This Much is True - Tia Louise Page 0,25
close to his side.
“Thanks.” I’m pretty sure I sound like a crushing teenage girl.
And I’m very aware this is a silly way to act, but there it is.
Following the road, I get on I-20, and my stomach growls. I can’t help thinking Scout’s the only one who got a real meal tonight.
“Want me to stop at a McDonald’s?” I glance back at JR, who’s watching the lights pass out the window. “You never got to eat.”
His ice blue eyes meet mine. “You only got a roll.”
I smile. He noticed. “I don’t want to spend your money.”
“It’s no problem.”
I wish he’d suggest we stop at another motel, maybe we all need to shower again. After the way things played out tonight, if I had another chance, I wouldn’t wait for him to make the first move. I’d close the space between us and kiss him myself.
We’re back on the road, heading across the top of Louisiana.
JR got a cheeseburger and fries, Scout got a super-sized cup of ice for his cheek, and I got an Egg McMuffin and small coffee. I hope I can drive for several hours now that I’m in the seat.
I switched the radio station, and it’s back to the 60s on 6. “My dad loved this station.”
I’m halfway through my egg sandwich, taking a sip of my coffee when Scout blurts, “I’m a gay porn star.”
Blazing hot liquid sucks into my mouth, and I cough, swerving on the highway.
“Jesus!” he shouts. “Don’t wreck the car!”
Blinking hard, I cough again. “What did you just say?”
“Rammin’ Rod. Dreamboys.” He looks at his lap, and I hear a chuckle from the backseat.
I’m not sure if I should laugh. “You’re a gay porn star?”
“Print media only.” He says it like that somehow changes things.
“So like… you’re in magazines? For gay guys?” I glance at him.
“Just one. And alone. I mean, it was just me alone. One time.”
“How…” I don’t even know where to begin to start asking questions.
“I guess I should’ve known when I went to Ultimate Sensations Photography Studio something was up.”
“The studio was called Ultimate Sensations? That sounds like a brand of condoms.”
More chuckles from the backseat.
“Shut up, JR.” Scout casts a glare at his brother. “I had just arrived in LA. I didn’t know anybody, I didn’t have any fucking money, and every audition required a headshot.”
“Let me get this straight. You went in for headshots and came out a gay porn star?” My eyes narrow. “How does that happen? Don’t you have to sign a release or something? Get paid?”
“Apparently it was part of the paperwork I signed. The headshots were so cheap because I agreed to let him use my image.”
“But… you said you went for a headshot. Why were you naked?”
Scout pushes his feet against the floor, squirming in his seat. “He had this whole spiel… ten professional poses, including headshots.”
“Including nudes?”
“He said I should do a few nudes in case the casting directors wanted to see me naked. Like for R-rated movies like Fifty Shades of Grey or something. History of Violence. Hell, even Bruce Willis has his dick out in 12 Monkeys.”
Squinting at him, I’m trying to understand. “You fell for that?”
“He was a really nice guy. He had me hold a football. Apparently, I have an appealing cock. He said I should do art photos for magazines.”
“So you’re a natural blond.”
JR laughs more, and Scout cuts his eyes at me. “Alcohol.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “He got you drunk?”
“I want alcohol. I’m not having this conversation without whiskey.”
“We’re not stopping.” JR snaps from the backseat. “Keep driving, Hope.”
Scout turns in his seat. “Look, I know you’ve been in the joint for two years, so you’ve forgotten what it’s like, but if I’m describing my biggest fuckup in Hollywood, I want whiskey.”
I look at the green sign approaching. “Hold that thought. We’re twenty-four miles to Vicksburg.”
We pull off at a Pack n Save and gas up. Scout grabs a bottle of Jack Daniels and two paper cups. Back on the road, we’re both in the backseat, paper cups in hand with JR at the wheel. So much for me driving.
“It was six months before I knew what had happened.” Scout leans his head back.
My feet are up on the seat in front of us. “What happened?”
“I went for a callback on this TV show, Mighty Thunder. It was about stock car racers who fight crimes. I was going to get to race cars.”
“Never heard of it.”
“Yeah, it didn’t make it through pilot season.” He