Page 56 of Exclusive

“Great.” Tam turned his treadmill back on and got to walking. “We’ll get you a few rehearsals and talk about camerawork. Nothing too difficult. You’re a pro.”

I nodded from my spot somewhere in the stratosphere. “Okay, thank you.” I paused. “Is this because I got punched?”

Kristin laughed. “No. Definitely not.”

Tam looked thoughtful. “It probably didn’t hurt. Any attention is good attention, right? I mean, as long as you’re not a criminal. Don’t do crime.”

His dry delivery left me unsure of how serious he was being. “Not forecasted for any, so…”

“That’s what I want to hear.” He looked to Kristin. “You got this?”

“I do.”

“Great.” We were excused. He went back to his TVs, carrots, and treadmill. I was confident he never slept. Or cried.

Once we were alone in the hallway, Kristin turned to me with a warm smile. “Proud of the work you’re doing, Skyler. Keep it up, okay?”

I surely grew two inches in that moment. This was my boss, and she thought I was doing okay. She wasproudof me. But it didn’t stop there. I called Carrie from my desk minutes later. She wasn’t due to the station for another couple of hours, but there was no way I was going to be able to wait that long with this news leaping up and down from within like an impatient kid at the candy counter.

“Skyler, wow. They’re putting you in the big chair?”

“The big chair.”

“Do you know how huge a deal that is? We have reporters who’ve been with us for years, decades, who’ve not seen the anchor seat.”

I shook my head and smacked a hand across my forehead. “I wish I knew why they’re taking the leap. They said I test well.”

“Well, everyone loves you. It’s true.” She got quiet. “I guess this means no weekend away together.”

“That’s the sad part.”

“You know what? That’s okay. This is important for you, and you should do it. You are, right?”

“As long as you’re in agreement, I planned to.”

“Are you kidding? I’m dating the hot new substitute anchor of the nightly news. Let me fan myself.”

I laughed. “Now you know how I feel daily.”

“We have to celebrate.”

“No.”

“Yes. I’m taking you out this weekend.” We both had it off and, other than Jack’s, had not done any formal nights out. Mainly just the two of us at her place or mine. This felt like a new, exciting step. “Alejandro’s?”

“Oh, you really want to be fancy. We’re going to eat nice food among the friendly people of San Diego.”

“I really feel like we should. I want to spoil you and stare at you in dim lighting while the world looks on.”

I laughed. “Pick me up at eight. Let the wooing begin.”

* * *

“What about a little extra eyeliner?” Grace asked. She’d come by the apartment earlier for a little cousin movie-watching date and stayed to help get me ready for my night out. She’d been dabbling with makeup tutorials and watching them online. I indulged her to an extent, but mainly when I was staying in. Tonight, I had a date.

I shook my head. “Less is more for me.”

“Well, you do have beautiful brown eyes and TV glamour. Not that I’m jealous.” She glared.

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