The heat in the cabin is so good I don’t need anything else to stay warm besides a cup of calming tea. It tells my heart rate to normalize after the caffeine hit that was definitely a bad idea.
Sure.
The caffeine.
That’s why I’m a jittery mess.
Not because I’m listening to classic rock tracks, waiting to see if Blake’s coming on the air tonight.
Rod Stewart’s fading off the air when I hear that faint click that says they’ve gone live.
My breath sticks in my lungs.
I’m such a mess, I swear.
And I wish so much the gentle thunder of Blake’s voice was for me as he starts up. “You’re tuned in to the heart of Heart’s Edge, and our lines are open. Do we have any callers tonight?”
“We’ve got one,” his sidekick, Mario, says. “She just says her name is E.”
“Okay, E,” Blake rumbles. It’s so soothing listening to his rough velvet voice, so compelling, this hypnotic lyricism that just makes me close my eyes and bask. “I’m listening.”
I nearly jump out of my skin when I hear the voice that comes over the line.
“Hey,” Ember says, sounding just a little too innocent and cheerful. “I don’t think you’re going to get many callers tonight. Just a lot of listeners.”
Blake pauses and chuckles. “Oh? Why’s that?”
“Because we’re waiting,” Ember says brightly. “And really hoping you don’t screw this up.”
“Screw what up, exactly?” Blake’s voice sharpens.
“You know,” Ember tells him softly. “We all know. I don’t need advice, you know. I just called in to give you a little advice for a change.”
“I ain’t amused. Did Doc put you up to this? ’Cause if he did, I’ll—” Blake snarls, and I giggle, hiding it behind my palm as if he can hear me.
This is absolutely mortifying.
And too adorable.
I can just picture him sitting there glaring daggers at the mic.
“Nope, this is my baby. But you should laugh more,” Ember says.
“Laugh more? That the advice you’ve been keeping me waiting for?”
“No,” Ember replies, her voice softening, the laughter fading to leave a sort of sweet fondness. “It’s okay to be nice to people, Blake. It’s okay to trust strangers sometimes…they’re not all Galentron agents. Some people just want to take away your pain…and the rest of us just want to see you happy.”
My breath catches, my chest aching.
God. I press my hand to my breastbone, trying to control my pulse again.
Blake’s silent.
I almost think he’s left in a huff until he says, “Well, thanks for that, lady. Sometimes, it helps when the boot’s on the other foot and I’m the dude getting some wisdom.”
“I know,” Ember says. “But I’m going to go now and stop tying up the line. Good luck, Blake. You know what this is about.”
There’s another sandpapery sound from Blake, then the click as the line goes quiet, leaving just the sound of empty air with a hint of breathing.
“Well, uh…” Mario drawls out slowly. “Not sure what to make of that, boss.”
“Maybe,” Blake says slowly, thoughtfully. “If no one else is gonna call in, we wait for Broccoli? You out there, girl? I got some things to say.”
My heart stops.
I just stare at the radio like it’s Blake himself, not even breathing, my chest tight and my hands clenched into little fists until my nails bite into my palms.
Um, what is happening?
Right here?
On the open freaking air?
Not even pretending like he’s talking to anyone but me.
And my heart remembers to beat again in velvety shivers as he croons in a husky tone, “C’mon. Don’t keep a guy waiting. Everybody’s listening.”
I’m about to die.
And on my autopsy, cause of death will say this man.
I fumble for my phone. I can barely tap the numbers, but after an awkward minute, I manage.
“While we’re waiting, let’s talk Fuchsia Delaney, the best frenemy Heart’s Edge ever had. Still can’t figure out if she came to save this town or curse it.” Blake says. “Nobody’s seen that witchy woman since the night of the big museum fire. Nothing confirmed. But word on the street is, she’s been seen skulking around everywhere from behind Brody’s to way out in Spokane. What do I think? I ain’t gonna trust her as far as I can throw her. But she did help dispatch the air support that helped my crew put out the big fire that crazy Halloween night. Don’t know if this town’s just looking for a new legend after Nine turned out to be our harmless buddy Leo, or what, but if she meant to come back and do any of us harm—”
“New caller, Blake. Line one,” Mario says.
I clutch my phone in both hands, breathing in tiny rushes as the phone finally rings.
“Finally. You’ve got Blake.” He picks up, voice all wildfire in my ear.
“Hi,” I say, my voice tiny. “It’s me.”
Only for that screeching feedback loop to start again, howling out of the radio and my phone.