So This Is Love?

Part 2: Nobody Likes Ass Kissing

***November 23rd, 2017**

They had their cast finally.

Ryan was eager to work with Janet and Tyler- having watched a few of their better known movies and shows. He had hung out earlier that month with Jocko Sims, who he found to be a smooth talking dude with similar interests.

Basketball was their go to topic of conversation.

He chatted with Anupam- who was funnier than he had previously expected.

"Okay- places everyone. I wanna get this going as soon as we can. It'll be a busy year to get this series off the ground- but I believe we can do it. Lisa- I need you in hair and make up. Ryan we're gonna start you and Freema off...where is Freema?" Dave asks and we all look around.

Freema?

Freema who?

Ryan looks over the cast list and spots the only Freema on it.

Freema Agyeman: Dr. Helen Sharpe.

Taking his phone out he's about to google her when the door opens.

"Sorry...terribly sorry!" Looking up, a beautifully stunning British woman comes stumbling into the studio- her hair in disarray and her heels in her hand. "There's no excuse...but there actually was an accident right in front of my taxi- so I ran."

She shows Dave a news bulletin on the accident and he writes it off.

"Glad you're okay and that you made it. You and Ryan will be starting us off- so go get changed, hair and make cup and we'll have you start on the last scene of the episode. Working backwards a bit to start off."

The woman ushers passed them and her eyes just barely catch Ryan's gaze- but he is mesmerized. Turning back to his phone- he finishes googling her and finds her Doctor Who character, Law and Order UK- but the image he catches quickly is her naked chest resting next to a woman.

Sense8....

He googled the rest of her Sense8 pictures. His eyes feasting upon her naked body and her tongue being shoved down a woman's throat.

"Like what you see?" Jumping, he drops his phone out of his hands and lands on the linoleum. Turning he finds Freema standing behind him- dressed and ready to go- her hair down and a nice form fitting black dress on.

"I...Um...I just...Uh..." He stutters and avoids her gaze.

"Hahaha....It's alright. I googled you as well." She seductively whispers in his ear before walking off to see Dave. He swallows hard and watches her go. "Better check your phone isn't broken. That would be bloody terrible."

Picking up his phone- it's perfectly fine- but her chest feels heavy and tight for some reason.

***Present Day***

Staring at his phone, Ryan wants to call her.

He hates how much he couldn't explain himself to her.

He hates that she thinks he uses her and is simply acting all the time. When in reality- the only thing he's pretending to be- is not madly infatuated with her. He's always been madly infatuated by her- and not just because of her scandalous Netflix series. That first year of knowing her- he watched her whole cinematic career from Crossroads back in 2003 to her narrating an episode of Panorama in 2017.

They were great partners. Best friends even.

Until he fucked up.

That night when he chose Liz over Freema—that was the night that changed everything between them.