Page 83 of Collateral Damage
“Fine, fine.” I giggle, hugging the pillow to my chest. “No need for violence here,sister.”
“Oh, God,” she shakes her head. “I’m still not used to that.”
“You and me both. Okay, well, first of all, the hockey player and the supermodel hit it off.” I snort. “They were making out in the hot tub by day two, and they’re already sleeping together. Which would be fine, except the movie star is also super into Gloria. Oh, and Gloria loves the attention, so of course she’s entertaining the flirtations with a new man.”
Benton doesn’t seem phased, but I’m pretty sure he’s putting on a front.
“And the pop star and the politician’s kids don’t get along. They agree politically, but other than that, they’re so different. Audra is kind of a punk and says whatever she’s thinking, and the politician kids have media training and keep everything above board.”
Arden grins. “Sounds juicy.”
“And then Dane, the politician’s kid, got dumped on camera by his longtime boyfriend last night.”
She frowns. “Poor guy.”
“There’s more, but those are the highlights.”
“You guys have a lot to work with.”
“We do. We haven’t had to do much to produce drama; they’re doing it for us.”
It’s made my job easier than I expected. I check in on my cast often, but they don’t need a lot of advice or direction.
She stares at me deadpanned. “I never would’ve guessed putting six super famous, super hot, and super opinionated celebrities in a house together would create drama.”
I snort. “Who’d have thought?”
She gives me a wicked grin. “But this hockey guy… He’s the one you were sleeping with, right?”
“Yes.” I smirk, remembering the fun times Benton and I have had together.
“You’re not bothered he’s with the supermodel now?”
“Not at all,” I say, surprising myself. I chew my bottom lip for a second. “Actually, I haven’t slept with anyone in months. My sex-life has been nonexistent lately.”
Of course, that is the moment Ethan pops his head into the room, having gotten home from work. “Didn’t need to hear that.”
“Then don’t eavesdrop, you creep.” I chuck the pillow at his head. It grazes his perfectly styled dark hair and his blue eyes spark. “It’s not likeyouneed to worry about getting laid, Mr. Newlywed.”
Ethan shrugs. “What can I say? We’re supposed to be naked as often as we can be, and actually, it’s good you didn’t come over after I got home or else you’d probably would’ve interrupted.”
Arden is beet-red and jumps from her position on the couch, waving her hands around in surrender. “I don’t care if you guys have known each other forever. We’re not talking about what I do in my bed.”
“Yeah, it is a little weird,” I relent.
“Fair point, baby.” He grabs her round the middle and lays one on her. “Our sex life isallyours.”
She giggles, and that’s my queue to leave.
“I’m out of here. Text me later and let’s get lunch?”
She nods before turning to make out with her new husband.
I head across the hall to check in on filming. We’re doing one-on-one interviews today, so I’m able to slip inside without causing an issue. Those interviews are filmed in the individual bedrooms and not a confessional room like what is done on most reality shows. Perry says the bedrooms add personality to the characters, letting the audience see them in their private environments. We don’t normally have cameras in thebedrooms, for obvious reasons, so these confessional interviews are some of the only times we get access. Obviously, the set was not designed by the cast, but they’ve all made their spaces their own.
Once in the penthouse, I zero in on Ricki arguing quietly with someone in the kitchen.
My hackles immediately rise.
