Ch 30: Party Plans
The next time I met up with Luke, we headed to the pool. Since his shooting schedule was coming up for his next film, we needed to hit the water and get Luke swimming. The sun reflected off the pool, causing me to squint as I looked up at Luke. Before he could take off his shirt and distract me with his burly body, I asked him about the pictures Katie uncovered.
“What were those pictures about anyway?” I asked. Luke laughed, able to find the humor in the situation.
“It was stupid,” he said. “Sometimes, you know, Katie and Lyle, they both get their panties in a bunch over my image.”
“So?” I glanced at him, still looking for an answer.
“It was a picture of me working out, but my underwear was all bunched up, coming out of my gym shorts.”
I was still looking for the full answer. That couldn’t be it. Underwear hanging out of gym shorts, who cared?
“Well,” he continued. “I’m a bachelor, so…”
“Yeah, but a very rich one.”
“Still, for some reason, I got behind on my laundry. My housekeeper went on a little trip, and I was wearing some old underwear.”
I still didn’t get it. Who would have realized that?
“Tighty-whities,” he said. I laughed, still not believing that was what caused all the stir. “But the worst part was, they were from the era when I still did my own laundry, so there was like a brown mark.” I cracked up, covering my face with my hands. “I burnt them a little in the dryer, I swear,” he said, holding up his hands to protest his innocence.
“You mean, Gina sent a picture to people of your skid marks?” I laughed.
“Kind of. She honestly thought it wouldn’t blow up like it did. She sent it to a friend, who then sent it to some kind of media hounds for a quick buck.”
“I’m so sorry, Luke,” I tried to look sympathetic, but then we both burst out laughing.
“Luckily, my housekeeper is back. I bought some fresh undies, and am ready to go.”
“I’d love to see them sometime,” I winked. He smiled back at me.
“It just proves I have to be careful who I trust if something so mundane as my underwear hanging out can cause a media storm. Lyle almost took my head off.” He stripped off his t-shirt, his 6-pack more visible now due to our training regimen and Luke’s commitment to healthy eating. He had been having his chef prepare healthier fare, along with the occasional juice drinks Gina got him hooked on. The work was paying off as I noticed his chiseled features and rounded butt. I figured I should jump in the pool to cool off before Luke noticed how sweaty his sexy body was making me.
The next few days, Luke and I spent in the pool. Luke’s skill was progressing. In addition to being able to perform some legitimate freestyle, we worked on dipping underwater and retrieving rings at the bottom of the pool. Each time Luke mastered a certain depth, we moved deeper. We hadn’t reached the deepest part of his pool yet, 10 ft., but I was sure he’d get there in no time.
After each session, we’d sit on two deck chairs, Luke’s arm around my shoulders. I felt warm and cozy under Luke’s wing. When I finally found the nerve to bring up our afternoon together, Luke suggested we take it slow. He was still reeling from Gina’s betrayal, and even though he swore he trusted me, he recommended we get to know each other a little better before hitting the sheets again.
“How about I make you dinner?” I suggested after another swim session, Luke wiping down his taut body with a towel, looking sizzling hot. “I’ll cook you my famous lasagna,” I said, hoping to entice him with homemade food.
“No, let’s have a party,” he said. “It’s about time I introduce you to some people.” We’d pretty much been hanging at his house for the last week. I finally beat him at football on his Playstation, and I introduced him to one of my favorite romantic comedies. We sat in the theater, popcorn between us, just happy to be in each other’s company. There, I could be myself and not worry about all the Hollywood hoopla. I wanted to stay in our bubble of domestic comfort, but Luke had other plans.
“A party? I’m not sure I’m ready to meet you’re A-list crowd.”
“Nonsense,” he said. “You did it before. You were great on the red carpet. My movie’s doing so well at the box-office. We should celebrate.”
I hesitated, looking into Luke’s expectant eyes. He really seemed to want this. How could I resist his deep chocolate eyes gazing at me?
“Can I bring Michelle?” I asked.
“Sure,” he said, “and Daniel.”
“Are you sure you want Daniel hitting on any girl with 2 feet?”
“I don’t mind. He just might get lucky.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.”
***
I broke the news to Michelle who immediately insisted we go shopping for new outfits. We cruised some stores at the Grove and LA’s fashion district. I picked up some sale items (my budget was still on the lean side), and Michelle found a gorgeous cocktail dress that accentuated her lean legs.
The night of the party, I shimmied up my underwear, and pulled over a pair of faux leather leggings and a bright neon yellow tunic that flowed almost to my ankles in the back. Michelle fitted me with a complimentary belt and necklace. The accessories, along with the pair of strappy black heels I wore the night Daniel had his arm broken by those thugs, added pizazz to the look.
I didn’t exactly know what kind of party Luke planned, but we wanted to look our best. I finished the look with a black moto jacket, and we were off to our first celebrity party.
Similar to my night on the red carpet, I approached the evening with both feelings of excitement and trepidation. While I knew we’d have fun, I also worried about fitting in with Luke’s crowd. That time, I wasn’t as worried about my outfit. It turns out, I should have been.