branded in my memory. Wit and innocence sparkle in her eyes. There is something so sweet and vulnerable about what she did. She’s so open hearted, I can’t understand why someone hasn’t snatched her up.
“Clearly, there is nothing wrong with you. All these men are imbeciles. You should come to one of my speaking events. I’d love to meet up with you. I can get you a VIP ticket.”
“You don’t have to do that. Besides, I’ve seen you before. I worked security last time you did a charity thing where I work,” she says.
I remember that event. Southfield Mall. It was a fundraiser for childhood cancer research. I don’t say it out loud on the air. First of all, I don’t want listeners to know where she works and also I don’t want to toot my own horn.
“Those events are full of admirers and super fans waiting in lines ten miles long. You have me on the phone now. What are you waiting for?” Millie says.
I glance up at Reagan. Her eyebrows are raised and she does a hand signal for me to keep going.
Chapter Six
Millie
Nothing about this conversation is going the way I thought it would.
My feelings are all over the place.
What began as an innocent crush has turned into something else. Full-blown real-life affection. This isn’t a fantasy anymore and if he’s toying with me, so help me god, I will swallow my pride and sic my biggest brother on him faster than you can say “soft pretzel with hot melted industrial cheese product.”
And that would not end well. My middle brother, Max, is bigger than all of them. And not only is he a cop, but also a locally famous, semi-professional wrestler in his spare time. Max would not hesitate to put Doctor Dave in the ground with one word from me.
Treading carefully, my voice trembling more than I wish it would, I say, “So, do you have any advice for me? About…my problem?”
The way he’s breathing through his nose sounds like an angry bull. I wonder if people listening over the airwaves can hear it.
I check the time and it’s 12:30 a.m. already. Time to do the walkabout and check on all the locks. I never thought this phone call would go on so long. We’ve only taken one commercial break when I’m pretty sure there should have been three. And he should be on his third caller by now. I know from listening that the station manager and his advertisers are going to be livid by now.
“I do. I do have advice for you, Millie.” The sexy, gravelly sound of his voice ricochets inside my abdomen, building up a craving so intense it hurts. I try to take a deep breath to keep my hands from shaking but it only stimulates the lump in my throat, triggering tears in the corners of my eyes from the sheer emotional tension.
I can’t control the hoarse whisper that escapes me, knowing it’s going to be unintelligible on the radio. “What? What’s your advice? I’m dying over here.”
Almost before I can finish that sentence, he blurts out, “It’s me. I want to be the one. Wait for me.”
All the air puffs out of my lungs and a tear spills down my cheek. “No. This can’t be real. You did not just tell me to save my virginity for you.”
“Yes, I fucking did.”
I don’t even care that he’s cussing on the air. I’m way more concerned that he might be playing with me. But he’s not. I called him on it, and I think he’s telling the truth.
“I…I…I don’t know how to respond to that.”
“Listen. Stay on the line. I don’t want to go but they’re forcing me to take another call. But stay on the line and make sure Reagan has your number just in case we drop you. I need to talk to you off the air. OK, sweetheart?”
Of all the times I’ve heard that famous voice say “sweetheart,” this is the first time I’ve felt as if it’s sincere.
I swallow and wipe a tear off my cheek. “OK,” I breathe. “I’ll be right here. I’m not going anywhere.”
“See that you don’t, baby.”
He clicks me on hold, and I wait while need slicks my undies and emotions slither through my gut and squeeze my stomach like a boa constrictor.
Chapter Seven
David
“Reagan, where the fuck did she go?”