Read Hush for Free Online Page B

night, and yet, here you are.”
    Callem shook his head.  “Well I wanted to stop by earlier, but I figured you were busy.  Looks like you still are.  Hope I didn’t disturb you.”
    “No, it’s fine.  I was just going over some patient files.  Just wanted to make sure I didn’t go to the police?”  The words echoed in my head and they sounded more brash and uncalled for than I had intended.  I tried to laugh it off like some kind of inside joke between the two of us.
    Callem’s smirked weakly.  “No, I wanted to make sure you were okay.  I got a little worried about you last night after I left.  You didn’t seem shaken up.  I just didn’t know if you were playing it cool for me or if maybe you were freaked out about what had happened.  I called this morning to make sure you were in the office and not at home.”
    I wondered what he would have done if I hadn’t been in the office this morning.  Would he have come by my house to check on me?  “Oh, I didn’t mean to make you worry.  That’s awfully thoughtful of you though, to be so concerned.  Not that I’ve really thought about it, but I can only imagine what would have happened to me last night if you hadn’t been there.  I’m embarrassed for putting myself in that situation.  I don’t do things like that.  Normally, I don’t really do much of anything.  When he asked, well when you asked for him, I thought to myself, why not?  And look where it got me.”
    “Well, I hope he didn’t put a terrible taste in your mouth.  I can assure you not all musicians are like him.  I’ve been doing this for a long time and I’ve never had to deal with anything like that.  I can guarantee you, it’s the last time.  I sent him back his money and left his ass at Staples Center.  I’ll never work with him again.”
    I nodded.  We held gazes for a long moment in the awkward, funky silence, one I was all too familiar with. 
    “Well, I don’t want to keep you from your work.  I’m glad you’re feeling better,” Callem said, standing up from the chair.  He made his way to the front doors before turning.  “Do you have plans for dinner?”  My mind raced for something to say.  I looked at him, my jaw suspended in mid-excuse.  “I don’t mean to impose, but it’s getting late and I’m guessing you’ve been here all day.  Just thought, if you’re heading out, we could get something to eat before heading home.”
    I made a mental note to close my gaping mouth.  “No, yeah, that’s a good idea, that sounds good,” I fumbled over my words.  “I just have one stipulation.”
    “Alright.”
    “My treat.”
    Callem sighed, shaking his head with a smile.  “Just this one time.  Call it what you will, but I don’t usually let women pay for my dinner.  For you, I’ll make an exception.”
    “Good.  Alright, well, can you give me just five minutes to wrap this up and I’ll meet you outside?”
    Callem nodded.  “No problem.  Take your time.”  He slipped out of the office.
    Only a few minutes later, just as I promised, I strolled up to a black Mercedes that seemed to gleam even in the murky street lights.  Callem was out of the car at the sight of me, walking around to the other side to open the door for me.  “You didn’t have to do that,” I smiled.  “Thank you.”
    “Force of habit,” Callem said before shutting the door and walking back around to the driver’s side.  “So where to?”
    “Have you heard of Seaside Café?”
    Callem nodded, pulling the gear shift into reverse.  “I have.”
    I nodded.  “Have you ever been to Seaside?”
    “Once, but it was quite a while ago.  I probably couldn’t tell you what I had to eat.”
    “Oh, we eat there once a month probably, the girls at the office and I,” I explained.  “It’s fairly inexpensive and they deliver.  We order it for lunch.  They have a panko-crusted tilapia that is to die for.  Everything is so fresh.  This is a beautiful