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Raven

“ A s you can see we’re just getting off the ground.” Star Corrigan is a petite blonde dressed in high-waisted navy slacks and a cropped, short-sleeved ivory sweater.

Her hair is styled in a stick-straight bob, and her features are sharp. She’s all business, and she looks very much like a fast-talking news reporter. I wish I’d worn something a little more official.

As it is, I’m wearing black jeans and a scoop-neck burgundy sweater. I look like I’m headed to the grocery store instead of to a job interview. Chewing my lip, I’m already planning my next outfit if they actually give me the internship.

“Hendrix has been such a great help,” she continues. “So many of the players only talk to the big guys, but he always stops to give us a word or two. He said he has a soft spot for the little guys… something about his brother-in-law?”

“Yes—Logan Murphy.” I jump in, glad I have something to contribute. “He bought a radio station in Newhope, and he’s working hard to get it established. He wants it to be a premiere sports hub.”

“Sports is a tough market to break into.” She gives me a wry smile, “But I remember Logan Murphy. He was the star wide receiver for the New Jersey Pirates. He has quite the reputation.”

“It’s true, then he married Hendrix’s little sister Dylan. She’s a friend of mine.”

“And now you’re dating her brother?” Star smiles, but my throat tightens at the question. “Have you two known each other all your lives?”

“Ah, no, actually, we met at Dylan’s wedding.”

She gives me a playful nudge. “Sounds like I need to get off the apps and get invited to more weddings.”

I exhale a laugh, unsure what to say. I don’t know how long we can keep our marriage a secret, and if she finds out, I don’t have a reason for not telling her. Other than we’re planning to end it in three months… which gives me an unexpected pain in my chest.

I have no cause for pain. This was my idea.

She continues talking as we walk through a large room filled with tables and desks. “This is the main newsroom. We only have two full-time reporters, and they work out here.”

I follow her down a narrow hall, past an office with large windows. An older man sits inside it behind a desk, talking on his phone. His dark brown hair is styled like a helmet, and with his thick mustache, he’s giving total Anchorman vibes.

“Ward Cabrera is the owner and station manager.” She nods in his direction. “I’ll introduce you before you leave.”

“Okay.” My voice is quiet, and I search for something to say. “Have you always worked in news?”

Shaking her head, she exhales a laugh. “I started out trying to be an actress. With a name like Star…”

Her eyes roll, but I disagree. “I like your name. It’s memorable.”

“My mom was a big fan of that old vampire movie The Lost Boys. ” Lifting her hand, she cups it around her mouth and stage-whispers, “I look nothing like Jamie Gertz.”

Her confession puts me at ease. “Still, it’s a fun movie.”

“She named my sister Chlo?. She claims it was for the perfume, but I suspect it was really for the Kardashian.”

“Isn’t she the favorite sister?”

“I don’t know.” She arches an eyebrow at me. “I like Raven. It’s a great weather name. Aren’t ravens the smartest birds?”

“My mother said she chose it because my hair was almost black when I was born.” I lift a strand. “It lightened up some.”

Looking at the shiny brown lock, I wonder if that was the first time I disappointed her.

“It’s still a great name for TV.” Continuing down the hall, we pass an open area with desks arranged in a circle holding large-screen computers, sports memorabilia, mugs, and a baseball-player bobble head. “The sports crew works here, and the meteorology desk is right this way.”

She leads me to a dimly lit room where four huge computer screens are arranged on a large, metal table with keyboards and cheap office chairs around it. Two screens display satellite images of LA and the entire country. The third is traffic reports, and the fourth has lines of code I recognize as weather data from when I was at the station in Louisiana.

A smaller screen off to the side has a calendar with colored blocks arranged throughout the weeks. It looks like a schedule.

“I guess you can tell we’re pretty low-budget.” For the first time since she greeted me at the front door, her confidence wavers. “So when Hendrix mentioned free help, I jumped on it, and who knows what might happen in December?”

“It’ll look great on my résumé, that’s for sure.” I try to be encouraging.

“We’re small, but we want to be a fresh, independent voice.” We walk to another glassed-in office containing another older man. “Wilt McCloud is our chief meteorologist. ”

She seems less enthused about this guy, and I hold off on commenting about his name. “Okay?”

“Ward was thrilled when he managed to talk him out of retirement. Wilt’s been covering atmospheric events in LA for decades.” Her lips press into a thin line. “He’s got quite the reputation around town.”

“Good morning, Star.” The door opens, and a polished male voice greets us. “What are you doing hanging around my door?”

“Hello, Wilt.” Her shoulders stiffen, and she seems to brace herself. “This is Raven Gale, our new intern. She’s an aspiring meteorologist, so she’ll be working with you for a few months if that’s okay.”

“Nice to meet you, Raven.” His voice is loud and laced with approval. “I’d love to have you. We need more full-figured gals reporting the news.”

My brows rise, but Star speaks before I can. “That is completely inappropriate. Raven is an intern, but I expect her to be treated like a colleague.”

“How was that inappropriate?” He places a hand on his chest as if he’s wounded. “Aren’t we concerned with representation now? After all, this is a newsroom.”

I give him a tight smile. “Is my appearance news?”

“We’ll find out.”

“Her appearance is not a topic for discussion.” Star’s tone is firm.

He holds up both hands like she pulled a gun. “My sincerest apologies, Miss Gale. I intended it as a compliment. You’re like those girls on that reality show, which is very popular from what I understand. I hope you’ll be great for ratings.”

I don’t bother to point out the bodies on most reality shows are notoriously manufactured. The sooner we move away from the topic, the better.

“Apology accepted.” At least all the years living under my mother’s criticism gave me some backbone. “I’m more interested in your meteorological knowledge than marketing. ”

“All of which I’m glad to share.” He lifts his chin, giving me a smile that makes my upper lip curl.

Star takes my arm, pulling me away. “I’ll let you get back to whatever you’re doing.”

“I look forward to having you on my team, Miss Gale.”

“Call me Raven.” The Miss vs. Mrs issue only adds to my discomfort, and I follow Star down the narrow hall in the direction we came.

As soon as we round the corner, she abruptly pulls me to a stop. “I am so sorry, Raven. I am horrified. I am livid. I want to strangle him.” She exhales, and her shoulders drop. “I understand if you’re ready to leave this place and never look back.”

I won’t lie, the prospect of working with someone like Wilt McCloud is less than appealing, but Star’s clear disappointment makes me hesitate. She seems like a potential friend.

“He’s not the first inappropriate male I’ve encountered in this field, and I’m sure he won’t be the last.” I exhale my annoyance. “It wasn’t even the worst I’ve heard. In my first job, one of the female anchors suggested I join a gym, since the camera adds fifteen pounds.”

As if my mom hadn’t told me that one—and my dad thought it was a good idea to remind me.

Star exhales a high-pitched growl. “Can we normalize not commenting on people’s bodies? I’m totally talking to Ward about this. If you say thanks but no thanks, I’m telling him why.”

Her display of protectiveness actually bolsters the decision I’ve already made. It’s good to know she has my back, and I’m not afraid of some old dick.

I give her a friendly smile. “What makes you like working here?”

“Well…” She straightens. “I love broadcasting, and I like that we’re an indie station. Not to mention TV jobs are hard to get in this town.”

We’re at Ward’s office, and he’s still on the phone. Star doesn’t even pause, and I guess it’s because she thinks I’m passing on the offer.

Stopping at the exit, I think about the jobs I’ve had where coworkers were only focused on their own careers and didn’t give me the time of day. I think I could learn something here.

“I still think it would look great on my résumé.” Her eyes widen, and she lifts her clasped hands to her lips. “What he said was not cool, but if I let every unevolved person turn me away from opportunities, I’d never get anywhere.”

“Are you saying…?” Her eyes light, and I’m pretty sure this is the right call.

“I’d like the internship if it’s still available.”

“It is!” She squeals, jumping up and hugging me. “If he does anything to make you uncomfortable, come straight to me, and I’ll handle it.”

She takes my hand, leading me back to Ward’s office. “I’ll introduce you to the big boss. Ward’s pretty old-school, too, but he tries, which helps.”

Nodding, I see her point. “I can work with that.”

A sly smile crosses her lips. “If worse comes to worse, we can figure out what night Wilt’s working late and let Hendrix know so he can kick his ass.”

She’s teasing, but my stomach clenches. I don’t plan to say one word about this to Hendrix. I have a feeling I know how he’d respond, and I’d prefer Haddy’s dad not be in trouble with the law.