Page 108 of No More Heartbreakers

The joy was nowdoing spontaneous rapid cell division in my chest, in spite of the likelihood my name would be the one Mr. Aubrey called.

Good thing I had a possible new job lined up.

“I was speaking of our illustrious and libertine sports anchor… Dennis here,” Mr. Aubrey continued, “and one of our rookie reporters… Mara Neely. That is your name, isn’t it, young lady?”

It was my turn to stare wide-eyed at her. She gave me a quick shrug and mouthed the word “himbo” at me.

In spite of the seriousness of the situation, I had to suppress a giggle.

Of course she hadn’t been able to resist an air-brained, good-looking former jock like Dennis. He was like an open bottle of Oxycontin to an addict.

Mara stood to face the charges, and the levity drained right out of the moment. She looked stressed—I guessed the severity of it was just now hitting her.

Dennis stayed seated and wore his usual above-the-law smirk of unconcern.

“Sir…” he addressed Mr. Aubrey.

The old man cut him off.

“Rules,” he roared. “You knew the rules when you took the job, people. And I will not tolerate my rules being flouted under my nose any longer. Please go clean out your desks. You.”

He pointed at Dennis, who literally recoiled in shock.

“And you.” He pointed at Mara then hooked his thumb toward the door.

They both froze as if not quite believing what was happening.

I certainly couldn’t believe it. This was crazy. Dennis was wildly popular with viewers and had been there for years. Mara was our best reporter.

And my best friend. And she was being fired? For something generations of employees here had probably done?

For something I myself had done. I had to do something.

Rising from my chair, I raised one hand. “And me.”

“What?” Mr. Aubrey’s face was a blend of annoyance and bewilderment as he stared at me.

“I’m… a fraternizer.”

From the corner of my eye I saw Aric stand to join me. “I’m also a fraternizer.”

His deep voice filled the room. And my heart.

On my other side, Ce Ce and Brad stood and clasped hands. “We’re fraternizers, too,” she confessed.

Brad grinned at her and nodded. “We sure are.”

I hadn’t even realized they were dating. I couldn’t stop a smile from bursting across my face, and I had to slap a hand over my mouth to keep from laughing out loud.

Allison jumped up. “Iwantedto fraternize, but Doug wasn’t interested, I guess.”

“Youdid?” Doug’s face was a picture of shock and wonderment.

The atmosphere in Janet’s office was transforming from horrified stillness to a growing sense of hilarity. I heard a few giggles from behind me.

There were seven of us standing now, not counting Mr. Aubrey. If we all went and cleared out our desks, he was going to have a hell of a time putting on a newscast tonight.

Behind Mr. Aubrey, Janet rose from her desk chair and said very soberly, “Mr. Aubrey, I must inform you that I, too, am a fraternizer. This may come as a shock to you, but your main male anchor, Dan Patterson, and I have been engaging in sexual relations for the past twenty-five years. As that is so clearly contrary to station policy, I’d like to offer my resignation.”

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