Page 32 of First-Time Caller
Aiden studies me, his maybe-blue, maybe-gray eyes shadowed in the muted light of the studio. “I paid her in Berger cookies.”
My stomach twists. “Did you?”
He shakes his head, a smile hidden behind the fist he brings to his mouth. “No. I don’t know how much you think radio hosts make, but it’s not enough to bribe someone.”
I frown at him. If this was all some big joke—a ploy to get me to take the job and boost their ratings—I’ll walk right out the door and keep walking. I don’t want to be manipulated. Not with anything, but especially not with this. Not with this thing that feels like cracking open my ribs and exploring all the soft parts beneath.
I couldn’t stand it.
He seems to realize how serious I am because he straightens in his seat, the chair creaking beneath his big body. “I’m just messing with you. I didn’t know she was going to say that, but I had a feeling she might.”
“Why?”
“Because every caller we’ve had for the past week has more or less said the same thing.” He scratches his jaw and then yawns, resting his chin in the palm of his hand. In the background, I can hear the faint sound of a jingle. Commercial break, I guess. “I know you’re looking for love and I don’t know if I’m the right person to help you with that. But I think you started something the other night, whether you meant to or not.”
I set the headphones down on the edge of his workstation. “I didn’t mean to do anything. I was just talking to you.”
“And I was just talking to you.” He studies me, his pretty eyes assessing.
“How would it work?” I ask slowly.
He shrugs. “However you want it to. I could be your love boat tour guide, if you wanted.”
I watch his face carefully. “You don’t like that idea.”
He shakes his head and twists back and forth in his seat. “It’s not that.” He fixes me with a look. “I’m going to tell you something, okay? And it stays between us, yeah?”
I nod. It feels like a fair trade, after I’ve already handed him so many of my secrets.
He blows out a breath. I steel myself for some lurid confession.
“I’m struggling with the concept of love,” he finally says, his words slow and measured.
I stare at him. “What does that mean?”
He rubs his hand along his jaw, long fingers fanned out. His gaze jumps from my eyes to the corner of his desk to the screen of his computer, then back again. “I’m not sure it’s real?” he says, like it’s a question. Like he still hasn’t untangled his thoughts on the matter.
I’m skeptical. “You host a show about love, and you don’t believe in it?”
“Please lower your voice.” He frowns. “It’s more complicated than that. I’ve been struggling with callers. With the stories I’ve been hearing. When I talked with you the other night, it was the first time that I—” He cuts off abruptly, but holds my eyes with his. I want to know the rest of that sentenceso badly.
Did he feel even a fraction of what I did?
But he doesn’t finish his thought. I watch as he mentally packs it away, whatever it was. “Maybe we can help each other,” he continues, his voice controlled. “You can help me keep my job, and I can help you find your magical Prince Charming. Maybe watching you fall in love with someone will give my cold, dead heart some hope.”
“You wouldn’t—” I swallow around the anxiety making my throat feel tight and force myself to say it. I don’t like the flippant way he saidmagical Prince Charming. “You won’t make fun of me, right?”
His face collapses. “You think I’d make fun of you?”
I shrug. “I know the show needs ratings. I know we’ve gone viral. And I know sometimes there’s a part to play. You just said you don’t believe in love, Aiden. I don’t want to be made into a joke and I don’t want to be embarrassed.”
He clenches his jaw, the sharp line of it jumping once. “It’s not that kind of show and I’m not that kind of person. It’s not just my job I’m trying to save, all right? You have the unique opportunity to prove this cynic wrong.” He looks like he wants to say something else, but the words stick in his throat. He releases a breath and ducks his head, keeping his eyes heavy on me. “I promise, Lucie. This isn’t a joke to me.”
I nod once. He’s telling the truth. I don’t know how I know, but I do.
“Okay,” I tell him. “I’ll think about it.”
He rubs his palm along the back of his neck. “Great.”
