The audience roared with excitement.
“I can also tell you that more than one person who starred in the first season will be returning. Hopefully, by the end of the night, we’ll be able to reveal their identities.” He chuckled as the camera swung back toward Tuck and Katia. Katia’s face lit up as if this was news to her. She nearly bounced in her seat.
Tuck, on the other hand, looked like he might actually kill someone with his glare. Cameron was the current recipient. Jodi shuddered. Had they invited Tuck to come back? She had never considered the possibility. She knew he hated this show with every fiber in his being. She also knew he needed cash, and money talked. There was a possibility they had offered him more than he could refuse. After all, if they cut Katia from the show, his life wouldn’t be nearly as miserable. Was he considering something like that?
Jodi glanced at her dad. His gaze was on the television, his elbow on the arm rest, his chin on his palm. He was staring at the TV, looking pensive.
“In addition,” Cameron added, “I’m one of the few people privileged to know there will be an enormous surprise twist in this evening’s episode. Not even everyone on set is aware of the twist.”
Jodi sucked in a breath. Twist? What twist? Did Tuck know about this?
Oh, yeah. He did. The corner of his lip lifted just enough to confirm it. Maybe most people wouldn’t have noticed, but Jodi did. Katia looked a little confused on the other hand. She even licked her lips and glanced at Tuck, who ignored her.
For the next several minutes, Cameron introduced the wedding party and gave a recap of the first month of on-set filming. Finally, he turned to Katia and Tuck. “So, you two have built up quite the fan club in the last few months. You’ve become an internet sensation. There’s even a hashtag for the two of you. Tuckatia. How have you handled the notoriety?”
Katia laughed and waved a hand through the air. “It’s been the most fun of my life. I can’t believe how supportive people have been. Renee Switz and Elizabeth Grand are following me. It’s just amazing.” She fanned herself as she mentioned the two superstars and then hugged Tuck’s arm and swatted at it playfully. “Tuck’s not into all that. He never even checks his socials. I bet he’s not even sure how many followers he has.” She giggled and leaned into him as if they were the perfect couple.
He stared down at her for a moment and then turned his gaze back toward Cameron.
Cameron addressed him next. “You certainly have been the quieter of the two since the beginning. Fame wasn’t something you sought out, I understand. In fact, until a few months ago, you were an active Navy SEAL, am I right?”
“Yes.” His first and only word. Jodi almost laughed. He had no trouble speaking at all when he was with her, but he either preferred to keep his words to a minimum on the set or he’d been told to.
“Acting wasn’t on your radar?”
“Nope.”
Cameron looked a little uncomfortable. “You’re actually a friend of Nick Nelson, an active SEAL, who appeared several times in the early episodes as a security guard, right?”
“Yes.” Tuck nodded. He gave up nothing else.
Cameron chuckled uncomfortably and looked toward Katia. “I see what you mean. He’s a man of few words.”
She rolled her eyes dramatically. “Sometimes it’s frustrating, but really, can you blame him? I talk enough for both of us.” She tipped her head at him adoringly. Gag.
Jodi wanted to go through the screen and rip her manicured hands off his body. Deep breaths. Hold it together.
The show went on like this through several commercial breaks, Cameron bringing in one or two of the wedding party for their thoughts about the show from time to time. It was actually a little boring until he asked Brittany B and Dawson to join them on stage after a commercial break. The two of them stepped up and took seats on the loveseat that had been added next to Cameron.
The audience went wild, expecting and getting a Jerry Springer-style showdown as Cameron reminded everyone about the suspicions that had plagued the last few weeks of livestreaming. He spoke of suspected infidelity and Katia worked hard to look innocent and defend herself. Brittany B and Dawson also denied being more than friends with her.
Unfortunately for all of them, one of the other bridesmaids—one of the other Brittanys—in the audience jumped up and started shouting that they were all liars. She stormed the set and held out a pile of pictures.
Cameron took the pictures while Brittany B, Dawson, and Katia turned white.
Katia jumped to her feet and shouted, “Where did you get those? They don’t prove anything. Those could have been taken at any time or even doctored to look like me. I never cheated on my husband.”
“These look pretty damning,” Cameron pointed out, holding up a few of the less revealing photos for the audience to see. He had to put his finger over some sections to cover up Katia’s breasts. The pictures were horribly damning. His assessment was too mild. Good grief.
Jodi was nearly laughing at the absurdity of the entire thing.
One of the cameras switched back to the audience where another bridesmaid, Korina, was laughing hysterically. “Brittany L is just jealous that she wasn’t invited. That whore slept with everyone on the set.”
Jodi’s dad gasped. “How can you watch this shit?” he murmured.
“I have to. I need to know what happens. That’s my man up there.”
Her dad sighed loudly. “Now I see why he’s been so exasperated. What a disaster. He should get a gold medal for not quitting this show months ago.”
Jodi agreed. This was far worse than she
