Night Owl (The Complete Serial)

“Deal.” She puts her hand out to shake mine. Like hell I’m ending this argument with a handshake.

“Get over here.” I grab her hand and tug her into my arms. She gripes and makes growling sounds trying to back away but I don’t let her. “You’re not going to take the LA job are you?”

She sways in my arms looking up at me. “Are you kidding? The offer was insultingly less money.”

“Ron can be a real cheapskate, but he scouts talent hardcore. He’s known me since I was in diapers.”

“Really? Baby James.” We chuckle together.

“Yeah, he helped me out after my parents’ death. Told me to go to law school before I tackled the company and he was right. It definitely gave me an edge over Elroy and his freeloading.”

“You don’t talk about them. Your parents.” She’s right. I don’t, but I try not to think too hard about the plane crash that killed them during a ski vacation before I finished college.

“Probably a conversation for another day. Not much to tell. It was an accident but before that we were pretty normal and loving as far as families go.”

“Well, I’m jealous then, but happy you’re okay.” She kisses me softly and being that our relationship is still pretty early I know we have time to tackle those heavy topics later.

“You know, you’re worth more, right?” I tell her and she rolls her sassy eyes at me. “We good now?” I ask.

“Yeah, we’re good.” She nods and sniffs her nose like she might cry and we stand together hugging–a united front once again. I’m a little pissed on her behalf Ron lowballed her offer, but it doesn’t matter because she’s coming home with me, and that’s all I care about at the end of the day.

We made it through Monday’s show in LA and flew home directly after. Everyone is overly exhausted functioning on zero sleep and too many Red Bulls. I don’t think Casey’s uttered more than a few words or grunts since she uncovered my plan to keep her from working for the LA station. I’ve got a shit ton of groveling to do and no amount of material items is going to get her to listen to anything I have to say right now. I don’t blame her, I know I shouldn’t have done it, but I couldn’t stand by and do nothing.

The LA offer was a pittance, nothing what my station offered her. I made sure the deal was enough for her to second guess anyone else, but not enough to make her think I was buying her off. I had some pride and wanted to know she would stay at least a little bit for me. She earned every penny and there was no reason why she shouldn’t be paid her worth. She was as good if not better than the other DJs and co-workers.

I’m snapping pencils out of boredom and frustration when Tucker comes into my office. “Hey boss.”

I push aside the pile of paperwork Michelle handed me earlier. “Tuck, what’s up?”

He tosses a packet I’m familiar with on my desk since I get one every month about this time to review. “Preliminary show ratings. We’re up of course since Casey started.”

“Good.” I’d prefer he left me alone, but I don’t see that happening when he stands there saying nothing. “Was there something else you wanted?”

“Everything okay at home?” Tucker looks about as uncomfortable as I feel.

“It’ll work itself out. If you’re worried about the show, don’t be. Casey isn’t going anywhere.”

“I didn’t think she was.”

“It’s me she’s mad at,” as evident by my lonely bed the past week since we’ve been back from LA. Our stalker issue has quieted and Eli is still working an angle. We fight about the security detail and her not being alone when I can’t be with her. Eli suggested one of his female operatives follow her, but Casey put her foot down.

Casey gets up early for the show and I wake the same time she does, but she’s ready to go before I am. I make her ride in the car with me so I’m certain she’s safe, but our conversation consists of long sighs and rolled eyes when I press her too hard. It’s getting exhausting but neither of us willing to relent. Something has to break and soon and not just because I’m likely to suffer brain damage from blue balls either.

Tucker leans over my desk and looks over his shoulder quickly before looking at me and whispering, “You didn’t hear this from me, but the lady she used to dog walk for is going out of town, Paris, three weeks I think.”

“Tucker, I fail to see how…” I think my station manager has hit gold. “Oh my god, I’ve got to go.” I grab my phone and jacket and get up.

“Go where?”

“To get a dog.”

“James, I don’t…”

“Tuck, get out of my way before I kiss you and make this all weird as fuck.”

“Right, okay then. I’m going back down to the sound room.” He smiles and I brush past him parting ways. My brain runs with the idea of getting Casey something she needed since this shit storm began.

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