Page 62 of Playing With Matches
“Cappy!” I exclaim, taking my bag. “I am so glad to see you! I didn’t think I’d ever see this thing again.”
“Pleasure’s all mine, Son,” he says. “Sorry, I couldn’t bring this back sooner. The crew kept me so busy, testing out the new parasail and such. Just lucky I was there today when the mishap happened. Followed the cat back in to make sure everyone got back safe.”
“I can’t thank you enough,” I say, rifling through the contents of my bag. Everything is still tucked neatly in its place. “Maybe I can buy you a drink or something?”
“No, no, sorry! That will have to wait till tomorrow, unfortunately.” Rob strides over, interrupting. “I apologize, Cappy, I do appreciate you bringing Jackson’s bag by. Maybe you can come back tomorrow night after dinner? I hear there’s going to be a karaoke contest. Maybe you can sing a sea shanty or something?” Rob winks at the sea captain before turning back to Rory, “Listen, Rory, I need you to go check in with the crew. I want the gazebo set up and ready to shoot STAT. Let’s get it going while we still have some light.”
“We don’t have time to buy Cappyonedrink?” I ask skeptically.
“No,” Rob says. “We’re moving up the schedule. We’re going to shoot the Shell Ceremony in one hour. I’m sending everyone back to their rooms for a quick shower and to freshen up. I want to shoot while the near-death experience memories are still fresh.”
“Oh. So soon! Marco will need to wash his hair and apply moisturizer!” Marco exclaims, looking around anxiously.
“Chop chop!” Rob hurries us along with a karate chop gesture. “We’ll send someone from hair and make-up straight to your room, Marco. There’s no shooting this episode without our handsome host!”
“Isn’t anyone going to tell us what happened out there?” Isla asks Rob as Marco dives into another waiting golf cart.
“I would,” Rob says, “but I’d rather save it for the camera. The story’s always better when it’s fresh. See you both back at the gazebo in an hour.” He jumps in the golf cart beside Marco and taps the driver to get going.
“Well, that was rude,” I say to Isla. “They didn’t even offer us a lift.”
isla
“I gotta say, I was afraid of this. This is what happens when you defy logic. Total chaos.”
~Jackson Porter, Playing With Matches Confessionals
The gazebo has been setup like a living room again, this time with four colorfully upholstered, outdoor loveseats flanking a tall, tiled throne embedded with shells and topped off with tridents for finials. The furniture has been arranged in a horseshoe shape around a large fire pit. The firelight makes the blue, cut-glass filler in the center of the bowl sparkle like diamonds. Three large conch shells rest on the ledge of the firepit, each one personalized with one of the female contestants’ names.
Once again, Jackson and I are watching on the monitors from the production tent, but this time the flap is propped open, so we also have a wider view of everything that’s happening in the gazebo. We’re anxious to finally hear Chloe tell the story of what happened on the boat earlier.
“It all started when Lacey got stung by the sea urchin,” she explains to Marco, who is seated on the throne, presiding over the group. Chloe looks gorgeous in a simple, sparkly, black gown. No injuries. She seems more annoyed than stressed. She brushes her long blonde locks away from her face. “I took a look at it. I could see it wasn’t a serious injury, but it was the reason for the pissing match.”
“Pissing match? What is this?” Marco asks. He too, is freshly showered, shaved, and coiffed. I don’t know how he managed to get so pretty so fast. It takes me at least an hour just to blow dry my hair.
Ryker, who is seated with Darwin on one of the loveseats to Marco’s left, snorts. Darwin looks away, appearing slightly shamed-faced.
“Maybe Lacey should tell you this part?” Chloe wrinkles her nose at the woman seated next to her. “I’m not sure I can even explain what happened next.” Behind the cameraman, Rob is shaking his head at Marco, and pointing both index fingers at Darwin.
“No, Marco will ask Darwin,” Marco smoothly takes the hint. “Come on, Darwin, tell Marco.”
“This is so good,” I whisper in Jackson’s ear. “I feel like I’m watching a real TV show.”
“That’s because youare,” he whispers back. “I just hope this isn’t going where I think it is.”
“So, Darwin, now you will tell us what happened?” Marco cajoles. “We want to hear what it was like for you.”
“Well, Marco, I was genuinely concerned about Lacey, and I know when someone gets stung by an urchin, you’re supposed to pee on them,” Darwin speaks bluntly.
“No. That’s a myth,” Chloe calls out, still irritated. “Peeing does nothing for urchin stings. You’re thinking of jellyfish, and even then, it’s not the best way to treat a jellyfish sting. I tried to tell them, but they wouldn’t listen.”
Darwin might be blushing, but it’s hard to tell given the fact that he’s so sunburned. His face is pink and shiny, just a shade or two off from his cerise polo shirt.
“I tried to tell them, too,” Owen comments from the far corner where he is sitting alone.
Lacey, who is wearing a short red dress and matching lip gloss, raises her hand and waves it like a student vying to be called on in class. She’s got a large white bandage on her hand, but it doesn’t seem to be affecting her ability to seek attention. If anything, it makes her stand out more.
“Yes, Lacey?” Marco says.
