Ch 48: Skin in the Game

Unfortunately, our love cocoon had to break open. The next day Luke and I headed to the set in a new Range Rover Luke had delivered the day before. The first scenes were set to be shot along a fairly secluded, gorgeous beach front. Capturing the natural beauty of Hawaii was a big part of the film.
The production crew had a tent set up a few yards from the beach. There, we met the rest of the cast and crew, including Luke’s new co-star, Rita Nelson. By now, I knew better than to worry about Luke falling for the typical Hollywood beauty, but Rita was breathtaking. Her golden brown hair cascaded in beachy waves down her back. Already dressed for the scene, she wore a skimpy pink string bikini, revealing her golden tan, long legs, and perky breasts.
She appeared entirely comfortable in her beach wardrobe, smiling and talking with the cast and crew, almost all of whom were dressed in shorts and t-shirts. Luke and I shook her hand as we introduced ourselves and then a PA ushered Luke and Rita away to talk to the director.
Meanwhile, another PA took me to a different tent where the extras for the film were given instructions on the day’s shots. The production crew wanted every female to pick a bikini from a selection hanging from a wire rack near the back of the tent, while the men were provided board shorts.
“Um, excuse me,” I asked a PA when searching through the rack, “do you have any bikinis that are less skimpy?”
The girl shrugged and said, “The director wants to see some skin.”
“What does that mean?” I asked.
“It means,” a handsome man behind me said, “the more tits and ass, the better.”
I laughed. I turned around and offered a handshake. “Hi, I’m Stella.”
“Hi, I’m Jimmy.” He shook my hand and smiled.
I picked a bikini off the rack that basically looked like dental floss, with white strings tied to a small triangle patch in the front, meant to cover my nether regions. Good thing Michelle convinced me to get a bikini wax. The top didn’t include that much more fabric, barely able to conceal my breasts. I held it up to my body and shook my head.
“I heard they have some more athletic suits in that bag over there.” Jimmy pointed to a duffle bag on the ground near the corner.
“Shhh,” I said, holding my finger to my lips as I snuck over to the bag and snatched a more appropriate swimsuit from inside. Jimmy laughed.
Once we were all changed, the PA instructed us how to position ourselves in the water. In addition to surfers and paddle boarders, the director wanted people performing tricks and riding waves with boogie boards too. A second production crew would film the shots both from the beach and in the water. Our instructions were to look like we were having fun.
I grabbed a boogie board, and headed out. I felt more comfortable as part of a group of extras, rather than being singled out like in Luke’s last movie. I didn’t want to be treated differently just because of my relationship with Luke.
Out on the water, I exuded confidence, riding waves, taking on bigger and bigger surf. At one point, I jetted toward the camera, cutting the board along the wave’s crest. The others paddled out and waited for waves, the paddle boarders floating past the break. Everyone seemed to be grooving, but no one was catching as many waves as me, except maybe Jimmy. He blew by me on almost every wave, standing comfortably on his surf board. On one wave, we rode in together, practically neck and neck. When we jumped off in the shallow water, he waited until I rejoined him with my boogie board.
“You’re pretty good with that thing,” he said.
“Yeah, thanks. You’re not so bad yourself.” We paddled out together. After a few more waves, the crew waved us in. They said they got all the shots they needed for the day, and that we should go to another tent to enjoy lunch. As Jimmy and I walked along the sand, squishing between our toes, I saw Luke filming his scene with Rita on the beach. They looked flirty and cozy, obviously creating romantic chemistry onscreen. Rita sat in her itty bitty bikini, appearing flawless. I looked away, telling myself it was just make believe.
“My money’s on them hooking up before this movie wraps,” said Jimmy, pointing to Luke and Rita. “She’s just so gorgeous, and I hear he’s a playboy.”
I wanted to scream at him. Let him know I was Luke’s girlfriend. Tell him that Luke loved me. But then, I remembered, I didn’t know that for sure. He hadn’t said those three magic words. As if in a trance, I walked with Jimmy to the lunch tent.
About a half hour later, while I was eating lunch with Jimmy and a pair of twins who liked to paddle board and looked good in string bikinis, Luke sauntered over and sat down. He kissed me on the cheek, and I blushed as he introduced himself to Jimmy and the twins. I didn’t think he was going to reveal our relationship on set. Jimmy gave me a confused look, and I tried not to make eye contact. We all attempted to continue our conversation, but having a big movie star at our table suddenly made everything awkward.
“I have to film another scene,” Luke said. “You take the car. I’ll hitch a ride home with someone.”
I nodded, even more embarrassed that my table mates now knew I was staying with Luke. He kissed me again on the cheek, got up, and left. Jimmy bent over the table and said to me, “Why didn’t you tell me you were with him?”
His question irritated me. “Why does it matter? I’m my own person.”
“It’s just, I wouldn’t have said that thing that I said.” He started to get tongue tied.
“Don’t worry. I’m not worried.” I brought my hands to my chest, emphasizing my point.
“But that’s why you’re here isn’t it? To be with Luke?”
“Look, you saw me out there, I’m damn good. I might not look like Rita in a string bikini, but I can hold my own in the water.”
Jimmy held up his hands in defense. “Whoa, I know. It’s just hard to compete with someone with a body like that.” Jimmy nodded his head toward Rita, still in her bikini, smiling and chatting with some of the extras. As she moved from table to table, her legs glided on the ground seamlessly.
I had to keep my jealousy in check. Sure, she was attractive. OK, really attractive, but Luke liked me for me. He wouldn’t invite me to Hawaii and then ditch me for a sultry, voluptuous co-star. Or would he?
Driving home, I thought about what Jimmy had said. I replayed the image of Luke and Rita on the beach, their intimate romantic scene, how quickly they seemed to connect. I wondered why even after such a positive day, riding waves and having fun, I still harbored doubts about my own self-worth.
As the sun set, I waited for Luke, checking the window at every little noise, anticipating his return. Around 8, I heard rustling on the driveway and stood behind a pillar, watching Luke pull up in a pick-up truck driven by Rita.
Once she parked, I saw her say something, then they laughed. She tapped Luke’s arm lightly. They looked awfully chummy after only one day on set. At that rate, Jimmy’s prophecy would be fulfilled in no time. I sulked at Rita’s ease with people, how she exuded confidence. From what I observed earlier that day, she not only looked beautiful, but also had no problem making new friends.
Jealousy pulsed in my body. I tried to control it, telling myself it didn’t matter. I was a tough cookie that could get out of difficult situations. It shouldn’t have mattered that I didn’t quite fit the model physique like Rita. And yet, watching Rita with Luke, I couldn’t quite quash my insecurities.