We walk around the side of the house, past the pool and to the sand so Sinatra can run up and down the beach as I sit on the sand and watch her. She's playful this morning, which makes me laugh. It's exactly what I need.
After she relieves herself in the ocean I dry off her paws and we head back inside. Scott's no longer on the couch but I can hear him in the kitchen brewing a pot of coffee. As much as I wish we could avoid this conversation it has to be done. We need to figure out a way to get him the money he needs.
His back is to me when I walk into the kitchen but he knows I'm there. It's hard not to with Sinatra running over to him.
"Want some coffee?" Scott asks, still not turning around to face me.
"Yeah, thanks."
He lifts the pot, pouring coffee into my cup and then adds some cream and sweetener to it before turning around and handing it to me. If possible, he looks worse today than he did yesterday.
"Baby," I call him endearingly. "You need to clean up your face. You still have dried blood everywhere."
"I'm going to take a shower in a minute. I feel like shit."
"I left you some pain reliever and water on the coffee table. Did you take it?"
I'm looking straight at him and even though he's facing me, he has yet to make eye contact with me.
"Yeah, thanks for that."
"Go shower and I'll make you something greasy for breakfast."
"Yeah, okay." He sets down his coffee cup and starts to walk out of the room. He still hasn't looked at me and I can't help but wonder what all is going on in that head of his.
"Winn?" His back is towards me as he stands under the archway that leads into the living room. "Thanks for being so understanding right now. Thanks for being... you."
I watch him as he walks out of the room, slouched over and defeated. Part of me wants to call Jared up myself and let him know what's going on. I know Jared and he'd never let his brother go through this alone. He'd give Scott the money, but at what cost to Scott? Scott says he's been in an even worse situation than this before and Jared had to bail him out. He even made Scott go to rehab. I didn't even know there was rehab for gambling addictions but maybe rehab is the best thing for him right now.
As much as I know that Jared is the only solution Scott has at the moment, I can't betray Scott and ask him. Scott will need to figure this out without Jared, or suck up his pride and go grovel at his brother's feet. The choice is his.
My phone vibrates in my pocket and it's then that I realize I'm still in the same clothes as yesterday. I must look like shit, too. Pulling it out, I check my message.
Josh: Heard you're in Cali. Will you be back for the big boat show? I'd love to see you.
Fucking Josh. When will he get the hint to leave me alone? He's been sending me texts every few weeks for over a year and I haven't replied to any of them.
I delete his text and then move to open the fridge. Scott doesn’t have much, but I manage to find enough bacon and eggs for one person. I pull out two frying pans and get to work.
Ten minutes later Scott is walking back into the kitchen as I'm serving out the eggs and bacon on his plate.
"Perfect timing." I hand him the plate and then hand him a fresh cup of coffee.
"Thanks, Winn."
We sit in silence as he eats. He looks a little better after his shower, but he's still a mess. His eyes are badly bruised, his nose is swollen, and the cut on his lip keeps opening back up.
"You should let me look at your face since I'm assuming you didn't see a doctor yesterday."
"I'm okay. You've done enough for me."
"Scott, you-"
"It'll heal, Winnie. They didn't do anything that won't heal."
He just said they. Maybe this is the perfect time to bring up what was said last night.
"Scott, we need to figure out what you're going to do."
He's finished his breakfast and is taking a sip of coffee when he looks up at me over the coffee cup. This is the first time he's made eye contact with me. Even when his face looks like it's been driven over by a truck, his eyes still stun me. The gray is clear today, no more drunken haze from last night.
"We don't need to figure out anything. I'll figure it out. I actually came up with a solution in the bathroom."
"Yeah?" I can feel my mood start to shift and for the first time in twelve hours I think he might be able to get out of this. "What’s the plan?"
"Jared offered me a few grand to get back on my feet. I'm going to go over there today and take the money. Then call my bookie and tell him I need a sure thing. If I bet on a few sure things I'll get my money back in no time."
“What?" I gasp, my anger starting to rise. "Are you fucking crazy?"
"It'll work, Winn."
"No, it fucking won't. If you could bet on a sure thing, then why the hell are you in this mess? Huh? It's because there is no sure thing."
He puts down his coffee cup and closes his eyes, bringing his thumb and pointer finger to the base of his nose. "You just don't get my world, Winnie."
I push my chair back with my feet and stand up. "Neither do you. If you did, then you wouldn't be in this mess. You need help, Scott, and you can't solve your problem by doing the same thing that got you into this mess."
"Do you have any bright ideas? Tell me, Winn, because if you have a solution I'd be willing to hear it."
I gulp and then spit out my next sentence, "Tell your brother. You're in deep shit right now, Scott. As much as he may hate you for this, he'll give you the money. One hundred grand is not worth your life."
As I wait for his response there's a knock at the door. We both ignore it and just stare at each other. I won't break eye contact. I feel like this is a test and the first person that breaks, loses.
The knocking gets more insistent, yet we still don't move to answer the door. If I can win this staring contest, maybe it'll be enough to get him to talk to his brother. It's a silly idea but the only one I've got.
"Bonjour! Anyone home?" Tawny asks from what I think is the living room. Scott and I finally break eye contact as we move to the other room. "What the hell happened here?"
"How did you get in?" Scott asks her.
"I walked in through your half-ass sliding glass door," she says sarcastically. "Are you aware there's a bit of glass missing?"
"Funny, Tawny."
"I came to check up on you. When I saw you at the warehouse yesterday you looked like shit, kind of like you do right now. What happened?"
"It's a long story," Scott answers.
"Lucky for you, I have time." She lifts the sunglasses from her eyes and places them on top of her dark hair that is tied back in a bun. She's wearing no make-up, which is a first for Tawny.
"Don’t you have a set to be on today?"
"Not today, I have the day off. Now stop making excuses and tell me what the fuck happened."
To my surprise, he does. We're all standing in his living room and he tells Tawny exactly what happened, with more details than he gave me the night before. His thoughts are clearer now that most of the alcohol has left his system. Once he's finished talking, Tawny is silent for a moment.
"You're in deep shit, Scott. Jared can't find out about this."
"I know."
"Why do you both keep saying that?" I chime in.
"Because Jared and the rest of Scott's family gave him some pretty stiff ultimatums the last time. Winnie, it was much worse than it is right now and Scott's family was threatened last time. We need to get him out of this and without Jared's help."
"So what do we do? Where are we going to come up with that kind of money?"
Scott looks over at Tawny and pleads, "You have it, don’t you, Tawny? You're big in the industry now. You must have it."
She laughs at his comment. "I wish, Scotty. You know I'd give it to you but even though I'm making good money now, I'm not making Brandon Boner money. Plus, I have a really bad shopping addiction. I don't have much saved."
Sc
ott’s shoulders slouch and he replies, "I know, Tawny. Thanks anyway."
"What about a loan? Go to the bank and take a loan out against the house."
"I can't, Tawny. This has been going on for a while, I've just been doing a better job at hiding it. I maxed out my equity on the house months ago. I've tried everything. I was even desperate enough to go to Jared about starring in some porn for him, but the money wouldn't have been enough."
She doesn't reply and the silence is back between the three of us. We need to figure out something for him. We may have ten days, but it's not a lot of time to come up with money like this.
"I've got it. Oh my gosh, I think I've got it!" Tawny shouts as a smile spreads across her face.
"What?" I ask her.
"Hold on, let me make a phone call first."
We watch as Tawny makes her way to the front door and steps outside with her phone to her ear. My heart starts to race in anticipation. Could she have possibly just come up with a solution? Wait, knowing Tawny this could have absolutely nothing to do with Scott's situation. It's better not to get my hopes up.
Scott's hand comes over to mine and we intertwine our fingers as we wait. Neither of us says anything because there's nothing really to say. I count in my head, anything to help pass the time. When I get to three hundred eighty six the front door opens again and in walks Tawny.
"He'll be here in thirty."
"Who will?" Scott asks.
"Donnie. I just got you your ticket to one hundred thousand dollars."
★★★
"You look like shit, bro. Anyone tell you that?" Donnie asks as Scott lets him into his place. Tawny and I are sitting on the love seat in the living room. We've left the sofa for Scott and Donnie.
Tawny's been very evasive when it comes to what Scott's saving grace is. She thinks it'll sound better coming from Don, so instead of pestering her with questions the past thirty minutes, I made myself useful and put some refreshments out on the coffee table.
"Pretty much everyone's said that. Thanks." Scott chuckles humorlessly. He's nervous and I don't blame him. Don might possibly hold the answers to all of his problems.
I met Don once before at Jared's surprise party but I've never really talked to him. He's a porn star just like Tawny, and I've seen a little of his work. He's popular in the porn world because of his all-American look. His muscular build along with his subtle tan would make any girl swoon, but he's not super famous like Jared is. I don't know how he can possibly have the money to save Scott.
The men move into the living room and sit down on the sofa across from Tawny and me.
"So I guess you're wondering why I'm here?" Don asks Scott. "I have a business proposal for you. If you agree this will make us both some money and I hear you need money, fast."
"I'm listening," Scott replies.
"Oh, and it'll be perfect, Scotty. You actually gave me the idea when we were talking. Remember? I told you no one makes Brandon Boner money."
"Tawny, you promised I'd be the one to tell him," Don interrupts.
"Oh, right. Sorry. I just got really excited." She clasps her hands in her lap and looks their way. She's ready to listen to what Don has to say.
"I want to make a video, starring you. We can discuss the details of the video over the next few days but I want to make it exclusive to my company. It'll be an online and DVD release."
"I wasn't aware you have a company," Scott says innocently.
"A lot of people aren't. That's why this will be the perfect way to market my first big release."
"But I've never done porn before. Jared said the money is small for first time actors in this business."
"That's because Jared doesn't know how to market you. I'll make a killing on this video and here's why. Brandon Boner's been gone in the industry for what? Over two years? Yet the sales of his old videos are doing better than ever and that's because people want Brandon. No one has been able to compare to the success he's had, though many have tried.
"I'm going to make you the star of this video. You'll be Brayden Boner, Brandon's twin brother. Women will eat this shit up, even if you suck."
In an odd way Don's plan is genius, but I'm not sure if I like the fact that we're back at porn being Scott's only option.
"We're not twins, Don. Plus, doesn't Jared own the rights to his name?"
"He owns the rights to Brandon Boner, not Brayden Boner. And you may not be twins but no one is going to give a shit because they'll be able to see the resemblance immediately, especially with those gray eyes."
Some of what Don is saying actually makes sense but the whole thing sounds a little sketchy.
"I don't know about this. Jared is going to be pissed when he finds out." Scott gets up, dragging a hand through his dark hair. "A big thing women loved about him was his tats and pierced cock. I'm not tatted or pierced, Donnie."
"Are you hung like him?"
"Yes," Tawny and I both say at the same time.
Okay, this just got awkward.
"Then we're good, man. I think I want to shoot this sex tape style, especially because this is a one-time thing for you. Unless... Did you want to make it a career? Because I'd be happy to do that for you, too."
Scott looks over in my direction and it's the first time since all of this began that he might be putting my feelings into the equation. My mouth twitches before I smile softly at him and he replies to Don, "Definitely a one-time thing, but let's talk about money before I agree to anything."
"What's there to talk about? You need a hundred grand and I'll give it to you, right after you shoot for me. Your face looks like shit so we'll have to wait a week. That'll give me enough time to secure a facility for the day, find you a costar and get you tested."
"I'll do it," Tawny says enthusiastically. "We've already slept together so the chemistry will be there. It'll be fun."
I feel sick. I literally feel my insides turning and vomit coming up my throat. I rush out of the room, ignoring everyone and dash into Scott's bathroom, closing the door behind me. Dropping to my knees I lift the seat of the toilet and bend my head over it, ready to throw up. Nothing comes out. My body can't even give me this little distraction from what's going on outside the bathroom door.
Taking a few deep breaths I stand back up and move over to the sink. My complexion has looked better. I'm pale as a ghost and drops of perspiration are forming on my forehead. I twist the nob on the faucet and splash my face with cold water. The frigid cold feels good against my warm skin.
"Winn, open up," Scott shouts from the other side of the door. I turn the faucet off and dry my face with the burnt orange cotton towel he has next to the sink. Opening the door I come face to face with Scott.
"I'm fine. Let's get back out there." Pushing past him I walk down the hallway, but he stops me, placing an arm on my shoulder
"Winnie, if you're not okay with this I won't do it."
His words are what I've been waiting to hear since he dropped the porn bomb on me last night. All I've wanted was a say in this choice, but now that I have one can I actually say no? Could I actually allow myself to be the person that takes this opportunity away from him... when so much is on the line?
I can't.
I don’t want him to do this and I especially don’t want him to do it with Tawny, but he has to. This is his only option.
I keep my back to him as I answer, "It's fine Scott. This is your only way out."
I roll my shoulder to loosen his grip and walk the rest of the way down the hallway. When I enter the living room I sit back down next to Tawny. She's looking at me concerned but she doesn't say anything. Scott follows behind me and sits back on the couch with Don.
"Do you need time to think it over?" Don asks him, glancing at me and then back at Scott.
"No, man. We're good."
"Awesome. I'm jazzed for this. I already have titles scrolling through my head. This is going to make me rich and after your initial pay-out, you'll get a percentage of
the sales, too."
"As long as I get my money from you after the shoot next Tuesday, I'll be happy."
"You've got yourself a deal," Don says, shaking Scott's hand. He gets up and tells Scott he'll call him later in the week with the details and Tawny walks Don out, telling us she'll call later.
After all the commotion of the past hour it's now just Scott and I in his living room and I want to be anywhere but here. We sit, unmoving, and I have no idea what to say to him. I just agreed to let him fuck Tawny on film. I think... I think I have a lot of thinking to do.
I don't know if I can be with him after this. It was fine in the beginning, because that was the agreement I made with him, but it's different now. I've finally admitted to myself that I'm in love with him. Hell, I told him that last night. He may have been passed out but it was still a big deal to me. How do I get over the fact that the man I love is going to be screwing another woman in a week? I can't.
"So... I've got to go. Autumn's still training me on the new business software and I'm not getting it at all."
"Are you sure you're okay with all of this?" Scott asks again.
I don't look at him as I stand up and move to the front entryway to grab my purse.
"Yeah, sure. I mean, it's your only option and it's an easy way to get the money, so you've got to do it, right?"
While I'm slipping on my shoes he walks over to me and waits for me to look up at him.
"It's Tawny so it's no big deal, right? We'll be okay?" he asks me.
"We'll be fine. I'm not your girlfriend, remember?" I reply slightly colder than I intended. "We'll talk later, Scott."
I pause and look up at him while I'm opening the front door. "Just don’t sabotage this by doing something stupid. Stay away from your buddies, stay away from your bookie and don't leave the house unless you have to. You need this money, Scott. Don't spend it before it's even yours."
I leave him to ponder what I've said and walk down to my car, not even looking back to see if he's watching me.
Chapter Seventeen
Playing His Game (The Reynolds Brothers) Page 14