Page 45 of Breaking the Rules
Max, his grin permafrosted in place, neatly stacked note cards in front of him. They were blank, just a prop. Something familiar for the older generation who still watched the show every night despite the fact that Max was the sixth host of the institution.
“Welcome back, Waverly. It’s always good to see your beautiful face.”
She rested her head on her hand and stared adoringly at him. “I was just thinking the same about yours, Max.” He mugged for the camera while the audience hooted.
The warm-up was easy and friendly, and the audience broke into laughter a few more times before Max got down to business. “Alright then. We’ve got a lot to catch up on, so I think we’re going to go rapid fire.”
The music cued a dangerous riff, and Waverly and Max both turned to Camera One in mock looks of terror.
“Are you ready?” Max asked.
Waverly rolled her shoulders and feigned some stretches. “Okay. Let’s do this.”
“You just got back from rehab, true or false?”
“Kind of sort of true,” she nodded.
“Drugs, alcohol, shopping, gambling?”
“None of the above.”
“Sex?” Max pressed hopefully.
Waverly laughed. “Stress. It was more a boot camp for people who are making crappy life choices such as these…” She waved behind her to the screen.
The video cued up and the crowd laughed through a montage of Waverly wearing questionable outfits, stumbling out of clubs, and enjoying every carb known to man.
“So to clarify, when an unnamed source said I went to rehab, I was actually sitting on the beach and absorbing some life coaching,” she filled in. “And then I came back and everyone was like ‘Are you sober?’ and I’m like ‘I just learned to meditate.’ It’s not nearly as sexy a story as if I were all coked up and laying in a gutter.”
“That would be incredibly sexy,” he agreed, eyebrows high.
Waverly laughed.
Satisfied with her answer, Max changed the subject. “Moving on. What is your spirit animal?”
They ran through the pre-approved list of questions rapid-fire. And Waverly felt like she’d done her best to sell the “time out for health” angle.
“Now, I know you don’t answer questions about your love life,” Max said, sending a pouty face to the audience. “So we’ll skip that part. Instead, we’ll move on to the rapid, rapid fire round. You just say the first thing that comes to mind.”
Waverly agreed and prepared herself to escape the trap that was being laid.
“Favorite holiday?”
“Fourth of July,” Waverly answered decisively.
“Favorite farm animal?”
“Chickens?”
“Who was the last person you texted?”
“My friend Kate.”
“What is in your refrigerator right now?”
“Leftover pizza.”
“If you could be a pro in any sport, what would it be?”
