Page 11 of Playing With Matches
“Oh yeah, that’s a funny story. Her mom signed her up for the beta. Tania didn’t even know till we matched and her mom told her.”
“Hmmm….” I frown and pinch my brow wishing he hadn’t just told me that. “That’s just the sort of thing that can mess with the data. It’s kind of important that the profiles are completed by the customer.”
“Oh, uh… yeah she did the quiz and all that stuff. Her mom just didn’t tell her what it was for.” Rob waves a hand again. “Anyways, Jackson,” he rocks back in his chair again. “I realize it’s a huge ask for you to join the cast at the last minute like this. We can’t really pay you much, but what wecando is feature your app on the show and make you our CLITO.”
I swallow. Is he joking?Did he just say ‘clit oh’?
“Excuse me?” I blink.
“Chief Love Intelligence Technology Officer,” Rob rattles off the title quickly.
“Yeah… I’m not so sure about that,” I say, raising my brows at him. “Clit Oh? Sound a little like something else?”
Rob considers this for a moment. “Oh!” he says. “Ohhhhh….” he bites his lip. “Well, damn. You’re right, and you know what? Give yourself any title you see fit. Hell, call yourself ‘The Love God.’ I’d be down with that. I know how powerful AI Swiper is and what a gift your app is. The point is, Jackson, we need your tech on the show.” Rob slaps a hand down on the table to emphasize his point. “We need you. Much more than you need us. Without you, this show can’t happen. And if it doesn’t happen, I don’t know what I’m going to tell my new wife and unborn child. This isn’t just about TV. It’s aboutfamily. Making a difference.”
“How so?” I ask, a bit overwhelmed by his passion.
“Everyone knows that dating agencies and traditional methods of matchmaking are utter bullshit, right? You can’t win. It’s either religion, economics, or politics forcing us to make decisions and marry people we don’t really love.” Rob looks to me for agreement, and I shrug and nod. “And God help the folks who leap before they look when they ‘fall in love.’” Rob does air quotes. “Our libido screws with our heads, clouds our vision, and fucks up our lives. Most of us aren’t smart enough to make good choices for ourselves, are we? Just look at the divorce rate!”
I notice that he is tearing up, actually tearing up, and I’m touched. He really gets it. All the reasons why I’ve poured so much effort into my app. I can’t recall when I’ve worked with someone so passionate in the past. I hate to admit it, but it’s inspiring. I feel the last of my misgivings about the show melting away. Dean was wrong about Rob. Rob’s a straight shooter.
Rob wipes his eyes self-consciously.
“I’m sorry, Man. I told myself I wasn’t going to get emotional today. I’m just so excited to finally meet you in person.”
“That’s fine,” I say. “I know my team has already licensed our tech for the production. I'm just not sure what it is you wantmeto do on the show. Like do I have to be physically there?”
“Abso-fucking-lutely!” Rob leans forward, excitedly, elbows resting on his knees. “Peaches Resort, Jackson. We’re filming at one of the top luxury resorts in the Caribbean. A week in Paradise, making dreams come true. God, sometimes I really love my job!”
“Okay,” I say slowly, thinking about the implications. I’ve seen the ads for Peaches, and while it does look nice, it’s still in the tropics. I’m a bug magnet. And I don’t want to even think about the lizards. I’ll just have to suck it up and pack plenty of mosquito repellant. “When would I need to be there?”
“Pretty soon. We’ll need you down there in just over a week. Everything will be comped of course. Flights, room, etc. We’ll put you up in a private suite. You can even bring a plus one if you want. Do you have a plus one? Anyone special in your life?” He waggles his brows at me, speculatively.
“Not at the moment,” I shake my head. “I’m more about keeping it simple.”
“Well,” Rob smiles knowingly, “you’re probably doing the right thing. No shortage of peaches at Peaches, if you catch my drift. And when they know you’re with a TV production…” He exhales through pursed lips and shakes his head. “Of course, those days are all in my past, but you, my friend, are free as a bird!”
“So what is it I’d do?”
“Not a hell of a lot other than enjoy yourself and rest on your laurels,” Rob snorts. “I mean, you’ve got a full-on cast credit but you don’t have to be on camera too much. We mostly want you there to comment on the technology, answer questions, attend parties and gatherings, and maybe opine in a few interviews. Everyone loves experts who can opine….”
“Right,” I say, knowing where this is going. “So basically you want me to shoot the shit and dumb the tech down for the viewers?”
“Yes!” Rob laughs and fist bumps me. “Dude, I knew we would get along. I gotta tell you I have been listening to thatLit Loverspodcast of yours, and that was the clincher. You are funny, Jackson. You’re the secret sauce that we need to make this show a hit. Loved the Lupercalia episode. And what do you think of the show title? I understand you’ve got some kind of a family connection with the show’s theme song?” Rob holds up a finger as he glances down at his phone, distracted. He fires off a quick response to a message before I can respond.
They’re using my dad’s band’s old song as the theme song for the show?Mother. Fucker.
“Give me a min?” Rob says. “I gotta make a quick call.” He excuses himself and slips out into the hallway.
While I’m waiting, I check my own phone. Geoff texted me ten minutes ago.
You’re doing the show, right?
I’m still here, talking to them
OK but I’m just saying, you’re doing the show
Is that a question or a statement?
