19. Calla
NINETEEN
CALLA
My mother’s name popped up on my phone, and I reluctantly answered. If I don’t answer, she’ll keep calling anyway.
“Why am I seeing pictures of you with pink hair?”
“Hello to you too,” I snap. I haven’t talked to my mother in weeks, and the first thing she says to me is something about my hair? I happen to like the pink hair. My fans have said nothing but nice things, raving about how fun and free it looks. And maybe I like that Luke likes it, too.
“Calla James, do you have pink hair?”
I sigh. “Yes.”
“Please explain why you have pink hair,” she says in that annoyed tone like she would rather be doing anything else than talking to her own daughter.
“I just wanted a change. I think it looks good.” I don’t bother explaining about my breakup with Thompson and how I needed to do something for myself. If she knew about the breakup, I know she’d be calling me to yell about that instead. I’d rather not have to argue about two things today.
“Have you lost your mind?”
I chuckle. “Yeah, probably.”
“It’s not funny, Calla. You can’t just color your hair some insane color.”
“Why not?” And this pink wasn’t really that crazy, but I decide it’s best to not add that part.
“People expect you to look a certain way. They’re paying to see what they expect. It’s a bad influence for little girls to see you with an unnatural hair color. Then they’re all going to want to do it and you’re going to have a bunch of angry moms come after you.”
Oh, no. The horror. “Won’t feel much different from right now.”
She doesn’t like that comment. “Excuse me?”
I sigh. “Sorry, Mom. Listen, I gotta run. I’ve got an event tonight with Thompson. I’ll try my best not to color my hair any more wild colors.”
“Calla! I’m not joking with you!”
“Gotta go. Bye!” I quickly hang up before she can say anything else. I’m sure I’ll get a text from my dad later telling me that I shouldn’t hang up on my mother. Unfortunately, this happens more than I care to admit. There’s always something I do wrong. If it’s not one thing, it’s another. My ability to care is slowly disappearing.
I just want to be normal.
I want to do what I want to do and not worry if someone is going to yell at me for it. That shouldn’t be too much to ask.
There’s a knock on my hotel room door. I’m hoping it’s Luke, and I’m disappointed when Ashley opens the door with the hair and makeup team. Luke left me locked in this hotel room with Ashley so he could go scope out where the event is tonight. He was also meeting with his boss since we’re in New York for a few nights.
He’s only been gone a few hours, and I actually miss him. It’s the first time he’s been away from me since we left L.A. It’s pathetic, really. I’m missing my bodyguard. I quite literally pay him to hang out with me, but it feels like more than that. Lately, he’s been sleeping next to me, and he kisses me before we fall asleep. Occasionally, he’ll slide his hand between my legs and make me come.
I wish he would let me return the favor. I know he’s worried about his boss finding out, but I doubt his boss would be happy about him fingering me every chance he gets, either. I don’t understand why we can’t just keep going.
I sit in a chair while my team does my hair and makeup. They pull my hair back in a high ponytail and do dark and smokey makeup to go with the short black dress I’m wearing.
Someone is strapping on my black heels when Ashley announces that it’s time to go. Thompson is meeting us in the hotel lobby so we can ride over together. To keep up with the illusion and all that. I haven’t talked to him at all since I broke it off. He’s texted me once or twice, but I didn’t respond. I don’t think he really cares all that much, though. This situation works out best for him. He can sleep around with all the perks of having my name attached to his.
Ashley opens the door and ushers me out. Luke is standing there waiting, looking hot as sin in his black suit. His eyes roam over my body, but other than his lips twitching just slightly, he gives no indication that he likes what he sees.
“Thompson is in the lobby, and there’s a car waiting out front. Once you walk the red carpet, you can stay for like twenty minutes before Luke takes you out the back door and brings you back here. You don’t have to stay for the whole movie.”
“Thank god,” I mumble. Ashley gives me a pointed look.
“Try to act like you’re actually together, Calla,” she instructs. I’m sure Brayden told her to remind me of that.
“I can’t make any promises.”
“Calla!”
I don’t wait for her to scold me and start walking to the elevator with Luke in tow. He presses the down button, and we wait.
We’re both facing the closed elevator doors when he leans in just slightly and says, “You look beautiful.”
The door opens before I can say anything, and he ushers me inside.
I’m dreading tonight. I don’t want to be anywhere near Thompson, and an unwelcome feeling of nausea rolls through me when I see him standing in the lobby looking at his stupid phone. I want to turn to Luke and beg him to get me out of here, but I know it’s useless. If I don’t show up to this red carpet, I’ll never hear the end of it. And if I want any chance of getting the time off I desperately need, I have to do what’s expected of me. For now.
I can do this.
I don’t stop when I walk toward Thompson. I simply say, “Let’s get this over with,” and pass him on the way out, Luke following close behind. Thompson scoffs but doesn’t say anything. I think maybe I’ll be able to avoid speaking to him all night until he slides into the SUV next to me and says, “Are you going to be a bitch all night?”
“Yup.” I put extra emphasis on the P sound just to annoy him. His words don’t bother me anymore now that I know what kind of man he truly is. If he wants to call me names to make himself feel better, so be it.
“Come on, Calla. You still don’t see that you’re overreacting?”
“You don’t get to tell me how to feel,” I snap. “The only reason I’m here is because you cried to Brayden.”
“I didn’t cry to anyone. I explained that you seemed to be going through something and weren’t thinking clearly. I mean, look at your hair and that godawful thing on your arm. Anyway, he agreed with me. We both believe you’ll come around eventually and realize what a mistake you’re making. This is for you.”
I clench my fist so I don’t explode on him right now, even though he deserves it. “Thompson, tonight will go a lot easier if you don’t talk.”
“You really think people are going to believe we’re still together if we don’t talk all night?”
“I don’t really care. All they said was that I had to show up and walk the red carpet with you, so here I am.”
He rolls his eyes and turns back to his phone. For once, I’m happy he’s ignoring me.
The short drive to the venue gives me time to get my head straight. I have to remember that I’m doing this for Luke. I made this deal for him so that he doesn’t lose his job. I can stand to be around Thompson for an hour if it means Luke will be alright.
When the SUV stops in front of the entrance, Luke gives me a quick look over his shoulder from the front seat. We make eye contact for a split second before he’s out his door and opening the back door for Thompson and me. Thompson holds out his hand for me to take. One thing he’s good at is knowing what people want to see. They would certainly want to see him being a gentleman to his girlfriend. If they only knew…
Reluctantly, I take his hand and climb out of the SUV. People are screaming our names already, and cameras are flashing. I try to focus on Luke, who is standing right beside me, and the lady talking to Thompson about where he needs to go first.
Thompson keeps ahold of my hand as we make our way down the red carpet. We stop at a designated spot and pose for pictures. Thompson’s hand slips from my waist down to my ass. Then he has the audacity to squeeze.
“That’s not part of the deal,” I say through gritted teeth while I keep smiling at the cameras.
He looks down at me but keeps his smile plastered on his face. “Are you going to stop me?”
When I don’t make a move to push his hand away, he laughs and says, “That’s what I thought.”
I can’t believe I ever thought I was going to marry this man. I don’t think I ever knew who he really was.
After so many pictures that my cheeks start to hurt, we move on to interviews where I have to pretend like I care what Thompson is saying. It’s painful to stand by his side and listen to him drone on and on about how good he is and how everyone is going to love this movie. The sad part is that I know people love this about him because I, too, was once blinded by his confidence and charisma.
“Calla, you must be so proud of Thompson. Have you seen the movie yet?” one interviewer asks me.
“I haven’t seen it yet, but Thompson has told me all about it.” I look at him with a smile that doesn’t quite reach my eyes, and he pinches my side as a reminder that I’m supposed to be acting like I like him.
“Are you excited to watch it tonight?” she asks.
Since I can’t tell her there’s no way in hell I’m sitting through this movie, I say, “Never been more excited.”
I can tell Thompson doesn’t like my bored tone, but the woman with the microphone either doesn’t notice or doesn’t care.
“Your new hair has been the talk of the town, Calla. Any particular reason for the change?”
Has it? I’ve been avoiding tabloids like the plague because I’m so tired of seeing my name thrown around like people have any right to talk about me.
“No reason. Just felt like a change.”
“It looks fantastic.”
“Thank you. Thompson isn’t a fan,” I tease. His fingertips dig into my side, and I bite my cheek in an effort not to wince.
“That’s not true, babe. It just took me a minute to get used to it, is all.”
“You two enjoy your evening. We can’t wait to see the movie,” the woman says as we’re escorted to the next interview. They’re all relatively the same, except I can feel my smile fading more and more with each one.
By the time we reach the building, I’m itching to get the hell away from Thompson.
“I need to use the restroom, and then I’m leaving,” I announce to both Thompson and Luke. Luke nods and moves to follow me.
“You’re leaving already?” Thompson asks, and he actually sounds… sad. But I know it has to be part of his act.
“Yep.”
“You should stay. Watch the movie.”
“I’d rather poke myself in the eyeball over and over again than watch another movie with you in it.” Luke chuckles beside me, but Thompson doesn’t think it’s funny.
“That’s a bit extreme, don’t you think? You used to love my movies.”
“I used to love you too, but things change.”
He scoffs and gets right up in my face, close enough that Luke puts his arm out in front of me to stop him. “You’re going to regret this one day. You know that, right? You’re going to wish we were still together. Lucky for you, I’m pretty forgiving, but you’re pushing it.”
“Oh no.” I mock concern. “Whatever will I do.”
I roll my eyes. “Enjoy watching yourself, Thompson. I know it’s your favorite activity. See you at our next contracted event.”
With that, I head towards the bathroom.