Page 55 of No More Heartbreakers

But there was a twenty-five minute ride to survive first. So, should I bring it up or let him?

“You’re very quiet over there. Wanna talk about what happened?” Aric asked from the driver’s seat after we’d weaved through the crowded campus streets to the highway.

“Not really.”

“Let me rephrase—I’d really like to talk about what happened. I know howIfeel about you kissing me… but I’m dying to know what’s going through your head.”

My voice made no secret of the tension I was feeling.

“After the newscast, okay? Can we talk about it then? Let’s get back to the station and get the job done, and then we’ll talk.”

Nothing from Aric. I looked over at his face, glowing in the lights from the dashboard. His earlier victorious expression was long gone.

“Well, that doesn’t sound good,” he muttered.

“It’s not bad… let’s just… let’s talk later. Please?”

“All right.” He sighed.

The rest of the ride was quiet except for my pen scratching softly against my notepad. Since Allison was producing tonight, I didn’t have to worry about writing every script, but I still had to write, track and edit my news package before anchoring the show.

As it turned out, we had so much game coverage, my story on the making of a local corn maze didn’t air until the bottom of the B block.

The newscast started off with a live shot by Dennis from the Bulldogs stadium. I’d only spotted him and Colleen once during the game from across the field, and then after the game I caught a glimpse of them running for the post-game press conference in the field house.

Aric gave me a tense nod as he came onto the set for the sports segment. His story turned out incredibly well, and I had to admit, his stand-up was memorable.

As soon as the closing music played, Aric left the set and headed for the newsroom. I spoke with Allison for a few minutes and thanked her for all of her help, putting off the inevitable a little bit longer.

It was so unfair of me to have kissed Aric like that. How was I going to explain to him it had meant nothing, that it wasn’t going to change things between us?

He was waiting for me, keys in hand, when I reached the newsroom. “Get your stuff. We’re leaving.”

I stopped in place, my eyes going wide. “We can talk here.” My voice sounded nervous, even to me.

“No. For once, Heidi, you’re going to go somewhere with me.”

When I stared at him in astonishment, he continued. “Come on. It’s time to make good on your vow to start saying ‘yes’ to things that scare you. I want you to leave with me. Right now. Now what do you say?”

“Yes?”

“Damn straight,” Aric muttered and strode toward the newsroom door.

FIFTEEN

What’s Your Number?

I picked up my purse and walked with Aric out to the parking lot.

A perfectly safe activity, but my heart was beating like I was being stalked by a stranger in a dark alley.

“Yours or mine?” he demanded.

“What?”

“Your car or mine? We’re going to go somewhere so we can talk uninterrupted and settle this thing. And we’re driving together, because I’m not sure I can trust you not to take off in that go-cart of yours and try to get out of this.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m driving my car—I don’t want to have to come back and get it, or bring you back for yours. I’ll follow you.”

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