Page 24 of Just Another Silly Love Song

I really had no idea what to expect, but nothing could be worse or more humiliating than your boyfriend breaking up with you on the air.

Glancing around the station, I couldn’t find Ben, but did see Ray, the board operator who Kyle had told me about. Ray took meter readings and babysat the syndicated shows that ran from midnight until our show started at six in the morning. I told him to let Ben know I’d be in the production studio.

I sat down at the computer and searched the music library, curious about what they had available for me. Kyle was right; they had everything I needed. I could easily find many of my favorite artists to play for listeners. Whitney Houston, Bryan Adams, Billy Joel, Celine Dion, and Lionel Ritchie, for starters.

The door swung open and Ben stepped inside the studio. “You’re here.”

He sounded surprised, like there was a possibility I wasn’t going to show up.

I swung around in my chair and took a sip of my mocha. “What were you hoping for? That I would take a wrong turn and end up in Mexico?”

The station was only twenty minutes from the border.

Ben shrugged. “I know a great taqueria in Tijuana. If you leave now you can beat most of the morning commute.”

“Trying to get rid of me already? Nice try. Let’s try to make the best of this situation and also try not to kill each other. Looks like I’m going to be stuck with you.”

“OrI’mgoing to be stuck withyou.” He eyed my drink. “Let me guess, a mocha?”

I nodded. “My favorite.” He watched me in silence as I put the cup to my mouth and took another sip. I swallowed and set the drink down, wondering why he was still staring. “What?”

Ben shrugged. “I don’t suppose you brought a second mocha for me.”

“Sorry.”

He shrugged and held up his mug. “This station coffee isn’t bad, but a mocha is a mocha. And it’s nice when someone buys you a drink. Wouldn’t you agree?”

I sighed. “If you’re on your best behavior this morning,maybetomorrow I’ll give the dog a bone.”

He chuckled. “Good one.”

At just about the top of the hour, Ben and I were both sitting in front of our microphones across from each other in the main studio, ready for our first show together.

Just like at the other radio station, our producer—Jim—was in the studio directly across from our studio, watching us through the glass window. He had already prescreened three callers to put on the air and I could see their info and what they wanted to talk about on the computer screen in front of me.

Ben and I each had our own monitor and microphone.

I glanced at the clock in front of me.

Showtime.

“Okay, let’s do this.” Ben slid on his headphones and pressed the microphone button. “It’s another beautiful day in San Diego! Are you ready for another three hours of Dr. Tough Love?Icertainly am. And we do have a few lines open at the moment. Give me a call and let me know what’s on your mind. I’m here foryou, whatever your woes may be.”

I jumped in. “Woes? Seriously? Who uses that word anymore?”

He glanced over at me and arched an eyebrow, probably not expecting me to feel so comfortable on my first day. I had just as much experience on the radio as he did, meaning I brought just as much to the table. I had no plans on being a sidekick, if that was what he was thinking.

Ben chuckled. “In case you haven’t noticed, we have a special guest on the show this morning. Please welcome Lori Martin.”

“Thank you. It’s good to be—”

“Lori’s claim to fame is playing silly love songs, but now she’s my sidekick—”

“Cohost.”

“To give the female perspective on—”

“Everything since the male perspective is not even close to reality.”