***This is an excerpt from Embracing Calla by Tamara Mapstead.
Chapter Four
Benedict: Tuesday, June 15th, 2021
Oh, for the love of Los Angeles traffic. Normally, I would be pissed off and completely raging, but I don’t care now. Traffic means I get to spend more time with Calla. She puts her hair in a ponytail. “You said you come to Los Angeles a lot. Why?” she asks.
“Even when I was in San Diego I always came here for all the tech-nerdy conferences. I’m usually here maybe six or seven times a year.”
“Is your job really demanding?”
“Not really, I have been busier these past few months since I really did get that job at Google finally.”
She always faces me when she talks to me. “Do you have an office?”
I chuckle. “My bedroom.”
“Even for Google?” She sounds confused.
“Yeah, it’s remote. I didn’t really have to move to Mountain View to actually work for Google.”
“Interesting.” I look over and she’s looking outside at the millions of cars on the 405.
“Never been to LA before?” I ask.
“Nope.” She pops the P sound. “I don’t really travel much. Did you not see me on the plane?” She laughs at herself, then squeals when a car almost swerves into us.
“Welcome to LA, Calla,” I jest. She covers her mouth, trying to control her impulsive giggle after that other car scared the shit out of her. It’s cute.
We arrive at the hotel, we get in line to check into our rooms. Calla steps up to the reception desk first. “Ms. Mills. Welcome!” Calla is all checked in, and she moves away.
When I get called up to the desk, the concierge looks puzzled and tells me, “I’m sorry, Mr. Anderson, I’m not finding a reservation with that name. Would it be under a different name?”
“Sebastian York?” She shakes her head. You have got to be kidding me. I hate him. “Do you happen to have any open rooms?”
“No, sir, we’re at full capacity for the TECHSPO.”
I’m pissed off. I walk past Calla and go out the door. I call Sebastian. “Hey, asshole!”
“What’s up?”
I ignore him. “Why didn’t you book my room like you fucking promised you would do?”
“Shit, Ben, I forgot.”
“What do you expect me to do now? You’re always thinking about yourself!”
“Ben, seriously, I’m so sorry. I got distracted. I’m sure you can go stay with Ash.”
“Yeah, at least I can depend on him.” I hang up.
I can’t believe him. Every time I trust him, he always fucks it up. He offered to do this for me because he wanted to rack up the points on his credit card. I even paid him cash for it in advance, but he always messes—
“Benedict,” Calla says from behind me. I turn to face her and she’s holding out a key card. “Want to have a slumber party? I can do your makeup and we can talk about boys—“ She squints. “Or girls!”
“No, thank you, Calla. I’m sure I can stay somewhere else.”
She takes my hand. “But I need you for internet things.”
I did say I would love to help her. “Are you sure?”
“Of course, Benedict! It’s the least I can do for you!” She’s so cute. “I did pull your hair.” She’s like a magnet.
“Okay.” What did I just say?
She hands me the second key card to her room. “I’ll pay you back.” I know these rooms can be expensive.
“Don’t worry about it. It’s on Dr. Fisher.” She winks.
I take her hand, and she spins herself under my arm. I guess coffee shop Calla’s coming out to play for the next couple of days…
