Page 35 of The Midnight Frequency

“What?” she asked, catching me watching a moment too long.

“You’re… surprising.”

“Like a cupcake on your desk when you’re having a bad day, or like a flat tire when you’re already ten minutes late? What kind of surprise are we talking about here? I need to decide if I’m offended or flattered.”

“It’s been quite a while since I came across someone as fast on the draw as you.”

That wasn’t entirely true. My repeat caller was rather sharp as well.

“That is not a turn of phrase you hear often. So, I’m flattered then. You’re pretty fleet-minded yourself. I mean, you’ve been around for a lot longer than I have, so it would be kind of sad if you weren’t.”

“You have clearly not met many vampires.”

“I really haven’t. I mean, there are the stoner guys but they hardly help my argument here.”

“I hate to admit it, but they can be insightful on occasion.”

“You mean when they aren’t debating for twenty minutes if when you drop soap on the floor, if the floor is now clean or if the soap is now dirty?”

“I missed that episode.”

“It was actually pretty funny. Those two have a great dynamic. Even if they once tried to convince me that ketchup is a smoothie because tomatoes are a fruit… while drinking a ketchup smoothie.”

“I don’t eat, and that made my stomach turn,” I admitted.

“Right? So, you’re probably wondering why I asked to meet you.”

Actually, I’d been quite enjoying our tête-à-tête. But I suppose it couldn’t go on forever.

“I imagine it has something to do with my show.”

“It does.”

“Is there some kind of problem?”

“Problem? No. But I’m going to be working with you on it behind the scenes.”

“Why would I ever allow that?”

“Because I’m, for all intents and purposes, your boss.” It came out more like a question, as if stepping into her authority was difficult. Which was probably why she was constantly saying things like ‘if you don’t mind’ and ‘no pressure, though!’ even when it came to things she needed done and there was, in fact, a lot of pressure on her about.

“I do a live show.”

“Yes, you do.”

“I’m not sure how one would work behind the scenes on a live show.”

“That’s where I come in,” she said. Her smile was too wobbly to be confident or coaxing, though it seemed like she was going for both. “I was thinking maybe you could come in half an hour before your time slot on Monday, and we could discuss how to lean into your show’s strengths.”

While I believed my show leaned into its strengths—namely, me—some part of me was interested in spending a few more minutes with Maggie.

“I suppose I can hear you out.”

“Great! Do you want to meet in my office?”

“And get interrupted by everyone who has a grievance to file? No. Here.”

“That works. Well, I better go see if the rapid response witches have answered me yet. I’ll see you Monday.”