We make it impossible for them not to be. They might be stranded, but we set them up for romance. Think of the perfect romantic date—the kind that gets you both in the mood. Then multiply it times a hundred. We know how these contestants tick. We’ve done our homework. There will be action on that island.”
Perfect. The first woman I can’t stop thinking about in years, and she’s about to have the most romantic date of her life … with someone else.
“Does Beckham have favorites? Any idea who he’s going to pick for his date tonight?” I ask Miles as I downshift, slowing into traffic on the Pacific Coast Highway. My request to visit the set was eagerly accommodated by my brother. He’s anxious to show me his show. I’m only anxious to see one contestant.
“He has a thing for Jessica.”
I let out a breath too soon.
“And Kate.”
Fuck. “And if he picks someone you don’t think will make for good TV, you can override his decision.”
“Scripted reality TV, bro. It’s what makes ratings. Can’t always let the bachelor think with his dick. We need to think with our wallet. But I won’t have to interfere with his pick this time. He’s salivating to get his hands on one of those two. Either will do. Hell, I’d like to get my hands on one of them.”
I weave in and out of traffic, enjoying my brother grabbing onto the door handle once or twice as I cut a swerve that makes him a bit nervous.
“This thing is thirty years old. Time for a new one that handles better, Coop,” Miles says, referring to our father’s Porsche. The car he loved. It wasn’t worth nearly as much as the other cars he had, but he went through two clutches in this thing teaching me to drive. Great memories. Miles was only too happy I took the less valuable car. Unfortunately, our ideas of value have always been measured on different scales.
“I bought a new car. A bump in the rear at a light cost eight thousand for damage repairs. I like driving this one better anyway.”
We arrive at the Malibu house that Miles rented to shoot most of the show. I choose to hang back, watching the action through the camera feed in the three-car garage they’ve turned into a makeshift studio. Miles jumps right into the thick of things.
Some of the crew I know from Montgomery projects, others are new. Joel Blick comes over to greet me. “They let anyone in around here.” He slaps me on the back, grabbing my hand for a shake.
“Joel. How the hell are you? Didn’t you retire yet?” I prod, knowing he’s only in his fifties.
“I’m never retiring, I’d have to hang out with Bernice all day.” He rolls his eyes and says it like he’s joking, but he isn’t. And I don’t blame him, I’ve met his wife. I’d work as much as I could if the alternative was spending my days with Bernice complaining all day.
“You the director?”
“Yep. I didn’t know you had an interest in reality TV,” Joel says.
“I don’t.”
He smiles knowingly. “Miles drag you into investing?” He lowers his voice so no one else in the crowded room can hear him.
I turn to face him, growing serious. “Is it a bad investment?”
Joel looks away, coming back with the only answer he could give that wouldn’t throw Miles under the bus, yet still not require lying to me. “Reality TV is risky. When you hit, you hit it big. Look at Survivor or The Bachelor. But it’s anyone’s guess what will hit these days. Young people are a fickle audience. Their appetite changes faster than we can keep up. I’d say faster than they change their underwear, but sitting behind the camera all day, I know most of ’em don’t wear any.” He shakes his head ruefully.
I nod. The monitor I’ve been halfheartedly watching pans to focus on Kate. Joel keeps talking, not realizing he’s lost my attention. Kate looks beautiful, all dressed up in a pale blue gown that shows off the tan she deepened while playing in the pool today. My moment of joy is quickly replaced by an ache in my chest as Flynn Beckham walks to where she’s standing alone outside on the deck. The lighting from the sun beginning to set creates a romantic backdrop.