Page 70 of Breaking News

By the end, we all agreed to do a dry run of the morning show that afternoon, so Chase could get used to the camera angles, the teleprompter, and the whole flow of things.

Then there was the issue with his wardrobe.

“He can’t dress like that. We need to adhere to certain standards,” Marco said to Graham before turning to Chase. “How many suits do you own?”

“Um…” Chase looked at Meghan, like she might answer for him, but I chimed in instead.

“I totally disagree,” I said from my stool, pressing a palm against my sore back. This was shaping up to be a long day. “Won’t it be more genuine if he shows up tomorrow with a t-shirt and a blazer? That’s how our viewers know him.”

Graham held his fingers against his lips like he wanted to disagree, but he was afraid to challenge me. “Maybe,” he said carefully, “but I’m sort of inclined to agree with Marco on this one.”

That was a first.

“You guys will totally clash,” Meghan said. “He can’t be sitting next to you looking all sloppy while you’re over there dressed like the First Lady.”

I wanted to ask which one, but the chatter continued, and I wouldn’t have been heard, anyway.

“He needs to at least wear a tie,” Marco said.

“Do you know how to tie a tie, Chase?” Meghan asked.

“Someone bring up a picture of the WTHR team,” Graham said, glancing around to see if anyone had their phones on them. “Let’s see what those guys are wearing and have him emulate that.”

The pain in my back radiated through my hips now, and the noise in the room only seemed to exacerbate it. They were alltalking at once, and no one had actually asked Chase what he wanted.

While Marco, Graham, and Meghan debated by the cameras, I turned to Chase with a casual chuckle. “What doyouwant to wear?”

“I don’t even care,” he admitted with a shrug, “as long as I don’t have to pay for a new wardrobe.”

I grinned. “Maybe they’ll give you a raise.”

“Didn’t know you were a comedian,” he joked. I forced out a laugh, but on the inside, I was cringing. I’d always known my salary was higher than Chase’s, but now I felt even more guilty about it. Here he was, making sacrifices and getting thrown into something that benefited him in no way. I knew in my heart Meghan’s influence had something to do with his willingness to do this.

And it was all for my sake.

Maybe I wasn’t cut out for this anymore. Maybe it was time to quit and let them replace me with someone who could actually handle it all.

**

I was halfway to my car when my phone buzzed in my bag. I dug it out, expecting a text from Meghan, but it was a call. From my mom.

“Hey,” I answered, tugging open the driver’s side door and slowly lowering myself into the seat like I was made of glass. These days, it felt like I was. “Everything okay?”

“Of course, honey,” she said warmly. “Just wonderin’ if you’re gonna be able to come home for your birthday this weekend.”

My heart squeezed. I leaned my head back against the headrest and closed my eyes, imagining my mom’s outdated but comfy sofa. I loved napping on it when I was sick. I could still remember the way she’d cover me with a blanket still warm from the dryer and turn onThe Price is Rightwhile I recovered.

“I don’t know if that’s gonna be feasible,” I admitted. “Work’s a lot right now. Everything… is a lot.”

“I figured as much,” she said, sighing.

“You know I’d be there if I could, Mom,” I said with a sad laugh. “I’d let you fuss over me and force me to eat some of your thousand-calorie peach pie.”

“I’ve told you before and I’ll tell you again—calories don’t count when you come home.”

“God, I miss you,” I said softly.

“I miss you too, Jilly-bean.”

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