6. Luke
SIX
LUKE
I’m just coming back from my morning run on the hotel treadmill when my phone rings. For a second, I worry it might be Calla calling about an emergency since not many people have my number and it’s five in the morning. I’m relieved when I see Cody’s name on the screen.
“Hey, man.”
“Luke, what’s happening?” he asks in his normally cheery tone. I don’t know how he can be so happy all the time with everything we’ve been through, everything we’ve seen. That shit still haunts me to this day, but Cody must have some way he can push it to the back of his mind and never think about it.
“Just finishing up my run. Headed to Calla’s in a bit.” She has a studio day today, the first one since I’ve been here. We had a routine of going to tour rehearsals, but now I have to learn a new route and review a new building with new people to watch. At least it’s something different.
“How are things going with Calla? I haven’t heard from you, so I wanted to check in.” Great. He’s babysitting me.
“Didn’t know I needed to check in.”
He sighs. “You don’t. That doesn’t mean I don’t want to know about your well-being.”
“Things are fine. I’m bored out of my mind, but things are fine. She’s safe,” I tell him since that is the main reason for me being here.
“Good, good. No sign of stalkers?”
“Nope. The only issue I’ve seen is her douchebag boyfriend.” I don’t know why it’s bothering me so much, but ever since the night of his movie premier, I’ve wanted to punch him in his smug face. If he’s not cheating on Calla, he’s definitely using her, and I can’t tell if she knows that or is just blinded by the love she thinks he has for her.
“Really? Thompson Sledge is a douchebag? They always look so happy together.”
Yeah, because Calla is good at putting on an act. I could tell she was upset the other night and again when she had to have dinner with his friends instead of the date she was promised, but she kept a smile on her face the entire time. She was friendly and supportive and acted like she was happy to be there when I knew she wasn’t.
“Nah, definitely don’t believe what you see online. He’s a total asshat to her. I have no idea why she’s still with him.”
He laughs. “Just remember, you’re there to keep her safe, not interfere with her relationship.”
He certainly doesn’t need to remind me of that. I know the boundaries, and I would never want to get tangled up with someone of her caliber. “Trust me, I know. I’m not getting involved. I just sometimes have the urge to punch him in the face.”
He laughs. “Well, try to not do that unless you absolutely have to.”
“Got it, boss.”
“So, how is L.A.? You enjoying it?”
I sigh and sit down on my bed. “I haven’t really gotten to do anything yet, so I can’t say I’m not enjoying it. All I do is escort her places.”
“Luke, maybe you should think of this as a vacation assignment. You’ve been go go go for most of your life, from the military to your assignments in D.C. This could be a nice little breather for you.”
I roll my eyes even though he can’t see me. I don’t want a breather. I don’t really want to relax. I like to be busy and have a purpose. If I sit too much with nothing to do, I start thinking about my past and my parents and the guys I left back in the military. My mind starts going places that I don’t want it to. So, it’s better if I stay busy.
Cody knows this; he’s the only one who knows about my life, but he’s of the opinion that I deserve to enjoy my life now. I just don’t think I’m there yet.
“Yeah, well, let’s just say I won’t be sad when Talan is ready to come back,” I tell him. I’m already counting down the days.
“Of course not. Alright, man, I gotta run. Call me if you need anything.”
“Will do.”
He hangs up, and I shower and dress in my suit, opting for gray with a white button-down. Thankfully, there’s a dry cleaner down the street from the hotel.
When I first started working for Cody, I thought I’d hate wearing a suit every day, but I really don’t mind it. It’s just like throwing on my BDUs when I was in the military, and it’s one less thing I have to think about each morning.
When I get to Calla’s, no one is around. It’s a little later than my usual arrival, so I thought her personal trainer would be here at the very least. Ashley is off today but gave me detailed instructions on where Calla needs to be and when.
I check the kitchen to see if she’s in there yet, but it’s empty. I peek into the gym, but no one’s there, which is strange because I specifically remember Ashley saying that Calla would be working out with Derek first thing.
After I check the security cameras and don’t see any movement or signs that Derek got here and then left, I venture upstairs. I haven’t actually been up here yet. I’ve only seen it through the security cameras.
Her bedroom door is slightly open, so I peek inside and see her on her bed. She’s fully dressed but just lying there, hands on her stomach, looking up at the ceiling.
I knock gently before saying her name.
Her head pops up and comes out of whatever fog she was in when she sees me. “Oh, hi. Didn’t know you were here already. Ready to go?”
I narrow my eyes at her. “Are you ready to go?” I’m not the one staring off into nothingness.
She stands from the bed and turns in a circle like she’s looking for something. She picks up her notebook and a bag. “Yeah, let’s go.”
I gently grasp her elbow as she tries to pass me, and just like the other night when I did the same thing, her eyes fall to where we’re connected. “Hey, if you need a minute, I can go back downstairs. You just let me know whenever you’re ready.”
She looks up at me, and I’m thrown by the sadness in her eyes. It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask her what’s wrong, but I don’t.
Instead, I let go of her arm. She shakes her head and says, “No. Let’s go.”
I sigh and follow her down the stairs. I didn’t sign up for this drama. Calla obviously has stuff going on and needs someone to talk to about it. I am most certainly not that person, so why is no one else stepping in to help her?
“Did Derek leave already?” I ask, looking around to make sure he’s not lurking somewhere. He seemed like a nice guy, but you never know.
“No, I canceled my session with him.”
My eyebrows shoot up in surprise. She canceled something she was scheduled for? I’m impressed. Wonder what Ashley is going to have to say about that next time we see her.
“I want to drive today,” Calla announces as she grabs a set of keys hanging on a hook by the garage door.
No one went over the protocol for this situation. So far, she’s been driven everywhere, but there wasn’t an SUV waiting in the driveway when I got here this morning.
“Is that a good idea?” I ask, trying to be as understanding as I can. She’s clearly going through something right now.
“Yes. It’s an excellent idea, actually. I already canceled the car Ashley had scheduled anyway.”
“Great,” I mumble as I follow her out into the garage. “Is canceling things your theme for today?”
“Maybe.”
Three cars fill the bays in her garage: a white Mustang, a red convertible of some kind, and a blacked-out SUV. I’m assuming we’re taking the SUV until she opens the door of the Mustang.
“You should probably let me drive,” I say. Standard procedure is for the EPA to drive if there isn’t a separate driver. I’ve taken several tactical driving courses since I started this job for this very reason.
“No. That’s ok. I’ll drive,” she tells me, throwing her stuff in the car.
“Standard procedure is?—”
She cuts me off. “I don’t care about standard procedure, Luke. I want to drive today and I’m the one paying you. So either get in, or I’ll see you later.”
She slams the door and starts the engine. Fuck me. This woman is about to give me more trouble than it’s worth. I wonder how pissed Cody would be if I didn’t get in the car.
He’d probably kill me if I lost his best client, and I can’t do that to my best friend. My only fucking friend.
I sigh and yank the passenger door open. As soon as my seatbelt clicks, she’s reversing out of the garage.
We sit in an uncomfortable silence as she drives, and I carefully watch every move she makes. She’s not a terrible driver, but I’d much rather be in control here.
She turns into a building that is most certainly not the recording studio we were supposed to be at ten minutes ago.
“What are we doing, Calla?” I ask, my irritation palpable.
“I need coffee,” she states, turning off the car.
“Can we not do the drive-through?” I ask as she’s getting out of the car. “We’re already late.”
“Nope.” She shuts the door and starts walking to the coffee shop. I follow her because I fucking have to.
She walks in, no sunglasses, no hat, not even trying to disguise herself, which makes my job harder. I’m on high alert from the moment the stupid little bell rings over the door. Thankfully, the place isn’t too crowded, but people definitely notice us when we walk in. I stay close to Calla, keeping my hand on the small of her back.
She gets to the counter and orders her fancy, over-the-top coffee before looking at me. “Do you want anything, Mr. Pierson?”
Yeah, I want a fucking double shot of espresso to fully wake up so I can deal with her without losing my mind, and I want to get the hell out of this coffee shop. What are we even doing here? She owns every fancy coffee machine you can buy. “No, thanks.”
She shrugs off my answer as if she doesn’t care either way if I order something before turning back to the cashier to pay.
Instead of doing the smart thing—considering we’re now running very late to her recording session—and taking the coffee to-go, Calla sits down at a table and gestures for me to sit across from her.
I roll my eyes before I plant myself in the chair across from her. “What are we doing here, Calla?”
“Drinking coffee. So, tell me about yourself, Luke.”
Uh. What in the actual fuck? We barely say two words to each other each day, and now she wants me to tell her about myself? “No.”
My answer, or lack of answer, doesn’t deter her. “Were you in the military?”
I’m really starting to think she’s losing her mind. I look her over, really look, but she seems fine. Her pupils don’t look dilated, so I know she’s not on drugs. She drove us here just fine, so I don’t think she’s intoxicated. She’s got a small smile on her face like she’s genuinely interested in my answer. I’m just fucking confused.
“Yes.” I give in and answer her.
She nods. “Figured as much. Where are you from?”
“New York.”
Her eyebrows rise in interest. “The city.”
“Nah. Outside of it.”
“Hmm.” She takes a slow sip of her coffee.
“Are you ok, Calla?” I ask after we’ve sat in silence for a moment. “Do you need me to call someone?”
She throws her head back in laughter, and a few coffee shop patrons look our way. I can tell by their faces that they know who she is, and a few people have pulled out their phones to attempt to discreetly take her picture. Calla doesn’t seem to mind it, though. I’m sure she’s used to it, but I, however, am not and would rather they all keep their eyes and camera lenses to themselves.
“Who would you call?” Calla asks between laughs.
I shrug because I honestly don’t know. Normally, I’d call the boyfriend, but in this situation, I’m not sure that’s ideal. “Your parents?” I answer slowly.
She gives me a look. “I’m not sure they’d really care, Luke. They’d tell me to suck it up and get over whatever my issues are.”
“What are your issues?” I ask before I think better of it.
A slow smile spreads across her face. “Maybe I don’t have any issues. Maybe I just wanted to get coffee like a normal fucking person before work.”
I sit back and cross my arms, staring at her. I don’t believe a word she’s saying, but what else am I supposed to do? “Alright.”
She chugs the rest of her coffee before she stands from the table and throws her cup in the recycling. “Let’s go, Luke. We’re late.”
As I stand, she accidentally bumps into my shoulder. I put my hand on her waist to steady her and she looks up at me. Why is it that when she looks at me, I can’t look away? She smiles but takes a step away from me like she knows being too close to me is dangerous.
I usher her out to the car. I’m assuming she’s going to want to drive again, but instead, she heads for the passenger side. “You can drive to the studio.”
She hands me the keys as I open the door for her. Alright, well, this is a complete one-eighty from where we were barely an hour ago. I get in the driver’s side and look over to her. She’s no longer smiling. She’s frowning out the window, visibly upset.
“Calla?”
“Can you just drive, please?” she snaps. This woman is giving me fucking whiplash.