Adoring Love

14

Liz
It has been weeks since that horribly embarrassing day at the studio. I have been assigned to do at least 100 squats a day to make my ass look more firm. I mean can't they just use photoshop or whatever?
I slouch down in my seat and wait for Nikki and Ashley to arrive with the popcorn.
"I can't wait any longer. I want to finish this today!" Dakota whines.
"I'll call them." I tell her, dialing Nikki's number.
"Hello?" she answers, appearing in the doorway. I hang up the phone and grab the popcorn from her hands.
"Took ya long enough!" Dakota says, hitting play. We have been watching Nurse Jackie every chance we got after we found out that Peter was in it. He plays a doctor! Ironic right?
"How did we not know that he was in this? I feel like we are bad friends." Nikki says, watching him on the screen. I shrug, eating more popcorn.
"Want some?" I ask Nikki.
"I'm on a no carb diet." she says angrily.
"You're kidding!" I say with surprise.
"Nope."
"But we're the same size." Ashley says. She shrugs.
The door opens and Peter walks in with a tired expression. He has only been working out for a few weeks but his body has definitely changed. His biceps are bigger and his waist is smaller, his jaw is more defined as well.
"Hey." he says.
I gasp, remembering him telling me not to watch this show.
"Hey." I say, getting up and hugging him. I motion at Nikki to turn off the show but she doesn't understand.
"What're you watching?" he asks, turning around. I grab his face and make him face away and look at me.
"Nothing. You wouldn't like it. It's girly and stuff." I tell him.
Right as I say that, a sex scene comes on and moaning fills the room. Not just any sex scene. Peter's sex scene.
He gasps, his eyes widen as he hears his own moans. He quickly turns around and reaches for the remote. Nikki quickly grabs it and runs out of the hotel room with it. He chases after her, all the while, the rest of us girls' eyes are glued to the screen.
"Man, this is basically porn. Peter was in a porno." Dakota says, watching the blonde girl ride Peter.
"I want to look away...but I can't!" Ashley says.
"I can never look at him the same way." I say. As soon as I say that, the TV turns off and I see Peter's reflection in the TV. I quickly turn and see him looking at me with a mix of guilt and hurt.
"I told you not to watch it." he says. I stare at him, not knowing what to say. He walks into the bedroom and closes the door. I try as hard as I can to separate Peter and this Coop character but it's hard. They're beginning to blur together. I know Peter isn't as insensitive as the character he portrayed. I just have to keep reminding myself of that.
"Let's keep watching." Nikki says, grabbing the remote. They hit play and continue to watch. I walk to the bedroom and knock on the door.
"Peter? Can I come in?" I ask.
He doesn't answer. I slowly turn the handle and open the door. I see him standing on the balcony of the hotel and I go to stand next to him.
"I didn't want you to think of me differently. It happened with my ex wife when she watched and then again with multiple girlfriends. I even dated people who broke up with me when they found out I wasn't really like Cooper." he says sadly.
"It's just hard to un see." I say shrugging. "Why did you do the show if you're so embarrassed by it?" I ask.
"It was money on the table."
"But you had sex in front of a camera."
"Well I don't judge you for the roles you chose to play." he snaps at me.
"I mean you made out with a girl in one of your movies. Which was hot. But still." he says.
"Alright. Let's make a deal. We forget all about it...or at least try to." I tell him. He nods, still looking upset.
"I'm sorry I watched it." I tell him. He nods again.
"I'm tired. I'm gonna get some sleep." he says, walking back in. I follow him and shut the balcony doors, making the room almost pitch black.
"Do you want me to stay?" I ask.
"I need some alone time, if you don't mind." he says, looking at me.
"Alright. I'll see you later." I say softly. I walk out of the room, feeling like an idiot.
"Hey, Liz! You gotta see what just happened." Nikki says, staring at the screen.
"That's alright. I think I'll pass on watching." I tell them.
"Did the Peter porn really screw with your head that much?" Ashley asks.
"Oh shit, it turned you on." Nikki says. All three girls turn to look at me with shock.
"Nikki, it did not! Peter doesn't want us watching it and I'm respecting his wishes." I tell them. I grab the remote and turn off the tv.
"Oh come on! We can skip through his parts." Ashley says.
"Or at least the parts that show his parts." Dakota says giggling.
"Why don't you just watch in Nikki's room?" I ask. They shrug and gather their things to move rooms. My phone buzzes and I pull it out to see a text from Martin saying I am needed on set.
"Later Liz." Nikki says walking out. I wave and quietly open the bedroom door. I walk to Peter's bed and try to figure out if he is awake or not.
"Peter. Are you awake?" I whisper. He doesn't move. I bend down and place a light kiss on his forehead.
Walking back into the living room, I quickly scribble down a note for Peter, telling him where I'm going.
I leave it on the table and walk out of the room to catch the next bus.