Ch 15: Paparazzi Pictures

After noticing the cameras, Luke grabbed the blanket and his clothes and ran toward where we parked. I rushed after him. Luke looked annoyed and tense that the media was following us. He waved bye, and I scurried to my car with my clothes. I was disappointed our day had to end so abruptly. We were having so much fun and Luke progressed with his fear of the water.
Throwing my clothes over my bathing suit, I peered in my rear view mirror. My cheeks looked flush, partly from our run and partly because when I thought about Luke’s arms around my body, I grew hot.
***
With some extra time, I decided to run some errands, trying to forget Luke’s panic over the sudden appearance of the paparazzi. When I met Michelle at home later, she sat, as usual, on the tan couch in our living room with her computer on her lap.
“Hi,” I said and tossed her a small bag of chocolate covered pretzels, her favorite study snack from the bags of groceries I plopped on the counter.
“Thanks,” she looked up.
“You’re welcome,” I said in a chipper voice.
“I’m so shocked you’re so calm about it.” She looked at me surprised.
I sat down next to her. “About what?”
“You didn’t see?” she asked as she opened the bag of pretzels.
“I’ve been out all day, busy doing errands. What’s up?” I stole a pretzel from her bag and popped it in my mouth.
“This.” She turned her screen toward me. It featured two photos – one of me and Luke sitting on the beach, my thighs looking bumpy and huge. And another of him hugging me with the tag line. “Beach romance for Luke Mulligan and mystery minx.”
I was stunned. I had never seen my thighs featured so prominently on screen, especially for such large numbers of people to see.
“Oh, no. I look horrible.” I brought my hands to my face. “And poor Luke. I mean, that hug was just a trick. We had been playing on the beach, and I tackled him. Then later, he hugged me, only to trip me over a second later.”
“Here’s another.” Michelle scrolled to another webpage with the caption – “Luke and Trainer Getting Cozy.”
“Stop. I can’t look at any more. Hey, how do they know I’m his trainer?”
“I didn’t tell anyone and the only one who knows is Daniel, right?
“Right.” I said assuredly. “Well… I told old Mrs. Rosa too.”
“You what?”
“I thought she wouldn’t even know who Luke Mulligan was. I accidentally let it slip.” I buried my face in my hands. “Oh no. You don’t think she leaked this, do you? No one knew we were going to the beach, though.”
“They must have followed Luke there.”
“Great. Luke won’t be happy the paparazzi have a picture of him with my thunder thighs. I’m not sure what’s worse, that they know I’m training him or that my cellulite will be seen by millions of Luke Mulligan fans.”
“You don’t look that bad.” She twisted her head to get a better angle. “And the news had to get out sometime about you training him. You do look quite cozy though.” She winked at me.
I gave her a look of disgust. “I told you already what happened.”
“Yeah, I don’t buy it. That hug looks pretty real to me.”
“Since when do you believe the paparazzi over your best friend?” I threw a pillow at her and laughed. “Seriously, though, I’m mortified.” I hung my head.
“No, really, I’m proud of you.”
“For what? I didn’t do anything.”
“You didn’t have to take this challenge. And look at you: in public, with a handsome movie star, in a bathing suit. That’s progress.” She put her arm around my shoulder and squeezed me to her.
I perked up a little. “You should have seen him, riding in waves. He used to be completely afraid of the water. Now I have him boogie boarding.”
“See?” She turned her head at me.
“I remember after that whole thing with Ryan blew up, you didn’t even wear shorts for almost a year.”
“I guess.” I sighed. “At least I’m in better shape now.”
“You’ve come such a long way. I know your dad would be so proud of what you’re doing, teaching Luke to swim. And I’m proud you’re finally getting out and shakin’ what your momma gave you.” She got up and danced her butt in my face, wagging and swaying.
I looked at her, trying not to cry. She was right. My dad would be proud. After he died, I relied too much on Ryan, and food, to make me feel better. This gig with Luke was not only helping with my finances but also my self-esteem.
I took a deep breath, grabbed Michelle’s computer, and looked at the pictures more closely. It DID look like Luke was really into me. I replayed some of the moments from earlier that day in my head. Luke was making progress with his swimming, and we were starting to enjoy each other’s company more. I handed back the computer.
I prayed it wasn’t my fault the information about me training Luke was leaked to the paparazzi. I’d rather have a hundred close-ups of my curves plastered on the gossip rags if it meant Luke wouldn’t be mad at me. And if it wasn’t old Mrs. Rosa who leaked the information, who was it? I could take the embarrassment of unflattering photos. What I couldn’t bear is the thought that it was all my fault they existed at all.