Page 22 of Forecasting the Forward

Like him, like him.

But is he being real with me? Or am I just a challenge? He held my hand almost the entire walk back to my apartment, but never made any other moves. I don’t know what to think.

Nor do I know how to react when a beautiful bouquet of white hyacinths arrives at the station the following day. He didn’t sign his name, but the only reason I know the flowers are from him is because he wrote “it’s not a white tornado, but it’ll do” on the card.

I acted nonplussed, but internally, I squealed.

“Who are the flowers from?” I jolt as Danica loudly asks from behind me.

“Oh. I’m not sure. No name,” I tell her hastily. Her eyes narrow as she studies me, and I take the opportunity to change the subject. “How’s your ankle?”

She sighs. “It’s okay. I guess I just strained it. As soon as we got in the Uber, I realized I could move it better. I had Levi drop me off at home instead of going to the hospital.”

“I’m glad you’re okay,” I say sincerely. “I can’t believe the sprinkler system went off. That was insane.”

“It really was! I researched restaurant sprinkler systems last night. I’m gonna do an entire series on what Denver restaurants do to prepare for fires. It got pretty chaotic in there last night, and the staff didn’t seem to know what to do. As Levi carried me out, I watched everyone freak out, running around with no idea of how they should act. I’m making it an exposé on the restaurant industry.”

“That’s very cool,” I say. “Did the restaurant have any major damage?”

“Not really. Smoke damage in the kitchen and water damage everywhere else. Brad said they’re hoping to reopen in a couple weeks.” Brad, our station manager, knows everything about any newsworthy stories in Denver. “I have to go. Interviewing a restaurant owner a few blocks away. Oh, Brad was looking for you, by the way.”

Great.

I was hoping to go rest my eyes for ten minutes while eating lunch. Dragging my feet on the way upstairs to Brad’s office, I hesitate at his door. What could he need? I rarely interact with him. He’s more involved with the reporters than the meteorologists on staff.

Knocking twice, I wait until he tells me to come in. “Hi, Brad. Danica said you wanted to see me?”

“Yes. Close the door and have a seat, Becca.” He motions for me to sit in front of his desk, shuffling some papers around. Are those photographs?

“Is everything okay?” I ask as I close the door.

“I’m not sure. You tell me.”

As soon as I sit down, he flings a handful of eight by ten photos across the desk at me.

Jacob with the coffee outside my apartment.

By the pizza place, both of us dripping wet.

Walking hand-in-hand across downtown.

Me looking up at Jacob with a big smile.

“You care to tell me why you’re gallivanting around town with our star forward, Becca?” Brad asks, a stern and imposing expression covering his face.

He’s looking at me like my father would look at me. Disappointed. Embarrassed. Angry.

It’s on the tip of my tongue to apologize. Admit my error in judgment. Tell him whatever I think will make this problem go away. Just like I had to growing up, even when most of the issues never had to do with me. They were almost always my brother setting me up.

I’d get chastised, demeaned, humiliated wherever we were. It didn’t matter where. My brother would stand behind my parents, a victorious grin on his face, as he watched me slowly break down. It didn’t happen all at once, this systematic breakage of my strength. It was so slow. Achingly slow. Like watching a car crash in slow motion. Years of emotional abuse.

Sitting here now, having Brad look at me with the same expression, it’s as if I’ve been dumped in ice water.

And for some reason, that makes me incredibly pissed off.

“How is this any of your business?” I reply hotly, sitting up straight. My hands shake as I force myself to control the tremor in my voice. This isn’t my father. I do not have to sit here and take it. I can stand up for myself.

Brad looks momentarily surprised when I speak. “I manage this station, Becca. And you are essentially a spokeswoman for the station. You have to be on your best behavior at all times. This is not what is in your contract.”

---