Laguna Nights (24 page)

Marty greeted them outside the front door to the Kincaid mansion, reminding Madison of a garden gnome in a suit. “Hey kids. It’ll all be over soon and then you can carry on,” he said, turning from the front door and leading them through a gate at the side of the house and around to the back. The camera crew was set up in the garden, with the cameras trained on the bubbling hot tub in the center of the garden. Madison swallowed hard and took a deep breath. She felt Josh’s touch on the small of her back, giving her strength.

“The place should look familiar, right Josh?” Marty said. At that moment, Madison decided Mr. Flexible was really Mr. Evil.

“Sure does, Marty. I bet you wish you had a place like this,” Josh said. “Maybe someday, but I doubt it.”

Marty’s eyes glowed green but he didn’t say a word.

Beyond the hot tub, and the working crew, the lights of the town of Laguna Beach sparkled and the headlands of Dana Point jutted out in the far distance. The sunset would be, of course, spectacular, but there was a chill in the air. And it wasn’t just because she was standing in Laura’s backyard, Madison realized.

“Call time is in twenty,” Tom said, appearing from inside the house. “You two good?”

“Couldn’t be better,” Josh said as Madison nodded.

“Great. As you know this scene is the wrap, sort of a nod back to that famous scene in
Laguna Nights,
as I’m sure you’ve guessed by now. It’s unscripted so say whatever you’d like, but know the more that goes on here, the less of the pre-cap and mid-cap snippets we’ll have to use. And in your case, that probably would be helpful, Josh.”

The two men locked eyes. “Sure,” Josh said.

“Wine, beer, mixed drink? What can I get you?” Roger asked, joining them on the terrace, a uniformed waiter following on his heels. Roger shook Josh’s hand and pecked Madison on the cheek.

“A white wine for me,” Madison said.

“Vodka on the rocks,” Josh said.

As the waiter scampered away, presumably back inside, Laura appeared, wearing the same sweatshirt as Madison and cut-off jean shorts. “We’re going to need the space heaters turned on,” she said and someone on the crew uttered, “of course.”

“Hey, so I’m sure you’re ready to get this over with. So am I, actually,” Laura said, smoothing her hair behind her ears, diamonds flashing. “It’ll be much more fun doing the Triple Play when I don’t know the cast. But it is what it is. So, Scott will be here in a minute, just a heads up.”

Scott had been Josh’s nemesis on the spinoff show, a minor character on
Laguna Nights
who somehow swooped onto
Hollywood Nights
and stole Laura away, at least that’s what all the tabloids said. Madison wasn’t sure about how real any of it was now, but she looked at Josh and he remained calm.

“Great. Will be good to see him,” Josh said as the waiter handed him the vodka.

Madison was relieved it wasn’t going to be just the three of them bubbling away in the hot tub, and she had to admit the thought of Josh facing Scott like she had faced Laura was, well, sort of poetic. She had to give it to Laura.

Tom escorted Scott out to the patio and uncomfortable introductions were made all around. Scott’s formerly thick dark hair must have departed and he was now bald, but it suited him, Madison thought. Scott’s dark brown eyes were still dreamy and overall, he could hold his own with Josh who stood next to him.

“Hey Holly, you look amazing,” Scott said, kissing her on the cheek. “God, who knew? You were a wreck senior year. Never expected this.” He opened both hands and did a little bow. Madison felt her face flush and knew, instinctively, cameras were rolling somewhere in the bushes around them.

Josh moved closer to her, and Madison smiled. “You look great, too, Scott. What do you do now?”

“I own a travel business. Actually, it’s where Laura and I got the idea for the show. Folks love to travel,” Scott said as Laura walked up between him and Madison. Now who was staking her territory, Madison thought with a smile.

“Oh, the show was your idea, too? Are you guys still together?” Madison asked, watching Laura’s face for the telltale sign of stress. Her left eye drooped. And there it went. Madison smiled.

“No, well, we’ll see. We’re taking it day by day, we’ve been together a long time, really since Josh,” Laura said. “Let’s get in. I’m getting cold.”

You’ve always been cold, Madison thought, watching Laura pull off her sweatshirt to reveal a replica of the red bikini from
Laguna Nights
. She wiggled out of her cut offs, popped her hair into a ponytail and was in the tub before the others had even undressed.

“We’re ready for action, speed,” said the DP.

Madison realized Laura was self-conscious, unwilling to show her body and that’s why they’d allowed her to hop into the water before the cameras rolled. She could relate, that’s how she’d lived her life on camera during
Laguna Nights
. But it wasn’t how she was going to live any longer.

“Come on, Josh, it’s finally our turn,” Madison said, speaking into the camera, delivering the line she and Josh had planned. She pulled the sweatshirt over her head and pulled off her jeans, standing in a blue bikini at the edge of the pool, at the edge of the hill. She knew she looked good, she could see it in all the crew’s leering eyes. But it only mattered what one guy thought.

“It’s always been our turn, Holly,” Josh said, moving into the frame, pulling the black T-shirt over his head and kissing her firmly on the lips, a hot, assertive kiss that they hadn’t needed to practice.

Madison took his hand and they walked together into the water, sitting on the opposite side of the hot tub from Laura who was watching them, one eye wide, the other drooping.

“Can I do a cannon ball?” Scott said, walking into the frame. “Hey, guys.”

Madison and Josh smiled up at him as Laura struggled to deliver her lines. “Scott, hey, so glad you could make it to our little reunion. Scott owns a successful travel business and that’s the reason why we picked the travel theme for this episode of
Reality TV Triple Play
.”

Scott walked down into the water and settled in next to Laura, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and getting her hair wet. Laura couldn’t hide her annoyance, Madison realized with a smile.

Laura continued, “Thanks again for tuning in. Join us next week as we turn reality upside down for the former cast of
Real Life
. I’m Laura Kinkaid. Keep it real.”

“And cut,” said the DP.

Laura stood up and hurried to the steps. “I need a towel,” she said, as someone appeared and handed her one. Madison sat with Josh in the hot tub and watched Laura deep in conversation with Roger, Marty, Tom and the rest of the producers.

“She doesn’t seem pleased,” Josh said, leaning close.

“No talking,” Madison whispered.

“So, you two are a thing?” Scott said, crossing the tub and standing in front of them.

Josh and Madison shrugged, simultaneously.

“Oh, right, the cameras. Always recording, aren’t they?” Scott said, looking vaguely around the terrace. “Well, you should have remembered that earlier. I’m going to try to get her to cut most of the embarrassing stuff on you guys. I mean, the fans are cheering you on. You’re blowing up online.”

When neither of them spoke, he said, “There are whole websites devoted to you two, old photos, clips from the show, fans betting you’ll be back together. There’s even a bunch of memes about you and your hot body, Holls. I have to admit, you’re smoking. If I had realized that in high school, I would’ve gone after you instead of her.” Scott nodded Laura’s way. “Nah, just kidding. I like living in her limelight. Well, I think we’re a wrap. See you guys around. Maybe next reunion?”

Scott headed to the steps and a crew member handed him a towel and he walked away, joining Laura’s group in the corner of the terrace. Madison and Josh followed him out of the water, Madison quickly pulled on her sweatshirt and Josh slipped on his T-shirt. The night was getting chilly.

“We’re a wrap. Thanks for showing up tonight. You should expect the episode to air four to six months from now. We’ll keep you in the loop. There’s a car waiting out front,” Tom said. “Keep it real, you two.”

“Whatever,” Josh said, shaking the date producer’s hand for the last time.

“Come on,” Madison said and she led the way around the outside of Laura’s family’s house.

“I
t’s recycling day,” Francine said as he walked past her in the kitchen.

“I know,” Josh said, settling his plate in the sink before reaching for the recycling trash under the sink. “I’m on it.”

“Good. Madison has been so busy at work, she leaves before I can remind her,” Francine said, turning the page of the morning newspaper roughly.

“Are you worried about something?” Josh said, holding the trashcan but focusing on her.

“What if we all look horrible on this thing? What if everyone in town makes fun of us?” she said, her hand, veined and ghostly white, covering her mouth. Josh could never get used to her frailty.

“So what? We’ve all handled worse in our lives, right? And what did you tell me? We laugh all the way to the bank, that’s what we do,” Josh said, patting Francine on the shoulder.

“You’re right, of course,” Francine said. “I just thought I’d be dead before this ever came on the air.”