L.A. Woman by Cathy Yardley Read Free Book Online Page A

great idea Taylor thought it’d be.
     
    On that Thursday night, almost a full week of work at Salamanca and a paid month’s rent behind her, she felt downright jubilant.
    “Benjamin Slater.”
    “Jam, it’s me. Sarah.”
    “Sarah.” She thought she could hear the smile in his voice. “Hey there. How are things going in L.A.? I was going to call you Saturday.”
    “I figured I’d jump the gun,” she said. “Guess what? I got a job!”
    “I knew you would,” he said. “What are you doing?”
    “I’m an assistant account executive at Salamanca Advertising Agency. That’s where Judith works, but I’m not working with Judith—she’s in production. I’m on the account management side.”
    “That’s great, honey.”
    “I’ve been really busy, and it’s only been the first few days…”
    “I’ve been swamped, myself,” he said, with a heavy sigh.
    She paused. “Any luck with Richardson? I’m not trying to push.”
    “None. I have to make the assumption that Andrew—the V.P., you know?—that he’s making good on his promise to get me out of there. So Cal could use somebody like me. That’s what he said.”
    “That’s great, Jam.”
    “So just a few more months, and then I’ll be able to move down,” he said. “I just have to make it up here in the meantime.”
    “I’m sure you will,” she said warmly.
    “Actually, I can’t talk long,” he said. “Paul Jacobs and, well, some people from the L.A. office are up for a visit—I promised I’d go out for a few beers with them. You know, blow off some steam.”
    She bit her lip. “Um, okay.”
    “It’s just a few beers, Sarah.” He sighed again, this time a little more irritably. “It’s not like I’m going out and boinking a bunch of coeds.”
    “I know that!” she replied. What, did she expect him to stay in every night, just because she wasn’t up there with him?
    Still, a little more pining would be comforting, she thought, then brushed the thought aside.
    “Sarah! Saaa-rah… ” Martika called from the frame of Sarah’s bedroom door. “You wanna come out with us? We’re drinks.”
    Sarah frowned, then motioned to the phone that she held toher ear. Martika huffed irritably, then retreated to the living room.
    “Sorry,” Sarah muttered.
    “Who the hell was that? I thought you were at home.”
    “I am,” Sarah replied. “That was…well, I couldn’t quite make rent just on my salary. So I took on a roommate.”
    There was a pause as Benjamin digested that fact.
    “It wasn’t my idea,” Sarah assured him hastily. “Besides, Martika knows that it’s month-to-month…”
    “Martika? What the hell sort of name is that?”
    “I don’t know. Danish, I think.” Okay, that was a shot in the dark.
    “I told you that I’d make it down to Los Angeles as soon as Richardson gives me a goddamn chance, Sarah. I didn’t tell you to get a roommate.”
    Sarah frowned. “What you told me was that I had to cover rent on this apartment—this considerably more expensive apartment, I might add—by myself. Since you’re not living here yet. Really, realistically, what would you have had me do, Jam?”
    “Dammit, Sarah, I didn’t…don’t get all touchy on me, okay? I really don’t need this right now.”
    Like I do?
    She sighed. “I’m just saying I didn’t have a lot of options.”
    “I see.” He made a low grumbling sort of sound. “Well, you’re right, of course. It’s better that you got a roommate. Just… Did you do a thorough search?”
    Sarah crossed her fingers—childish, granted. “Sure I did. She’s a friend of a friend of mine, so it wasn’t like getting a complete stranger.”
    “Huh. What’s she like?”
    She thought about Martika’s late night sex-a-thons. “Um, she’s very social.”
    “Social?”
    “Yes,” Sarah said hastily, “but responsible. I mean, she’s kicked in for half of the bills already, on time, and she’s a graphic designer.”
    “I see.” He didn’t,