Page 130 of Just Another Silly Love Song

A fluttery feeling hit my belly and tingles traveled right up my spine. I felt hope, maybe just a little, but it was better than nothing.

Grandma Joyce nodded. “Yes, he said he loved you, but we already knew that.”

We did? Why was I always the last one to know?

Grandma Joyce put her finger to her lips. “Now, be quiet because I don’t want to miss this.”

“I love so many things about Lori,” Ben continued. “The way she analyzes my words, her flirty nature, her magnificent smile, the way she cares so much about her listeners. And especially how she doesn’t take any crap from me. She’s the most amazing woman I’ve ever met.”

My eyes filled and overflowed.

I could no longer see the room clearly.

“That man right there is a keeper!” Grandma Joyce snapped off a piece of bacon and ate it.

I pushed my plate to the center of the table and wiped the tears from my eyes. “None of this matters. He’s moving away, remember?”

“The thing is . . .” Ben said. “Lori quit working here with me because she thought I was moving to San Francisco to take a job at another radio station, but that’s not even close to the truth.”

I sat up and sniffled. “It’s not?”

“In fact, it was a complete misunderstanding. I accepted an offer for a consulting job there, but I never had any plans of leaving this radio station or leaving San Diego, for that matter. I was just offered a new two-year contract to stay on here and Lori was included in the contract.”

I stood. “I was?”

“She belongs here with me, attached at the hip, like a team. I just hope she didn’t sign a contract with the other radio station.”

I shook my head. “I didn’t and I’m not going to now.”

“Anyway, hopefully she’s listening right now,” Ben continued. “She’s supposed to be, if everything went according to my plan with her beautiful grandmother.”

My head whipped in my grandma’s direction. “What? This was a setup?”

“Gotcha!” Grandma Joyce put a finger to her lips to shush me. “Let me hear the rest of this wonderful love story.”

“Lori.” Ben sighed. “Lovely Lori. Please come back. I’m laying my heart on the line here for all the world to hear. I love you. You’re my fantasy. You’re my reality.”

I blinked twice.

Ben just quoted lyrics from “Every Woman in the World” by Air Supply.

My favorite band.

“Lori,youare every woman in the world to me. This song is for you.”

“No way,” I said, putting my hand on my chest. “Is he going to play the song?”

There’s no way. He hates silly—

I gasped again.

He was playing it.

Ben Baxter, aka Dr. Tough Love, was playing a silly love song on the radio.

For me.

Tears streamed down my face.