Ch 49: Friendly Fire

I settled on the large couch that came with the rental, quickly turning on the TV to look like I was busy when Luke came in. As he walked toward me, I turned my head, accepting his light kiss on my cheek.
“So, you hitched a ride with Rita,” I said, trying not to give anything away.
“Yeah, she’s cool. Did you know she likes to camp?” He smiled wider.
I smiled, nodding, secretly bemoaning that she shared an interest in one of Luke’s favorite activities. He sat across from me on the crisp white sectional.
“She calls it glamping or something like that.” He chuckled a little. “I think this movie’s going to be good.” He nodded his head multiple times. “We really hit it off.”
“I can see that.” I raised my eyebrows and turned my gaze back to the TV.
“Want to get some pizza for dinner? Maybe Hawaiian pizza?”
“No, I already ate,” I lied. I was actually starving, but the thought of eating greasy pizza the night before another shooting day where I had to wear a bathing suit just wasn’t appealing.
“I heard the second production team is going to shoot some close-ups tomorrow. Maybe look for a secondary character. Someone who looks good in the water.” He smiled my way.
“Yeah, well. I don’t think it’ll be me.”
“Why not? You’re great on those waves.”
“There’s plenty of people to choose from. People who look much better in a bikini.” I couldn't tell him how uncomfortable I felt surrounded by so many beautiful people on set. How I just wanted to run and hide.
“Oh, give me a break.” He swatted at the air in front of him. “Just get out there tomorrow and do your thing. I keep telling you that you’re beautiful.”
Luke got up and walked to the kitchen, getting a glass of water from the refrigerator. He took off his shirt and came back to the couch, sitting next to me this time. He leaned back and threw his arm around me.
“Throw on a robe,” I said, jokingly poking at his chest.
“We could watch TV topless?” He looked at me, his eyebrows raised in a question.
“Not a chance,” I smirked.
“OK,” Luke turned to the TV. “What’s this?”
“Just some show where these stick thin divas with money give tours of their mansions.”
“Um…Educational.”
“Maybe Rita will be on here next season,” I joked.
“I can’t see it,” he said. “She’s more down to Earth than these people.” He pointed at the TV.
“Just admit she’s beautiful.”
“Of course she’s beautiful, just not my type.”
I laughed. “She’s everyone’s type. Long, lean, tan, with perky tits to match.”
Luke looked frustrated. “I can’t keep having this conversation.” He rubbed his hand over his face, thinking about what to say next. He hugged me tighter. “Everything OK?” He turned to me, watching my face.
“It’s nothing. Just something Jimmy said.” I tried to smile.
“That guy you had lunch with today? Was he a jerk?”
“No,” I shook my head. “He’s cool. He just said something that got me thinking.”
Luke looked me in my eyes. “I’m into you. But until you learn to be confident in yourself, I’m afraid this will keep happening, and I don’t want that.” He kissed me long and slow on the lips. Sitting with Luke on the couch, nestled in his bare chest, I felt safe. There, I didn’t need to prove anything.
I tossed and turned that night, unable to sleep. I wasn’t sure why I couldn’t be more relaxed in Luke’s world. My new “friend” Jimmy apparently put some dangerous ideas in my head. I don’t know why I listened to him, why I let his comments ruffle me. It had been difficult listening to Luke rave about Rita, and I couldn’t help feeling a little annoyed at that, especially when I was unsure about our relationship status.
Without Daniel or Michelle as a sounding board, I’d have to fix my problem myself. Since we lived in different time zones, it was too late to call them. Even old Mrs. Rosa’s advice of getting naked probably wouldn’t work this time. I aimed to show Luke I could change. He couldn’t fix my problems. I had to do it on my own.
In the morning, I made a smoothie, while Luke cooked himself some eggs. We shuffled around the kitchen, neither of us talking much. Then we rode to the set listening to music, without much conversation. I thought about what I could do to prove I could be confident in my body and my relationship with Luke.
When we pulled up to the set Luke patted my knee and smiled. “Go get ‘em,” he said encouragingly. I nodded, still feeling guarded. We walked our separate ways toward our respective tents to set-up for the day. I noticed Rita, in another skimpy bikini, run up to Luke when she saw him, and I groaned. He looked back to see my disdain and then turned his head and walked with Rita.
Jimmy came up behind me, tapping me on the shoulder. “Hey, the director needs some close-ups today. He wants to see some serious wave riding. You game?”
“Definitely,” I said, still staring at Rita through squinted eyes.
“He said it’s up to us to show him what we’ve got if we want to make it in the film.”
I nodded. I knew what I had to do. If the movie director wanted skin, I’d give him skin. Then I’d show Luke I didn’t need to run and hide. I knew I had the skills to make the cut, now I had to prove I had the self-confidence too.