Page 48 of First-Time Caller
“I want you to give it to Lucie.”
“Why?”
Maggie throws up her hands. “Are you going to question every little thing I do?”
Probably. “Why does she need the phone?”
“So she can take text messages from callers without handing out her personal number to a bunch of weirdos who want to know if she has ears,” Maggie says. “I want to give her a chance to get to know the men that interest her. On her own terms.” She fixes me with a fierce glare, waiting for me to object. I wisely keep my mouth shut. “I got the news tonight. We scored a major sponsor. From this moment forward, her segment will be called ‘Lucie’s Road to Love, sponsored by Mr. Tire.’”
I stare at Maggie. “Are you kidding me?”
Maggie doesn’t so much as smile. “What?”
“Is that for real? Are you serious?”
“As a heart attack. Why are you making that face?”
“Lucie’s Road to Love?Mr. Tire? Why not just slap a Royal Farms sticker on her forehead and call it a day? If she finds love, everyone in the greater Baltimore area can get a free chicken basket.”
Maggie is unamused. “Are you done?”
“Don’t stand there and tell me she deservesmagicwhen you’re auctioning her to the highest bidder.”
Something flashes in Maggie’s eyes. Fury with a healthy dose of violent enthusiasm. She looks like she could murder me with her pinky toe and enjoy every second of it. “I’m not auctioning Lucie, you moron. I’m leveraging the situation for our failing station. I’m doing what I have to do because someone gleefully drove us right into the ground.” She slaps the phone into my chest one last time. “Get over yourself and this superiority complex that seemingly cropped up out of nowhere. Give her the phone. Let her talk to people. She can decide for herself if she wants to explore anything further with them. No more gatekeeping.”
She holds the phone to my chest until I reluctantly take it. “That woman is finding her match, Aiden. Whether you’re on board with it or not.”
AIDEN VALENTINE:The text lines are now open for . . . “Lucie’s Road to Love, sponsored by Mr. Tire.”
LUCIE STONE:[laughter]
AIDEN VALENTINE:That’s enough.
LUCIE STONE:I’m sorry, it’s just—
AIDEN VALENTINE:I know.
LUCIE STONE:Is it weird I’m pleased? I feel like an F1 driver. I’m sponsored by Mr. Tire.
AIDEN VALENTINE:I’m pretty sure yourroad to loveis sponsored by Mr. Tire.
LUCIE STONE:Don’t say it like that.
AIDEN VALENTINE:Like what?
LUCIE STONE:Like it’s something gross.
LUCIE STONE:It’s very pure. Poetic, almost.
LUCIE STONE:Come wander down my road to love.
AIDEN VALENTINE:Now you’re the one making it gross.
AIDEN VALENTINE:[sigh]
AIDEN VALENTINE:As a reminder, Baltimore, don’t text weird stuff to the phone. If you text weird stuff, I’ll be the one who answers and I can guarantee you won’t enjoy it. The phone is monitored. Don’t—what? What’s that look?
LUCIE STONE:You got very intense just then.
