Page 40 of The Business of Love Box Set 1: Books 1 - 4

VANESSA

I was riding the high of making amends with Nannie when I strode into the station that night. There was a pep in my step, despite my sore hips and back, and there wasn’t a thing that could ruin my night.

Lizzy met me in the studio with a great big smile and helped me with my bags. She and I had been in high spirits ever since Ryan, the waste of space frat boy intern, had been fired last week.

I might have had a hand in it when he made a comment about how it was hard to get past me in a doorway with my belly.

Had it been anyone else, I might have laughed, but I’d hated the little shit since day one, and lucky for me, Doug was there to hear the comment. I went up one side of him and down the other, and Ryan was practically begging to be fired by the time I was through with him.

Pregnancy had turned me into a fierce bitch and I wasn’t mad about it.

There was only one person a little peeved about the whole situation, and that was Kim, who was currently in the deepest, shittiest shit of all shits with the couple she was planning a wedding for.

She was still head over heels for the groom, who, after seeing pictures of him, I understood her pain.

She wanted to go on a tropical vacation and drink all her problems away.

But you know.

Pregnant.

Can’t do that anymore .

I didn’t mind. For the first time in my life, I didn’t hate where I was. Yes, I missed Rhys. And yes, I felt guilty for not telling him about the baby.

But I was happy. I was full. I was content.

I was at home in my own body, even though I was sharing it with someone else.

It didn’t make sense and it didn’t have to. Everything worked out the way it was supposed to. I truly believed that. And whatever happened next was destiny. That was how I’d survived each and every day, and it was how I would get through tonight and tomorrow and the day after that.

Like clockwork.

“You’re on the air in five,” Lizzy said.

Doug came into his office. He had a little gift bag with him spewing out blue and pink tissue. I pointed a finger at the bag and he held it up with an innocent little smile. “It’s for your baby shower. I’m missing it, so I wanted to give this to you early.”

“You didn’t have to do that,” I said as he handed me the bag.

“I wanted to. You deserve it. You’re going to be an amazing mother. That little one is lucky to have you. And I couldn’t help myself. You know I’m going to do everything in my power to make motherhood as difficult for you as possible.”

Laughing, I pulled the tissue out of the bag. Neatly folded up inside was a little baby onesie that read little shit disturber . I peered over the top of the onesie at my boss. “I can’t go out in public with my baby wearing this. People will judge me so hard.”

“So what?” Doug asked.

Lizzy rolled her eyes. “Just put it on when you’re at home. It would make for a pretty cute photo op. Not that I want to pay Doug a compliment.”

My boss laughed.

I gave him a hug as thanks and then moved into the studio, where I went through my normal routine of putting on my headphones, checking the audio quality, and preparing for my callers. Though my routine was a little different now. I didn’t put the glasses on. And I didn’t change my voice.

I was me on the air now. Straight up Vanessa Hampton. I still went by Nessa Night for marketing reasons—and because Doug reminded me I’d signed a contract and couldn’t go back on it—but for all intents and purposes, I was little old pregnant Vanessa when I was on the air.

My brother had blown his top when I told him I was the radio personality. When I was confused about his level of shock and horror, he explained that he’d used my romantic advice before to seal the deal with a girl.

That conversation ended with both of us in near hysterics, screaming at each other to never speak of such things ever again.

Ever.

Never ever.

And we had kept our word.

Doug rapped his knuckles on the window between my studio and his office. I glanced up and he held up two fingers, marking the two-minute mark. The console was already blinking with red lights.

I was full of excitement. Coming into work was a much more enjoyable process now that I didn’t feel like I was pretending anymore. I was authentically myself. My words were truth. My experiences were real. I was raw and honest and vulnerable and no longer agonizing over feeling like a fraud.

I was as at home in this chair with my headset on as I was in my own body.

The revelation was a glorious one.

I was counted down to the final ten seconds. When I hit one, I went live and I couldn’t stop smiling as I greeted my audience.

“Good evening, ladies and gents. Lovers and love seekers. This is Nessa Night, your host for the show tonight. I hope you’re all having a good night.

If you’re stuck in traffic, I’m sorry. You’ll be home soon.

In the meantime, let’s chat. We’re going right into our first caller of the evening.

” I pressed the first blinking red button.

The line filled with soft static. “Hi there, caller. What’s your name, and how can I hope to heal your heart today? ”

“My name is Reggie.”

“Hi, Reggie.”

“Hi, Nessa. Man, this is unreal. And so trippy. I can hear myself on my car radio.”

I laughed softly. “Yes. That’s sort of how this whole thing works. What are you calling me for tonight, Reggie?”

“I have a problem.”

“Of course, you do. Well, you’ve come to the right place. Tell me what’s going on.”

Reggie took a big breath to prepare, and then he started talking.

He explained how he and his girl had gotten into a huge fight the night before about having kids.

Neither of them were on the same page. She wanted children, and she wanted them soon, and he didn’t feel ready.

He wanted to go the traditional route. Dating, marriage, buying a house, and then kids.

“Well,” I said once I’d heard him out, “it sounds to me like you guys just need to have many more conversations about this. Having children is a big deal. It’s not a decision to make lightly.

If she’s not willing to continue talking to you about this, maybe she’s not the person you want to spend the rest of your life with.

We have to be with someone we can argue with.

Someone we can come back to and apologize to, who will accept that apology and still love us, even though we disagree. Does that make sense, Reggie?”

“Yes. Yes, it does.”

“Now, I’m not saying you two need to break up because you’re on different pages.

I think you just both need to really look at your situation.

Is there a reason why she wants to have children right now?

Is she scared she won’t be able to if she waits too long?

Does she have health issues that might make it too difficult to have a child in the future?

Is she at risk for infertility? There is so much more to this than just deciding to be parents.

Go deep. Don’t shy away from the hard conversations.

Because children will only make things harder. ”

Reggie let out a deep breath that sounded like relief. “Thank you, Nessa. I appreciate this.”

“Anytime, sugar. You’ve got this. Good luck.”

I ended the call. Doug beamed at me from the other side. I beamed back.

Then I punched the next red button.

“Hi there, caller. What’s your name, and how can I hope to heal your heart today?”

The line was silent.

“Hello?” I asked.

Still silent. And then, finally, a voice. “Hi.”

“Hi.” I made myself smile. I believed you could hear in someone’s voice when they were smiling. And the man on the other end of the line sounded like he needed someone to talk to who was smiling. “How are you tonight?”

“Nessa?”

“Yes?”

“Nessa. Vanessa. It’s—it’s me.”

My heart flew into my throat. My pulse quickened so intensely that I was momentarily lightheaded.

“Why are you calling me at work?” I asked, completely aware that this was all live.

Doug was frowning. Lizzy was grinning. She knew all about Rhys. Had she helped set this up?

“I needed to talk to you. You won’t take my calls. But please. I need advice. Don’t hang up.”

How dare he call me looking for advice after everything that happened? Absently, I rubbed my belly—the belly holding his child—and considered hanging up on him.

But I thought better of it. This call was live and it wouldn’t look very good for me to hang up on a caller begging for my help.

“Fine,” I said. “Go ahead. What are you calling about?”

“I’m in love with a girl.”

I closed my eyes. Of course, he was. I couldn’t expect him to just wait, could I? No, it made sense that he’d moved on. Was he calling to rub salt in the wound? To prove that he’d done just fine without me?

“And?” I pressed.

“She can hold a real grudge, Nessa. And she can be mean. She ripped my heart out and stomped all over it and I can’t put myself back together.

She’s killing me. And the only way I’ve been able to get a word in is to call her at work like a jackass and tell everyone listening that I’m in love with her. Still.”

I almost hissed his name into the phone. “What are you doing?”

“I’m begging for one more shot with you, Vanny.”

Lizzy squealed in Doug’s office.

“I can’t do this right now,” I said.

“Your listeners will understand. They can’t speak for themselves right now but I know the kind of people you help.

They’re looking for love. And so am I. And we have it, Vanny.

You and I. We have it and I know you know it.

Are you really going to stand in the way of real love when it comes knocking on your door? ”

“Oh my God,” I breathed, burying my face in my hands.

“I’m outside.”

“You’re what ?”

“I’m in the parking lot. Come meet me. Or I’m going to come to you.”

I licked my lips. Then I met Lizzy’s eyes. She nodded for me to go. “Stay where you are,” I said. “I’m coming to you.”