Page 52 of Dating the DILF
“Right, are you two ready?” Jeremey looks between Aspen and me. “Let’s make some magic.”
Thirty minutes later I’m white-knuckling it. I have been bombarded with footage showing me sweet-talking a group of women, interspersed with behind-the-scenes footage of me complaining mercilessly about them to Sophie. I can’t help but think that when they told me there were cameras everywhere, I never believed that there were cameraseverywhere.
There’s no point being honest. The party line is that I’m an asshole and that’s what I’m here to confirm. No one is interested in knowing the truth about the show and how I was lied to.
“Jeremy, I am horrified by my behavior on the show. I have no excuse for what I did. I do want to make it clear that I never had a sexual relationship with Sophie Stevens, the makeup artist.” Because I willnotthrow Sophie under the bus. “But that doesn’t mean I didn’t cross a line and behave inappropriately. I should have been opening up to the women who were there looking for love rather than Sophie.”
I almost choke on the words, the idea that any of those women cared what I was doing is laughable.
A tearful Aspen sniffles across from me. “That means so much to me, Miles. I can’t lie, I’m still devastated that you behaved the way you did, but knowing you weren’t sleeping with her, and you admitting your behavior was awful, well, I feel like I can start to move on now.” She gives me a watery smile.
If this woman doesn’t win an Oscar at some point in the future, I’ll eat my own shoe.
“Miles.” Jeremy turns to me. “We all know you have a new lady love. Does this change of heart have anything to do with her?” A smarmy smile spreads across his face.
This is it. This is where I clear the air and make things right for Charlie.
“It does, Jeremy. I have been seeing a wonderful woman for a few months now, and she’s helped me realize how poorly I treated everyone involved with the show. She’s the one who urged me to make amends.”
I almost laugh at that. Charlie would burn this studio to the ground before she would apologize to anyone involved in this mess. But when I look to my right and see Harvey standing beside the director, nodding approvingly, I know I’ve done the right thing.
“Well, we did try to get Charlotte to appear on the show tonight.” They did? She never mentioned that. “But it seems she is a little on the shy side.” He chuckles and I force a laugh, wondering where this is headed. “Fortunately for us, her mother was more than happy to come and talk to us, so please welcome Karoline Reed.”
A tall woman who looks to be in her mid-forties materializes from behind me and takes a seat next to Aspen. Jeremey greets her warmly, but I remain frozen. When I swing around to look at Harvey, his eyes glitter with malice and a smug sneer is painted across his face.
“Karoline, thank you for joining us tonight, can you explain why you wanted to be here?”
I examine her, trying to see any similarities to Charlie, but I can’t. While Charlie’s features are soft and effortlessly beautiful, this woman is the opposite. Heavy makeup covers her face and her hair is an unflattering peroxide color. She looks old and tired, when I know for a fact she is only in her mid-forties.
If I didn’t know the harm she had inflicted on Charlie, I would pity her.
“Of course, Jeremy, thank you for the opportunity. I’m here because I’m worried about my baby girl. Charlotte is a weak girl who is easily manipulated. Knowing the type of manheis.” She tosses a dirty look my way. “And seeing the way he has allowed her name to be dragged through the mud, I’m afraid she’s going to be severely hurt—”
“Wait a minute,” I interrupt.Weak and easily manipulated. Does she even know her daughter?
“No, you wait a minute,” Karoline bites back. “I’ve known men like you my entire life. You’re scum and you’ll use my baby, take her for whatever you can get, and then disappear leaving her to pick up the pieces.”
“You don’t even know me.”
“Of course I do. Weallknow you. You gave us a one-way ticket into your life when you put yourself on this show. Charlotte deserves better than you.”
She’s got me there.
Jeremy holds up his hands in an effort to diffuse the tension. “How about we ask Charlotte herself?”
My stomach drops and I glance around the studio expecting Charlie to appear. My relief at her nonappearance is short-lived, however.
“Do we have Charlotte on the line?” Jeremy directs his question to the director who gives him a nod. “Charlotte, are you there?”
“Uh, yes. Who is this?” Her voice is tight with suspicion and I think I might hurl.
“My name is Jeremy Pinoit, Charlotte. I’m here tonight with your mother and your boyfriend.”
“Tonight? It’s the middle of the day, what are you talking about?Whois this?”
I hear giggling in the background and despite the tension radiating through me, the sound of my daughter’s laughter calms me a little.
“Charlotte, I’m the host ofDating the DILF, the show your boyfriend appeared on last year. I believe you’re familiar with it.”
