Chapter 28 – Amelia Island Shoot
Tuesday December 24
KARA MET ME IN THE lobby at six in the morning because she wanted to go run on the beach. When we got to the sand, she stopped me before we went any further.
“I don’t know how used to media you are, but I would suggest you get a publicist. Part of the game is they try to catch me with a guy. I’m going to ask you for a huge favor: I need you to be my boyfriend.”
“Okay, explain this to me,” I requested.
Why were girls always talking me into things?
“It helps keep away unwanted advances, and it’ll help both our careers. My publicist has Hollywood Central waiting for us at the beach. They’ll lead with this tonight in exchange for an exclusive.”
I looked at her and sighed. I would need to do some damage control, but Kara was a friend.
“Okay, I’ll help as long as I get a real workout this morning.”
“I can arrange that,” Kara flirted.
I shook my head. The assumption was that Kara, Tracy and I would end up in the sack. The two of them had been plotting this. Tracy thought Kara was hot, and since she let me out to play, how was I going to say no?
“You’re so bad. Tracy will claw your eyes out if she can’t be there with us.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way for the first time, but hear me, you and I are going to have some alone time this week,” she purred, and swatted my butt.
We jogged north towards the nearest small town. I quickly found running in the sand was tiring. We made it a mile up the beach when we were stopped by Hollywood Central.
“KARA, KARA! Who are you with?”
A guy in his early twenties and a cameraman were set up on the beach. We were both sweating, so she requested a towel before we answered any questions. The reporter must have figured what was coming because he had a duffle bag with towels and bottled water waiting for us. We dried off, got drinks and then posed for the camera.
The reporter repeated his question.
“This is David Dawson, my boyfriend. He’s with me shooting a commercial.”
The interview went on for ten minutes. I was glad I’d put on my Range Sports garb because they were about to get some free national advertising. When we were done, they staged us running on the beach.
Kara and I didn’t make it back to the hotel until seven, and Entertainment Tonight caught us coming in from our run. We brushed past them and went into the hotel. When I got back to my room, Kendal and Tracy were there eating breakfast. They had ordered for me, so I took a shower and came out and joined them. I figured I’d better come clean with the whole ‘Kara is my girlfriend for the week’ story. Tracy was patient with me, but it wouldn’t be fair to her to have her find out from someone else.
“Okay, Kara has more than a photo shoot on her mind,” I said, getting both women’s attention. Tracy just smirked. “We’re now going out. Sorry, babe, I had to break up with you for a few days,” I announced, trying to be funny. “She announced it to Hollywood Central this morning, and it’ll be on national TV tonight.”
Tracy, God love her, just laughed.
“I swear David, if I didn’t love you, I’d have to kill you.”
“I know, but she’s been having problems with people hitting on her. She needs a public boyfriend to ward them off,” I said. I thought for a moment. “We better start calling people and explaining before everyone sees it tonight. Kendal, please call all the people I work for and let them know. Tracy, you call friends and family and tell them. Probably the quickest way is to call Tami and let her handle it. She’ll enjoy having some scoop to share with everyone.”
“We’ll need to make sure you’re on Kara’s arm while we’re here. Kendal and I will hang back so the press doesn’t get confused,” Tracy announced as if it was the most logical thing in the world.
“You know, David, this is good for you. I talked to Clare at Ford and they suggested you start having a public girlfriend. She said a lot of up-and-coming entertainers do it for the very reason Kara is: it keeps the stalkers away. She also told me that it’ll boost your fees if you become a household name,” Kendal told us.
“I’m game as long as you clear it with the boss first,” I said as I leaned in and kissed Tracy.
CAN I JUST SAY THAT the first day of the diamond commercial was one of the worst experiences I’ve ever had? The director seemed to be a major sexual predator; specifically, he was stalking me! I had to keep Kendal, Kara or Tracy near me at all times, or I was fighting him off. When Kara said ‘some’ nudity, I think she meant for herself. For me, it was nudity all the time.
The only good news was that one of the photographers was Kim from the Hill Advertising shoot. I was glad to see a friendly face.
My day started in makeup when they saw my pasty-white Midwestern body. What were they expecting in December? Their solution was I needed a spray tan. I thought the girls were going to pee themselves when I came out looking like an Oompa Loompa after the first round of makeup. All I needed was white eyebrows and a green wig and I could sign up. Thank God, they could wash it off. I never wanted to look that orange again.
Once they got the color right, they had me put on a black speedo and go out for test shots. The director’s name was Rafael. Kara came out in a black bikini. When our first shots came up on the screen, we looked good together. Rafael was reviewing Kim’s work.
“Kara, David, I think this looks fabulous. David, I need you to lose the suit so we can make sure your skin tones work.”
I was getting to the point that stripping in front of a crowd wasn’t a problem. There must have been twenty people on the set. I just dropped my suit and Kara and I did a couple of test shots. She smirked when she saw that Mr. Happy was being a little bit of an exhibitionist and rising to the occasion. Rafael ran out on stage and grabbed my unit.
I froze like a deer staring down the lights on a school bus. Kara tried not to laugh as this freak held my manhood.
“Makeup! Makeup!” Rafael shouted, getting everyone on the set’s attention that he was holding me.
I was in such shock that I let him. The makeup girl came running out.
“You need to shave him. I’m looking for a clean, young look, and this mass of hair just won’t do.”
I broke free and ran to makeup, and Mr. Happy went limp in horror. Kara came sashaying her pretty butt back into makeup with a big smirk. I put two and two together and remembered she had full control on this gig. She’d picked the director who had just fondled me. When I turned on her, her eyebrows went up and I just sighed.
“Kara, that wasn’t nice what you did to me. At the very least you could have warned me,” I said, trying to stay calm.
It didn’t work. I felt violated and betrayed that my supposed friend would allow that to happen. Kara saw I was mad and apologized. I could see her side of it. People on photo shoots were constantly hitting on her. It only made sense she would pick someone who wouldn’t be interested.
“Just tell me he’s good because I’m not putting up with several days of this if the final product isn’t worth the hassle.”
“Sorry I didn’t warn you, but I’ve never seen him get hands-on before. This’ll be worth it. He’s won a lot of awards for his work, and every time I’ve worked with him it’s turned out fantastic.”
The makeup girl was ready for me, so I went and got an all over shave. Tracy and Kendal choose that moment to come and find me.
“Wow, that’s sexy. I can’t wait to try it out,” Tracy volunteered.
Kendal just nodded, not trusting herself to comment.