Page 22 of The Reality Duet
“Joshua,” I say breathlessly as his tongue moves in and out of my mouth.
“I know. I want this, too.”
Before I can come up with a coherent rebuttal, Joshua is pulling my bikini bottoms off and tearing open one of the thousand colorful condoms sitting on the nightstand, and as much as I want to gawk at his body, I can’t. I’m afraid that this is just another moment in the insanity that lives in my head.
[Roll intro]
“I’m Patrick Jonas, and welcome to another episode ofMarried Blind.”
[Theme music plays]
“It’s time to crown another master couple this week and check in with our reigning couple. This week, the couples will compete for their first luxury competition. Tonight one lucky couple will win a date out, away from the other newlyweds. We’ll find out more after this commercial break.”
[Stagehands enter the house and adjust the microphones of the contestants]
[Break over]
[Audience applause]
“Welcome back. Now let’s check in with our houseguests and see how their relationships are developing. I know I’m a little curious to talk to Joshua and Joey.”
[Audience oohs]
“And find out just how things are shaping up for Cole and Millie and Gary and Amanda. I think it’s time for Gary and Amanda to make a splash, don’t you?”
[Audience cheers]
“I have a feeling they’re playing it safe, but is there a need to?”
[Switch to the live feed]
“Hello, newlyweds.”
[All respond]
“Well, the first thing the viewers want to know; Joshua and Joey, how is married life?”
eleven
Joshua
I look at Joey,sitting next to me like a doting wife. When I woke up this morning. . . well, let’s just say I was very confused. She was sound asleep on the couch and I was buck ass naked except for my. . . and he was snuggled up with a blue raincoat that was sticking to my leg. After a painful attempt to remove the sleeve, in which I lost a few leg hairs in the process, I hopped into the shower and tried to remember the activities from the night before. I want to say everything came flooding back to me as soon as the water hit my face, but only red cups, laughter, and a bottle of tequila gave me a glimpse of what we did. One thing is for certain—Joey and I had sex last night and now that awkward “is he going to remember” moment is happening.
Joey is cool as a cucumber and if I didn’t know any better, I’d say she’s done this a million times. I’m supposed to be the actor, not her, and yet here she is poised and ready to take on the most invasive question possible in front of a live audience. I’m not sure what she’s going to say. I mean, we had sex last night and even though I don’t remember it, I felt pretty damn good when I woke-up this morning and I have no doubt that’s because of her. I hate that we had to be drunk for it to happen, but my subconscious knew what I wasn’t willing to admit. I want her. I just can’t have her. Not like this and not in this house where our lives are dictated by time slots and ratings.
“Married life isn’t what I thought it would be.” She looks at me and shrugs. My stomach bottoms out with dread. “I mean, Joshua cleans up after himself, does his own laundry, and makes his own food. Aside from the ring on my finger. . .” Joey pauses and holds her hand out. My eyes close, I don’t know what she’s going to say, but it isn’t going to be pretty or in my favor. “Well, let’s just say things are different.”
I’m suddenly angry and I don’t know why. What the hell kind of questions are these and why is she being so coy? Patrick Jonas chuckles and for some reason I want to reach through the television and strangle him. My anger, for what it’s worth, should be focused on Joey for not following our plan. . . my plan. I need to talk to her about last night and find out just how things got out of control. I know we were both drinking, but I didn’t think she was that drunk and by all accounts she and I shouldn’t have had sex, but we did and I think I liked it. No, I know I did because I have the urge to pick her up and carry her away so we can do it again, but this time sober. I want to know exactly what she feels like pressed against my body without the cloud of tequila being in the way. What happened last night or early this morning can’t happen again.
“Are you saying that Joshua Wilson is a diva?”
Joey blanches, but recovers quickly, yet another feature that would do well in Hollywood. I don’t know why I can find all these amazing things about her, but not give in. Apparently only my brain is the logical one, since my dick has a mind of its own.
“Absolutely not. My husband is very kind and I’m a lucky woman for all the reasons I listed above.” Joey glances over and smiles; her eyes light up and everything seems happy. When Patrick starts talking, her face tells a different story. She’s acting, and I just bought it, just like I’ve been asking her to buy into my bullshit. Oh God, what did I do to her last night? I need this segment to be over so we can talk. It’s the dreaded “this shouldn’t have happened” talk that I never pictured myself having with her. She’s going to be hurt and probably kick me in the nuts, and I deserve that, but I was drunk and the fact that I only remember bits and pieces of the night does not bode well for me. I can’t even tell her that I enjoyed myself. I mean. . . it looks like I did and my body feels great, but I just can’t remember.
“Gary, Joshua has taken you under his wing of sorts. How are you feeling with your new workout?”
All eyes are on Gary, and the man he was a few days ago is not the man sitting here now. He’s taken my advice and is doing everything he can. I haven’t seen him pick up a beer in a week and he’s been pushing himself with training.