Page 32 of Cuts like a Knife
This surprise meeting has clearly taken up too much time because Callum has begun to clear his throat loudly, and is pushing his way around me, hand outstretch, chest puffed, doing that dance certain men seem to do with each other when they perceive their masculinity might be challenged.
“CJ, editorial director, Citidaze magazine,” he announces, grabbing Drew’s hand with what I can only assume is a vice-grip and pumping it once, aggressively. “And you are, I assume, one of Madison’s old pals from Flash? We’re not good enough to rate interest from such a established publication, I’m sure.”
Drew laughs, easily. “Not at all. Lexie and I are just old friends. Family friends.”
“Lexie?” Callum mocks my childhood nickname and I silently curse Drew for using it. “Friends, right.” Callum waggles eyebrows suggestively as if he thinks Drew and he are going to enjoy a lascivious little chuckle at my expense, but Drew doesn’t seem to notice and before either of us can say any more, Liza behind the desk interjects.
“I’m so sorry, but as you can see, the line behind you is getting quite long. Would you mind?” Her eyes flicker to the lobby and I immediately get the picture.
“Yes, yes, of course. I’m sorry. Thanks for trying. We’ll get our of your way.”
Drew, Callum and I shuffle away from the desk while a huffy pair of journalists I don’t recognize (both dressed in head-to-toe black and already sweating, which makes me think they’re probably from New York) grumble their way forward to check in.
“Now what I think I heard you say is that Madison can stay with you,” Callum is saying, “But see, that’s completely unnecessary since she has a bed right here. A queen size bed. All to herself. She’s just being a princess about sharing a room. A problem I’m sure you don’t have over at Flash, but we’re not exactly rolling in it at Citidaze, so nobody gets to be a princess here.”
“I’m not being a princess—” I say, but Callum interrupts immediately.
“Anyway, there’s no vacancy, like the girl said, so your old friend here is only going to be able to offer you a bed in his room anyway, am I right? Out of the frying pan into the fire or some such bulls—. Anyway, let’s go.” He takes my elbow and begins to lead me away but Drew smoothly intervenes, putting his hand on Callum’s shoulder.
“Sorry, I think I gave you the wrong impression. I’m not with Flash and I’m not staying at the hotel. I’ve got a whole cottage, actually, just down the road. It’s more space than I need. Totally wasted on me.”
Drew’s voice is completely calm, completely charming, but he must be channeling some sort of invisible male aggression, some vaporous threat that’s moved out of his hand into Callum’s shoulder, because the latter drops my elbow and takes a step back.
He just … gives in. It’s amazing.
Rolling his eyes, Callum grabs his suitcase and prepares to walk away.
“Honestly, I couldn’t care less,” he says. “Stay wherever you want, Madison, just get those stories and remember you’re here to work, not vacation with your high school boyfriend or whoever this actually is.” He looks at his watch. “First event’s in an hour. Don’t be late.”
And with that, he’s gone, striding off across the lobby, presumably towards his — pardon me, our — room.
Chapter Nine
“Nice guy,” muses Drew, watching Callum’s receding back.
“He’s vile. And technically, my boss,” I reply.
“Yikes.”
“Yeah.”
“Don’t call me Lexie, okay?”
“Okay. Sorry.”
So …” I don’t know quite what else to say. I’ve resolved that Drew and I aren’t going to happen again. And I don’t want to give him the wrong impression, but I also need a place to sleep, and he just said he has a whole cottage. “You’re here for work?”
“Yeah, one of my clients is the show’s main sponsor. The main advertiser, you know. I’m just doing a little handholding. Some minor reconnaissance about how filming goes. It’s an easy gig.”
“And … you have a whole cottage?”
“Yeah, a private rental.”
“With two bedrooms?”
His face reddens and my heart falls a little.
“Yeah, about that. I gave the impression that the place was bigger than it really is because that guy, your boss, was annoying me. It’s a tiny cottage. One bedroom.”
