Page 45 of Just Another Silly Love Song

She shook her head. “I’m free.”

Kyle clapped his hands together once. “Great! I want you both to go have lunch together, just the two of you. Wherever you want to eat, and the radio station is picking up the tab.”

“Why?” I asked, realizing my voice just went up a few octaves.

“Think of it as show prep. I want you to take the time to learn as much as you can about the other person. The more you get into the groove and get to know each other, the more you’ll be able to play off of that and get personal on the air. The listeners will eat it up. Okay, gotta run.”

Kyle flew out the door.

The two of us sat there, staring straight ahead at his empty chair.

Lori finally turned to me. “I have to admit, this is not how I visualized this meeting.”

I nodded. “You know . . . I think this is the first time all morning that I agree with you.”

Chapter Eleven

LORI

Surprisingly, Ben and I agreed almost immediately on a place to eat for lunch. No fussing, no fighting, no bickering. It was certainly a nice change of pace and a little bit odd, to be honest.

It just so happened that we were going to one of my favorite Italian places, Piazza 1909, located just down the street from where I ate with Grandma Joyce yesterday in downtown La Jolla.

When I arrived, Ben was already inside drinking a beer at a table, looking relaxed. He waved me over and watched me as I walked toward him, his eyes never leaving mine.

Maybe he was hoping he could distract me and make me trip.

Focus. Put one foot in front of the other.

Ben stood up when I arrived at the table, and I swear we had one of those moments where we didn’t know if we should shake hands, hug, or fist bump.

We did none of those things.

He surprisingly pulled out the chair for me. “Welcome, partner.”

I forced a phony smile and said through gritted teeth, “Thanks, partner.”

Something felt weird.

Honestly, it was hard to describe, but it almost felt like the first date jitters.

It was nuts, because I had no interest in dating this man.

After the waiter brought me the beer that I had ordered, Ben and I silently browsed the menu, trying to decide what to order.

I looked up from my menu and pointed at his. “Sorry to inform you that they don’t have pineapple pizza. I know how much you love it.”

“My day is ruined. Burger King then?” He grinned.

A few minutes later, the waiter returned. “Ready?”

We both nodded.

“Great.” The waiter turned to me. “What would you like?”

“I’ll have the lasagna.”

“Make that two lasagnas,” Ben added.