23. Calla
TWENTY-THREE
CALLA
I can’t get out of New York City fast enough.
Popstar frazzled after alleged stalker incident
(I do not look frazzled in the picture associated with this, so it’s honestly rude.)
James attacked by stalker. Sledge nowhere to be found. Trouble in Paradise?
(Of course, they use my relationship with Thompson for anything. But yes, there’s trouble in paradise. There was never any paradise to begin with).
Saved by the Bodyguard. Is Calla James the luckiest woman on Earth?
(Um, what? Not sure how having a stalker makes me lucky, but ok).
The story about my stalker breaking into my hotel room broke, and the paparazzi amped up the ante to get a photo of me. Stories were being posted everywhere with an issued statement that I assume Brayden provided. I didn’t read any of the articles and tried to swipe away every time I saw a story about me. But really, I just wanted to get out of the city where it happened.
One good that happened in New York was my relationship (if we’re going to call it that) with Luke. He hasn’t stopped touching me since the morning in his apartment. It’s like the floodgates opened, and he wants me all the time.
It feels nice being wanted.
While we haven’t outright admitted that we’re hooking up, I’m sure everyone on my team knows. Luke isn’t shy about kissing me. He comes to my bed every night, and his hands are always on me, whether it’s holding my hand or grabbing my thigh.
I love every second of his attention. It’s like a drug, and I can’t get enough.
I also promised Brayden that I’ll have at least two new songs written before my next studio date in Atlanta. I work tirelessly on the road, trying to write a song that I think fans will like and that I’ll be proud of. It’s harder than it seems and takes me multiple tries before I finally have something to show. The producers in Atlanta helped me tighten up the songs I wrote, but even with their help, I don’t think Brayden will like them.
“Calla,” Ashley says one morning as we pull up to a hotel close to the beach in Florida. “Brayden has decided that you can have today and tonight off. No studio. No show. No commitments.”
I widen my eyes as I look at her. She’s smiling like she’s just given me the biggest gift.
“What?”
“You’ve been working really hard, and he feels like you deserve a night off.”
I’m not sure that he truly feels like that. I think it’s more like we conveniently had nothing to do today, and he couldn’t find anything to cram into my schedule. Either way, I’m grateful for the time off.
I look over at Luke, who is already smirking at me, which tells me he knows exactly how he wants to spend our day off.
“Tell Brayden I said thanks.” I still haven’t talked directly to him since I yelled at him in New York. Luke thinks I may have scared him, but I doubt it. Brayden has half of Hollywood in his back pocket. There’s no way he would be scared of little ole me if he has that much power. “So, I can just… go out?”
“Well, no. Luke has to be with you. You both must have your phones on at all times and answer if one of us calls.” I almost ask what happens if we don’t, but I hold my tongue. I know Ashley would run straight to Brayden and tell him what I said.
“Ok,” I agree.
Luke and I quickly get ready, not forgetting my hat and sunglasses disguise that hasn’t failed me yet, and we practically run toward the beach. Well, I run, and he jogs behind me, laughing and telling me to slow down. But I can’t slow down. I haven’t had a true day off where I can do whatever I want in… I can’t even remember how long. I’m too excited even though I have no idea what I want to do besides put my toes in the sand.
I kick off my sandals as soon as I near the beach. It’s private and sectioned off for hotel guests only, so there aren’t nearly as many people as I expected, which is nice.
Luke is smiling as he takes off his shoes and meets me at the edge of the water.
“I’ve never been to the beach,” Luke admits once he’s next to me.
“What? How have you never been to the beach?”
He chuckles. “I don’t know. We didn’t get to vacation a lot growing up.”
“There are beaches in New York, aren’t there?”
“Yeah, but we just never went. Never had the time or money. Always had other things to be doing. I don’t know…”
“Well, I’m glad I can be here to experience your first trip to the beach. I’m sure we can find you a floaty if you’re nervous.”
He leans down, sticking his hand in the water, and flicks it at me. I scream and laugh and do the same to him.
We strip out of our clothes, and I don’t miss the way his eyes roam over my body in my hot pink bikini. He chases after me into the waves and grabs me around the waist, spinning me around. He kisses me right here in front of all these other beachgoers. Of course, I still have my hat and sunglasses on, but for a brief moment, I feel like a regular woman spending the day at the beach with her boyfriend.
Not to say Luke is my boyfriend. I truly have no idea what we are, and I’m certainly not bringing it up today.
Today is just for us to live in the moment.
We hop the waves for a little while, not going out too far. I can tell when Luke gets nervous about how far I’m out in the water. He bites the corner of his mouth like he wants to tell me to stop but also doesn’t want to ruin my time. To save him from his inner turmoil, I make my way back toward the shore.
We grab lunch at a little restaurant right on the beach. I drink some sort of fruity cocktail out of a whole pineapple. Luke takes a picture of me after he laughs and tells me how ridiculous I am. I don’t care, though. I’m having the best time.
Afterward, we go back to the hotel, where we shower together and then change to go to the little aquarium in town. Luke has never been to an aquarium either, and while I’m certainly no animal expert, I feel like everyone should visit an aquarium once in their life. This one has little touch tanks where we can gently touch some of the animals. Luke loves it. He smiles more today than the whole time he’s been with me. It’s actually adorable.
For dinner, I have Ashley pull some strings, which I never do, and get us a private reservation at a restaurant nearby. As much as I would’ve rather not talked to her today, I don’t want to eat dinner with my hat and sunglasses on, so it requires a little more planning.
Luke and I get all dressed up before we head to dinner. The staff seems discreet. I’m sure Ashley made them sign NDAs. They’re so paranoid about people finding out that Thompson and I aren’t actually together anymore, and I know the headlines from New York didn’t help with that.
At the end of the day, I feel so relaxed, and the way Luke looks at me makes me feel so appreciated. I’m practically ripping his clothes off by the time we’re back to our hotel room, where he makes quick work of getting me naked but takes his sweet time making me come. More than once.
When all is said and done, I’m limp and satisfied, wondering how I got so lucky.
But I should know better than anyone that I’m not lucky. Not really.