2. Calla
TWO
CALLA
Thompson is insisting on taking me out to dinner tonight, even though it’s the last thing I want to do. I’ve been up since six and rehearsed for hours. I’m exhausted. All I want to do is order takeout and chill on the couch.
That’s never good enough for Thompson, though. The man hates staying in. He wants to see and be seen and loves the attention. He thrives off of it, actually, which is the exact opposite of me.
Don’t get me wrong, I love my fans. I love giving them music and interacting on social media and doing shows. But at the end of the day, I’d much rather put on some raggedy old sweats and stay home than go out and have flashing lights in my face.
Unfortunately, Thompson and I are Hollywood’s “It Couple,” or so I’m told. Where we go, cameras follow. Sometimes, I wonder if Thompson has someone tip the paparazzi off before we go somewhere. It’s too suspicious that they always know where we’ll be.
But after years of being in the spotlight, I’ve learned to smile and take it. And I always try to look my best even if I don’t feel it.
Thompson had a photoshoot today, so he insisted on meeting at the restaurant instead of driving together. After a quick shower, one of my stylists fixes my hair and makeup. I’ve never once asked to have someone here to get me all dolled up. They just appear. I assume Ashley is hiring them based on my schedule. Every hour of my day is scheduled. I don’t even really look at it anymore. I just go where I’m told.
I grab a new dress I was sent from an up-and-coming designer from my closet. If I know I’m going to be photographed, I try to wear new designers to bring them a little bit of attention.
The dress is cute. It’s a dark purple bodycon dress with poofy shoulder sleeves. I pair it with black heels, and it’s cute without looking overdone.
My clutch is waiting for me on my bed, so I grab it and head downstairs. Talan is waiting by the door for me. I smile at him, but the smile instantly fades when I see my new bodyguard next to him.
Luke Pierson.
I still don’t understand why he was so standoffish when we met. Talan has always been so laid-back with me, and it didn’t feel like I was being watched. More like I was hanging out with a friend, which is probably inappropriate on a professional level, but it made the bodyguard thing more bearable for me.
The attitude Luke gave me within the first thirty seconds of meeting earlier definitely put him on my People I don’t particularly care for list.
My new bodyguard doesn’t say a word as I descend the stairs. He doesn’t look at me or even give me a head nod in acknowledgment. Nothing.
“You look lovely tonight, Ms. James,” Talan says when I’m in front of him. I swear the man will be calling me Ms. James until the day I die, no matter how many times I tell him to call me Calla.
“Thank you, Talan.” I say nothing to Luke.
They step behind me in sync as I walk out to the waiting SUV. The car is painstakingly silent as we drive to the restaurant. I decide to scroll through social media and reply to some DMs. I have someone who helps me with this, but I like to do a lot of it myself. It makes me feel closer to my fans, and being closer to them reminds me of my purpose. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.
I get a text from Thompson saying he’s running a few minutes late but to go in, and he’ll meet me at the table.
Great. I hate walking in by myself.
When the car stops in front of one of the most expensive sushi restaurants in the city, I square my shoulders and take a deep breath to prepare for the onslaught of photographers I can see through the blacked-out windows.
Talan and Luke get out first. Luke opens my door, and I plaster my practiced smile onto my face. Talan helps me out of the car and we begin our walk to the restaurant. The door is only twenty or thirty feet from the car, but it feels like miles.
I smile and wave while Talan and Luke push back as many photographers as they can. They do a good job of keeping space between me and everyone else, but it’s still nerve-racking to walk through a group of people yelling my name when I’m just trying to go eat dinner.
When I’m finally safe inside the restaurant, I want to drop my smile. I want to exhale the breath I was holding the whole way up here and relax my shoulders. But I can’t. I still have to play a part. Based on the hostess’s face when she sees me, she’d be disappointed if I wasn’t my happy, “normal” self.
“Hi. I have a reservation under Thompson Sledge,” I say cheerfully.
Her face turns pink as she nods. “Y-yes, of course, Ms. James. Follow me.”
I’ll never understand why people get so nervous around me. I can sing and put on a hell of a show, but I don’t think that makes me any more special than anyone else.
I follow the hostess to a table at the back of the restaurant. Thompson must’ve requested that so we have some privacy. He tends to at least allow me that when we go out.
“Here you are.” The hostess puts our menus down on the white tablecloth.
I lean into her and whisper, “Would you like a picture?”
Her eyes go wide. “Really? You don’t mind?”
“Of course not.” She pulls her phone out of her pocket and takes a quick selfie. I imagine she might get in trouble if the restaurant’s management team sees her taking a picture with a patron. A lot of high-profile restaurants are like that. I really don’t mind taking a picture with a fan, though. Especially because I could tell she was trying really hard to be professional, and I appreciate that.
“Thank you,” she says before she quickly hurries off, her phone clutched to her chest.
I take a seat at the table and peruse the menu while I wait for Thompson. My bodyguards have made themselves scarce. Talan has always had a magic way of disappearing. I always know he’s somewhere nearby, watching, but I don’t usually see him. It seems grumpy-pants Luke Pierson has the same skill. I wonder if they teach that in bodyguard school. I’ll have to ask Talan. I’d ask Luke, but he’d probably just glare at me.
Several minutes later, after I’ve read through the entire menu at least twice, Thompson appears at the table. He looks good, as always, in his black slacks and gray button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Thompson is a Hollywood heartthrob. His biggest roles have been in romantic comedies because women love to look at him. He’s a good actor, and his looks definitely boosted his popularity.
He quickly kisses me before taking the seat across from me. “Sorry, I’m late, babydoll. You know how these things are.”
“Yeah, it’s ok. Good day?”
He picks up his menu to read as he talks. “Fantastic. The photoshoot went so well. Got a lot of good shots.”
“That’s great, babe. Well, I?—”
I’m interrupted by his phone ringing. He holds his finger up, “One sec,” and answers his phone. “Johnny, my man, what’s up?” Johnny. His agent. I swear those two talk more than we do. “Hell yeah, let’s do it. Send me the deets.” I hate when he says deets . “Gotta go. I’m out with the lady.” They say their goodbyes, and he hangs up.
“What was that about?”
“Jax Singleton wants to interview me on his podcast.” Jax Singleton is another actor who started up a podcast about a year ago. He’s interviewed tons of celebrities and is known for getting people to open up and reveal a secret or two.
My stomach instantly tightens at the thought. I don’t know what Thompson could possibly say on that podcast, but I hope the conversation steers clear of me.
Of course, I don’t say that. I have to play my part as the dutiful girlfriend. “That’s exciting. Congratulations.”
“Thanks, babe.” He picks his menu back up and starts looking it over. I don’t fail to notice that he doesn’t bother asking about my day. I’m about to volunteer the information because he’s really the only person I have to talk to when the server comes up.
She starts by asking for our drink order. I get my usual ice water with no lemon while her eyes are glued to Thompson.
I’ve gotten used to other women looking at him all the time, but I had to push my jealousy to the side because the first few months we were together, I let it eat away at me every time a new woman looked at him. But he very calmly explained that he also has to watch other men look at me, and we can’t let jealousy define our relationship as long as we choose each other.
I’ve held onto those words over the years. Maybe a little too tightly.
Thompson orders a drink, and his eyes immediately go to his phone when it lights up with a text. He smiles at whatever it says and starts typing back.
I finally get tired of waiting for him to ask about my day and start talking. “Well, I figured out what was going wrong with the dance number in “Heartbreak Love” today.”
He doesn’t look up from his phone as he says, “Of course you did. You’re amazing, babe. Knew you’d figure it out.”
He doesn’t ask what was wrong or how I fixed it, and I don’t offer up the details. Instead, I slump in my chair a little. I’m just so tired. I don’t have it in me to fight with him tonight.
The server comes back with our drinks and we order our food.
“You know, it might be nice to stay in one night this week,” I say casually.
Thompson rolls his head back like he’s tired of hearing me say that. “Not this again, babe. It’s so boring at home. Plus, I like to show you off. I like to spoil you with nice dinners and fun things. Don’t you like that?”
If I say no, I’ll sound like an ungrateful bitch. If I say yes, he’ll ask why I’m complaining then. There’s no in-between with him. “It’s just, we don’t have to go out every night.”
“What else are we going to do, lay around the house?” he scoffs like it’s the stupidest thing he’s ever heard.
“Well, yeah. I’m tired after rehearsing all day. I’d like to relax for a night.”
He sighs. “Alright, fine. You win. Should I tell them to box up our order?”
He sounds annoyed, which makes me feel terrible. Like it’s so wrong for me to want to relax and spend time with him, just the two of us.
“No, no. Don’t do that. You know what? Just forget I said anything. This is nice. I’ve been wanting to come here for a few weeks.” That’s a lie. This place hasn’t crossed my mind once. I don’t even like sushi. I guess Thompson never noticed that I only ever get the California roll.
“See, I knew it. I want to give you what you want, babe.” He reaches out and takes my hand. I smile at the touch, and he smiles back. For a moment, it feels like it did when we first got together. When we were surrounded by sparks all the time. When we weren’t being pulled in a million different directions by a million different people.
But when his phone lights up again with another message and he pulls his hand away so he can check it, the moment is gone. I sit back in my chair and watch my boyfriend smile bigger at his phone than he’s smiled at me in months.
There’s a strain on our relationship, but it feels like I’m the only one who sees it.
Maybe it’s all in my head, but it’s getting harder and harder to ignore.
Dinner takes forever, unfortunately. Thompson alternates between messing with his phone and talking about what he’s heard about the goings-on around L.A. I listen and nod when appropriate, but I feel my eyes start to glaze over as he tells me about someone else getting a role he would’ve been perfect for. By the time our food comes, I’m not even hungry anymore, but I force myself to eat.
When the check comes, Thompson is talking about going somewhere else for drinks, but I absolutely can’t do that.
“You go. I’m going to head home,” I tell him after he pays the bill.
“You sure?” He takes my hand and walks us out of the restaurant. Talan and Luke appear next to us right as we get to the front door.
“Yeah, you had a big day. Go have fun.”
He smiles at me, and I feel like I’ve said the right thing. I should get a point for being a good girlfriend tonight.
Both of our cars are waiting out front. When he leads us through the flashing lights, he wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me toward him, kissing me.
The kiss lasts way longer than I’m comfortable with in public, but if I pull away, one of these cameras will snap the picture, and it’ll be all over gossip magazines by tomorrow morning that there’s ‘trouble in paradise.’
So I let him kiss me. I let him shove his tongue in my mouth. I let him squeeze my ass. All for the sake of not looking like I’d rather be anywhere else than in my boyfriend’s arms.
When he finally pulls away, I’m out of breath and not in a good way.
“Love you, babe,” he says loud enough for the people close enough to hear.
I smile widely. “Love you too.”
And then I’m swept into the back of my car, where I can’t even keep my eyes open on the ride home.